I am the Warden Chapter 34: Too Light a Punishment
On the afternoon of November 1, 2003, the league’s official press conference was held at the NBA headquarters in New York.
The press conference came later than the media and fans expected.
First, league vice president Stu Jackson condemned the fight between the Trail Blazers and the Pistons, then, there were some high-sounding remarks... Finally, the only thing that reporters cared about, the punishment for the fight, was announced.
The 14 players who were ejected from the field were all punished.
Travis Outlaw of the Trail Blazers and Ray Blascia of the Pistons were both suspended for one game.
The Trail Blazers' Flying Squirrel, the Pistons' Chauncey Billups, Richard Hamilton, Collis Williams and Atkins were all suspended for two games.
Reuben Patterson and Randolph of the Trail Blazers, and Darvin Ham and Okur of the Pistons were suspended for three games.
Liu Xiu and Rasheed Wallace of the Trail Blazers and Ben Wallace of the Pistons were suspended for five games.
In terms of fines, Liu Xiu, Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace, Billups and Ray Braxton were fined $10,000.
Others received fines ranging from one thousand to five thousand dollars.
When the penalty result came out, there was an uproar at the press conference.
This punishment is too light!
and……
A reporter from CNN questioned: "Mr. Jackson, Liu's punishment is the same as Wallace's? That's not fair! Liu was the worst in the fight. He was hitting people the whole time. He probably threw more punches than everyone else combined!"
Stu Jackson really wanted to leave, but he could only bite the bullet and answer: "There is no problem with the punishment this time. We have discussed it in detail and watched the video of this incident repeatedly. In a fight, you can't judge who made more mistakes by winning or losing. The winner is not necessarily worse, and the loser does not mean they are the weaker party..."
…
After the press conference, Stu Jackson came to David Stern's office.
This old man didn't come out to announce the punishment result, but let him do it. He has no good intentions!
However, he still obediently and honestly reported the situation at the press conference.
After the report was completed, Stu Jackson said: "Boss, our punishment decision this time was criticized badly. We should have imposed severe punishment..."
"You're right," David Stern rubbed his temple and continued, "but what is the purpose of our choosing severe punishment?"
When asked this question, Stu Jackson responded uncertainly: "Purpose? To reduce negative impact?"
"That's right. You can be more confident in your answer. This is our goal, to reduce the negative impact. Our punishment this time has caused many people to focus on us. To a certain extent, it has also played a role in reducing the negative impact on the players and the team."
Is that so? Stu Jackson thought about it and thought that the logic was correct... but it was unnecessary! Directly imposing a severe punishment would also be a good way to handle the matter and avoid being scolded.
But he didn't dare to say it or ask.
David Stern paused for a moment and said, "Stu, direct the media's attacks on the team and players by focusing on our efforts to please Chinese fans.
In more interviews with Chinese media, he said, "In a fight, no side is innocent, and no side is more or less at fault than the other side." He said this once, twice, countless times.
We were criticized by the American media for trying to please Chinese fans , and we can also find a channel to disclose this to the Chinese media market..."
"?" Stu Jackson finally couldn't help but asked puzzledly after hearing the order: "Boss, why are we doing this?"
"For the Chinese market, our goal is to become a world-class basketball league, not just the local market. Only in this way can we have a little hope of surpassing those leagues. The Chinese market is unavoidable."
"I know this, but I heard Liu doesn't have much influence in the Chinese market."
"It is because Liu's influence in the Chinese market is far less than Yao's that we have to support him. I am very angry about this incident, but, Stu, I have told you many times that you should pay attention to things that can bring benefits in any situation. Toughness, loyalty, good fighting... these are all points that can attract fans. This is actually an opportunity."
…
…
The impact of the media giving Liu Xiu the nickname "Warden" and hyping it up, the league announcing punishment... and other events are still continuing, but the season has not stopped because of fighting.
On the evening of November 1st, the Trail Blazers faced the Jazz back-to-back at home.
The Jazz still have some foundation, including Arroyo, Kirilenko, DeSean Stevenson, Matt Harpring, Gordon Kiricek, Ostertag, Raja Bell... the basic lineup is there.
