Basketball Legend: When Pride Still Matters

George Karl looked at Yu Fei, who was once again standing by Ray Allen.

However, he hadn't split with Ray Allen.

It seemed that Yu Fei had saved this almost shattered situation.

"If you guys don't have any objections, I won't have any either," Karl said.

This matter should already be nearing its end.

But Yu Fei didn't want to miss this hard-won opportunity for a candid exchange. He immediately asked Ray Allen, "Rey-ray, since George doesn't have a problem with you, what about you, do you have a problem with him?"

Karl frowned, his gaze toward Yu Fei filled with unclear implications.

What's the situation?

Does this kid no longer want to live a good life?

Wasn't he the one who wanted to be the peacemaker? Why is he stirring things up now?

Karl was well aware of what he had done to Ray Allen. How could this BYD not have any objections?

If the matter ended here, perhaps the conflict would temporarily disappear, but Ray Allen's predicament remained.

Yu Fei felt that they had wasted too much time in this dilemma, and if they didn't seize the time to quell the internal strife, the season would be doomed again.

"Of course, I have objections!" Ray Allen recounted meticulously, "Since the autumn of 2000, he has criticized me 45 times in front of the media regardless of the situation. He made the media think I was incompetent, made the fans feel I wasn't fulfilling my responsibilities, and I've borne a lot of undue pressure because of his words. If he hadn't said those things, I would have been better!"

Remembering the number of criticisms, isn't that a bit obsessive?

Yu Fei usually quite enjoyed teasing Ray Allen, just didn't know if the guy kept a "Frye has bullied me this many times" tally.

Karl defended himself: "I did that precisely to push you to become better!"

"Are you saying that you mocking me as a pretty boy in front of the media, telling fans I don't take responsibility, and saying everywhere that I'm someone who hides and cries after a little injury, are meant to make me better?" Ray Allen's anger built up as he spoke, and at the peak of his emotions, all his home training went out the window, "FUCKKKKKK!!! I can't stand this anymore!"

As this topic arose, other people also started to express their opinions.

Sprewell stated, "I've been criticized when I didn't play well, too. Why couldn't we have talked about it in person?"

"Me too!" Mason wanted to say that Karl criticized him in front of the media more times than Ray Allen, but then Yu Fei shut him down with, "Just shut up, have you complained about your lack of ball rights any less?"

"Lack of ball rights is a fact!"

"Your shitty playing is also a fact!"

"Damn it, why do you always have to oppose me?"

"As long as you do the right thing, I won't oppose you anymore."

Mason shut up, fuming, while Yu Fei said to Karl, "George, you see, everyone dislikes some of your methods."

Karl's eyes widened in dissatisfaction and asked, "Are you saying you'd prefer that I say those words to your faces?"

"That would be best."

"It's best to clear up anything we have to say face to face."

The atmosphere suddenly lightened up, and in the end, the players agreed on a set of rules with Karl.

From now on, no one could spread internal team matters to outsiders without permission.

Sprewell dubbed this the "Fart in Person" agreement.

After much consideration, Karl agreed to sign the "Fart in Person" agreement with the players.

Signing this agreement was predicated on the idea that Karl wouldn't apologize for things from the past.

For other NBA teams, this was an ordinary night, but for the Bucks, it held extraordinary significance.

The signing of the "Fart in Person" agreement symbolized that the artificial internal divides of the Milwaukee Bucks were collapsing. From now on, if anyone had an issue or a complaint about another, it could be brought up face to face. Resolving issues might be difficult, but bottling them up would lead to endless unrest.

So remember today, it's Christmas of 2002. Perhaps in the not-too-distant future, today's significance will surpass the Bucks' victory in the "coin game" over the Phoenix Suns more than thirty years ago, which allowed them to acquire Lou Alcindor—in becoming one of the most important days in the history of the Milwaukee Bucks.

"It's about time."

Chief Assistant Coach Ron Adams said.

"Well then," Yu Fei said aloud, standing at the center, "let's go out there and knock down everyone!"