You should cross the mountains like a brave man

Chapter 393 The Desperate Warrior

"Gentlemen, must we go this far?"

Walter Kennedy's tone was much softer than Auerbach's.

If Auerbach's lead doesn't work, and if he can't get the Celtics to back down by threatening to fire them, neither will the rest of the team.However, this does not mean that other All-Stars in the East and West are as determined to fight to the end as the Celtics players.

Heinsohn is still the one who talks to Kennedy. He is the chairman of the players association. It is reasonable for him to negotiate with the league president.

"Your Excellency, I've been telling you these things over and over since last November, but you keep me waiting every time. We've waited long enough from the moment the BBA beat the NBL and became the NBA. George Mikan, Bob Cousy, Dolph Schayes. Generations of players retired. They gave the most precious years of their lives to hardwood and basketball. What did they end up with? They got a whole body of injuries, but no health insurance. , but the league cannot guarantee their retirement life. How long do we have to wait? We boycotted the All-Star Game, not for rebellion, we just want to fight for our share of rights!"

Wei Xia stood on the sidelines and watched Heinsohn's rare seriousness and toughness. His thinking was so clear and logical that he couldn't imagine that this person who spoke for 9 players from 125 teams in the league was the old smoker who was willing to let himself die under the smoke ring.

What happened here is not just a group of superstars who are of great historical significance to the NBA. What they do determines what kind of appearance those superstars will appear in front of the fans in the future.

"I'm glad you mentioned Bob Cousy. He is a great man, and he has won many rights for the players. But you seem to have forgotten his contribution." Kennedy did not come unprepared, "Cousy has never threatened the league at such an important juncture. He has never put the future of the league above the interests of the struggle. You don't know what you are doing. What you do may bury the future of the league. If you can't stand on the court on time after an hour, maybe tomorrow there will be no more NBA. This will be the NBA. The last day of the

His words made many people change their faces.

"So what?" It was not Heinsohn who responded to him, but Bob Pettit, the superstar of the St. Louis Hawks, "If we are going to carry on with these bad rules, let the league be disbanded!"

Of course, Kennedy will not threaten players with contracts like Auerbach. He does not have the power and qualifications. "I believe you are just impulsive. It is too late to look back. Even if you don't think about yourself, you should think about your family. Yes, your salary is not enough, but this problem is gradually improving. When we and ABC implement the broadcast contract, your salary will definitely increase. If you don’t move forward, how can a professional league with no room for advancement survive? Is that what you hope for? How will you make a living without this job?”

Many people's complexions have changed. Can the bloody struggle and the will to conform to the crowd stand the test in the face of real problems?
"Stop ignoring the elephant in the room!" Russell said, "The league has never considered us, and the bosses are the same. They only care about their own wallets. If it weren't for the hard work of their predecessors, they might not be willing to pay us salaries! Of all the professional leagues in the United States, only the NBA allows players to arrange their own meals, only the NBA allows players to protect their own health, and only the NBA cannot ensure that retired people cannot spend their old age in peace! Such a league, what do we want it for?"

Auerbach behind Kennedy scolded: "Bill, you better fuck your conscience! Didn't Mr. Brown offer you the highest salary in the league?"

"What about the others?" Russell asked grimly. "What about the others' salaries?"

Seeing that the locker room was about to quarrel again, Kennedy quickly stopped them.

"Arguing can't solve the problem! Gentlemen, your demands are very reasonable. I guarantee that I will solve your problems, but you must finish the game first. Please believe me. The teams you represent and the owners who pay you wages cannot accept that you threaten them in this way! As long as you finish the game safely, your problems will be resolved. In any case, finish the game first!" Kennedy's voice gradually became louder, and he had to make sure everyone could hear his voice, "We must not go to extremes, there are two sides Sex is not a matter of life or death, first finish the game, then we sit down and discuss slowly, I promise we will put your rights and interests first!"

Seeing the players whispering to each other, Kennedy continued: "You guys think about it carefully. Redd and I are waiting outside for your reply."

Then comes the real test for the players.

Sometimes, we can die for our dreams, but the duration of that impulse may be only a moment, less than a second.

Even if we continue to do something, if a sober person pours cold water on you and tells you that realizing your dreams requires a heavy price, how many people will stop and how many people will persist?
Indeed, the players have been oppressed by the management, with little freedom and status.