In fact, the Jazz have been updating their role player lineup since 2000, and the management team is capable and has done a good job.
And they tried to bring in Grant Hill, Duncan, Brand...but no one was willing to go to Salt Lake City.
The current situation is that the team has a roster of role players, and their strength is not bad, but the core players selected in the 1980s were used until last season. After one of the two core players retired and the other ran away, the team's strength is neither good nor bad. It seems a bit difficult to compete for a playoff spot in the Western Conference, but it is not bad either.
Look, the Trail Blazers, with all five starters suspended and one of their backup point guards missing, were beaten by the Jazz 85-104.
Liu Xiu and six other suspended players watched the game in the locker room.
After the game ended yesterday, the six of them were sent to the hospital for detailed examinations. Money talks, and the examinations lasted until the early morning.
I got the full report this afternoon. All six of them had minor skin injuries, no problem.
The team's reaction was not particularly big. They were already experienced in dealing with players being suspended, and they immediately appealed when the suspension notice arrived.
Appeal is just a process. Technical fouls, flagrant fouls, league suspensions... teams will appeal, and this is related to the players' salaries.
But the fact that so many people were suspended this time still made the coaching staff very frustrated.
However, even Kevin Pritchard, the rigid head assistant coach, did not get angry this time. He was once a player and saw how the fight happened.
But there was definitely some unhappiness... In the middle and at the end of this game that was doomed to fail, Liu Xiu received many waves of healing points from the coaching staff. Although not much, the continuity was very strong...
For players, the regret of being suspended for fighting always comes at this time.
The little flying mouse said painfully: "I have to be suspended for another game. God, I can't stand it. I won't watch the game the day after tomorrow."
It can be said that Xiao Feishu is not as strong as he used to be. You can scold him for being too proud and unwilling to change his role player's playing style, you can scold him for being undisciplined and ruining himself... but it would be really unfair to scold him for not having a competitive spirit.
Liu Xiu was even more upset: "I will be suspended for another 4 games."
Regular season!
500 basic healing value bonus. Even if he loses, as long as he fights for a certain period of time, he can get 250 healing value bonus. And he can always get some of the opponent's healing value, and back-attack Arroyo... How easy it is.
There is nothing to be gained now.
Also, although the fine was paid by the owner of the Little Flying Squirrels, the salary of the player who was suspended would be deducted.
He couldn't play the game, had to watch the team lose, lost the healing value of the game, lost the salary... Liu Xiu felt like a thousand alpacas were running around in his heart.
At this time, a resentful voice sounded: "Warden, you are suspended for 5 games, but why should I be suspended for 5 games?"
The eyes of the five people around him were focused on Rasheed Wallace.
Indeed, the most miserable and innocent person is Tianzun.
The punishment for this fight was very light, so light that even the Trail Blazers coaching staff and players felt it was too light. Although Tianzun was also active in the fight, his level of activity was about the same as Randolph's.
As a result, Tianzun received the same punishment as Liu Xiu and Ben Wallace.
What made Tianzun's teammates sympathize the most was that after the league announced the punishment in the afternoon, based on the severity of the punishment, the media criticized the league for giving Liu Xiu too little punishment, while the punishment Tianzun received was obviously higher than this, but no one cared!
Seeing Tianzun's indignant look, Liu Xiu comforted him: "It may have something to do with my appearance. The alliance wants to see me play earlier."
"..." Tianzun wanted to curse!
"Healing value +16, from Rasheed Wallace."
Are there so few emotions related to basketball? Looking at Tianzun's angry look, it turns out that most of what made him angry was purely about his appearance...
It’s okay, there’s still one point to play with.
"The one who was only suspended for one game was actually an outlaw. He should have been suspended for five games. If he was replaced by any one of you, we would have a higher chance of winning the next game against the Grizzlies."
"Healing value +55, from Travis Outlaw."
Unbearable!
Both of these sentences this guy said are true, but they are so infuriating!
And it's not just these two sentences. Liu Xiu used to provoke people often, and today he did it more often! Whenever he gets a chance, this guy will start to provoke!
Travis Outlaw and Rasheed Wallace looked at each other and quietly went behind Liu Xiu.
