Chapter 1259: Chapter 398: Whoever You Are, Get Off Roger Right Now!
He has said more than once that he would not be the second Michael Jordan, and we all know what happened to Michael at the end of his career, Roger would never accept that kind of ending.
Roger’s wish is to leave behind a great, unsurpassable legacy. In three or four years, when Roger accomplishes his final goal, his age will inevitably prevent him from maintaining peak performance.
By then, will Roger really continue?
Paul Harrington’s answer left all the executives silent, indeed, those superstars with long careers mostly made some kind of compromise at the end of their careers.
And this is a compromise Roger would never agree to.
His career is likely to end before he’s 34 or 35.
This is also Reebok’s last golden period for expanding the brand.
"I know, the old Roger was a beast never satisfied. But is the Roger now the same as the one in his rookie season? No, because people’s mindsets change." Paul Harrington concluded, confident that the man’s career has officially entered the countdown stage.
On the other side, Tom Brady, Maria Sharapova, and Roger were having a lively conversation.
Roger’s biggest charm with women is that he knows a bit about every random thing and can handle any topic in an interesting way.
At the end of the dinner, Maria Sharapova seemed not quite finished with the conversation.
She was staring at Roger longingly, her cheeks flushing: "Roger, do you have time tonight? Maybe you could come to my room, I’d like to hear more of your thoughts on candy brands."
Tom Brady shook his head with a smile, perhaps the sounds Maria Sharapova makes on the tennis court would echo down the hotel corridors tonight.
What else could he say? Roger added another brilliant name to his list of ex-girlfriends, which is even more dazzling than the list of opponents he’s defeated. From the supermodel Cindy Crawford, famous since the 80s, to Maria Sharapova, born in ’87, it’s a list any man in the world would envy.
Indeed, Tom Brady was certain, Maria Sharapova would become one of Roger’s future ex-girlfriends.
This jerk won’t walk into the hall of marriage with any woman, his principle is only to enter the body.
But Roger’s reply surprised Tom Brady: "Sorry Maria, I have another date tonight."
"Ah, no problem, call me when you have time. Well, goodbye Roger, goodbye Tom."
Tom Brady could see Maria Sharapova’s face instantly turn red, an 18-year-old girl held at the pinnacle of the world was rejected the first time she actively asked a man out.
It’s too brutal.
After Sharapova walked away, Tom Brady asked puzzled: "She’s quite nice, sure, her body and looks might not be the best among all your exes, but still, right?"
"Uh-huh, a height of over 190 centimeters in heels, I really like that. You know, now that I think about it, being with the Olsen sisters before felt like catching some kind of Shaq-exclusive fetish, I need to find a girlfriend of normal height to correct this habit."
"Then why did you turn her down? Don’t tell me it’s because she’s just turned 18, it’s not like you haven’t had an 18-year-old girlfriend."
"Why? Because I know I can’t go to the end with her, we’re not suitable. When the passion burns out, the ending will be the same as countless times before."
Tom Brady thought his ears were deceiving him: "What do you mean by going to the end?"
"Of course, it means getting married, isn’t dating for marriage?"
"Damn it! Whoever you are, get off Roger! I know some strong exorcists, and I’m not joking!"
"Stop kidding, Tom, I don’t know why, but... I want a stable partner, I want my own family. I can’t keep wandering, I can’t only know basketball forever, right?"
Just then, Joe Abunassar arrived by car at the entrance.
Roger waved to Tom Brady: "Goodbye Tom, come to our championship parade sometime."
"I will."
As Roger got in the car, Tom Brady glanced at a giant poster of Roger on a tall building.
This poster showed Roger from age 18 to 30 standing in a row, if you look closely, you’ll find the current Roger is completely different from that young and inexperienced one.
And time brings more than just changes in appearance.
In the car, Roger didn’t notice his own changes.
He looked at the newspapers full of Cavaliers news that he threw onto the seat next to him in the morning and asked Abunassar: "I’m curious, why do people always think LBJ can beat me? Isn’t our gap big enough?"
"I think it might be because he’s only 20, and there’s still a lot of room for imagination."
"We’re about the same."
"About the same? You’re 30."
"Is that a reason? This year marks the second person to point out that I’m 30."
"Whether that becomes a reason depends on you, Roger."
"This won’t be a reason, the fantasy about LBJ will completely end in the next few years. Truth be told, I’m sick of Nike constantly comparing that waste to me, it even lowers my level."
Roger’s eyes were determined, part of him indeed changed.
But some things will never change.