Now they have resisted, and the rule makers remind them that if they continue to resist, they will lose their jobs, the alliance will dissolve, and their families will lose financial support.Under such a price, do you plan to continue?

If they didn’t do this, their life would be a bit bitter, but it’s okay. Didn’t two generations endure it in the past 18 years?Why do they have to bear the pressure that the predecessors have never endured, to seek the well-being of future generations?
Tried it, but didn't make it, shame?
What's more, they said that as long as the broadcast contract is settled, the salary will increase. Well, this remains to be seen.

You look at me, I look at you.

Heinsohn said: "Do you have any comments? Let's talk about it."

"The rednecks are going to think we're cowards if we quit halfway and get nothing," Russell said. "We can't end here!"

Jerry Lucas, from Royals, demurs: "But... what if we fail? What if they won't budge?"

He is a supernova, and his career has just begun. Although there was a moment of passionate uprising and resistance, the words of Mr. President obviously spoke to his heart. He is still very young, why should he accompany these people to gamble on his future?
"If you don't succeed, you will succeed. Don't you have the awareness?" Bob Pettit asked.

"Bob, you put it lightly. You will retire after a few years. We are still very young!" Wilt Chamberlain, one of the most important people in the locker room, said, "Mr. Kennedy made it very clear, go to the game, and there are other things to talk about. If you don't play the game, if you can't sign the broadcast contract, all of us will be unlucky! We will not be heroes at that time, and we will become sinners who bury the future of the league!"

Oscar Robertson stared at the Big Dipper like a Spanish bull seeing a red rag, "You want to betray?"

"I am still on your side, but can we be more realistic?" Chamberlain became the leader of the faction that wants to solve the problem after the game. "Make sure the league and the TV station sign the broadcast contract first, and then talk to them!"

Baylor, who was sitting in the middle, joked, "Wilt, is your boss going to give you a dividend from the TV contract?"

"Shit! How is it possible!" Chamberlain quickly denied.

"Your ass is almost sitting on the face of the bosses. After a long time, they won't pay you dividends? Then what the hell do you care about the broadcast contract here! We can't handle this matter today, everyone is finished together!" Big O played an extremely tough role in the chaos among the players, and he humiliated Chamberlain so much that he wanted to roll up his sleeves and fight.

The locker room was about to explode, which was exactly what Kennedy wanted.

"All right!"

In the chaotic locker room, Heinsohn's shout gave him a brief moment of calm.

"We are brothers in the trenches, don't mess around and let those bastards see a joke!" Heinsohn obviously wanted to kick Chamberlain, a selfish [-]-year-old boy, out of the locker room, but now for the sake of the overall situation, he must maintain stability, "Oscar is right, Wilt, and you are also right. But I believe that none of you can convince anyone. Players, raise your right hand!"

The hour of judgment has come.

"Even if we fail and the NBA is disbanded, there will be ABA, BAA, CBA, and MBA in the future. They will learn from the NBA's lessons and give players better benefits. However, if we become turtles, listen to red-neck nonsense, play the game first, and then solve the problem, I promise you, those bastards will only exploit us more and more!" Russell is a listener most of the time today, and Wei Xia has never heard so many words from him at once. "At that time, we are not heroes, we are cowards, sissies, cowards, useless waste, selfish garbage, and eternal sinners!"

After all, he firmly raised his right hand.

After him, Baylor followed with a raised right hand.

Then, one by one the resounding names, Pettit, Wilkens, Sam Jones, Heinsohn, including Jerry Lucas, who was vacillating before, all raised their right hands.

All of a sudden, ten people in the locker room raised their right hands.

The other ten people haven't raised their hands yet, but their failure to raise their hands has already shown their attitude to a certain extent.

"Jerry?" Baylor looked at the stunned West, "Don't tell me you're going to back off at this time!"

On screen, there are two kinds of characters that can bring tears to our eyes.

The vast and boundless universe, and the warriors who stand up for their beliefs.

Wei Xia didn't know how lucky he was to be able to represent Jerry West and raise his crucial right hand, bringing the number of people in this locker room who insisted on boycotting the game to 11!
11 is better than 9!

The majority obeys the minority, and those who hold the opposite opinion headed by Chamberlain will have to follow the other 11 people, because 9 people cannot play the game!
(End of this chapter)