Liu Xiu was still thinking about what to say when suddenly his arms were held!
Randolph, who was lazily waiting for his teammates to return to the locker room, say hello and leave, reacted quickly and pounced on him immediately.
"Damn! I was careless!"
By the time Liu Xiu reacted, it was too late, and he was "beaten up" by his three teammates...
"I'm sorry, I was wrong!"
"I beg for mercy..."
“Ahahahahaha…”
“It hurts, it hurts…”
“Uh… uh… wait… wait a minute!”
"Hahaha……"
Liu Xiu was screaming, and the Little Flying Squirrel and Kobe Terminator next to him were watching the scene and wanted to get involved... But in the end they didn't, after all, their relationships were different.
Tianzun, the outlaw and the butcher had no intention of stopping.
The three decided to go out together in pairs from now on, and be careful not to be left alone by a certain 2003 draft pick who was ranked 13th overall and who wishes to remain anonymous!
…
At 7 o'clock in the morning on November 2, Liu Xiu got up on time.
The system prompted him to extract the results of the simulation training.
After seeing the “5177 healing value”, I hesitated for a moment and saved the results of the simulation training.
Get up and wake up the cutest sister in the world to make breakfast...
At 8 o'clock, breakfast time, Liu Xiu was eating the fragrant pancakes and was very satisfied.
"Brother, brother, you've been suspended for so many days, aren't you bored?"
"Shouldn't you be trying to persuade me, your brother, not to fight?"
"Brother, you said that only when you are more ferocious than others when encountering trouble, others will not dare to trouble you."
"Yeah... I plan to learn some skills next."
"Wow! Bro, you're finally trying hard!"
“…”
Liu Xiu had a complete rest yesterday, but he was not idle. In addition to thinking of ways to get healing points, he was also making plans for the next few days.
He was suspended for five games, including last night's game against the Jazz, tomorrow's game on the 3rd against the Grizzlies, and the game on the 5th against the 76ers, all three at home. Then he will miss the away game against the SuperSonics on the 7th and the away and home game against the Hawks on the 8th.
That means there is still one week of suspension from today.
It was supposed to be a good rookie season, but this fight made Liu Xiu completely unable to predict how the season would develop.
Will he be traded?
Will Rasheed Wallace, the star player who he thought was being traded, be traded ahead of time?
Or will there be other changes that he didn't expect?
Liu Xiu was also struggling with these things yesterday, but in the end he chose to take it one step at a time. Anyway, he had no control over these things.
Moreover, since I have been banned, I have to make good use of the time I have been banned from playing - learn how to train!
So I have to wait and see about using the healing value. I said I would never save it again, but I broke the rule again this time.
After breakfast, Liu Xiu left the washing of dishes and pots to the nanny and took the little Loli out on her Sunday holiday.
"Where are we going, bro?"
"Go get revenge!"
"Is it appropriate to bring a girl with you for revenge? Be careful not to get caught in a ditch!"
“…”
…
After being banned, Tianzun’s reputation became even worse, and he felt depressed.
However, I have real friends in the team again!
Tianzun misses big brother Sabonis, gentleman Steve Smith, extremely rigorous Detlef Schrempf... but those who retired retired, and those who left left.
Now, we finally have new friends - Liu Xiu, Randolph, and Travis Outlaw!
No matter what others say about him, he only believes what he sees with his own eyes.
He had never seen Liu Xiu do anything bad, so he just said things that deserved a beating.
But he, together with the outlaws and the butcher, had taken severe revenge on Liu Xiu yesterday, and he was in a very good mood now.
Being banned... I can only treat it as a vacation.
He originally planned to rest easily in the morning and train in the afternoon, but! When he woke up this morning, he felt uneasy and felt that something bad was going to happen.
At 9 o'clock in the morning, the doorbell rang.
Tianzun felt even more uneasy! I looked at the surveillance... so handsome!
However, that handsome face, the faint smile that seemed to be always on his face, and the squinted eyes, made Tianzun feel unwell!
Looking around, Tianzun panicked - the outlaws and criminals were not there, and this guy came to him to set a trap!
