The rest is just noise

"I'm not sure there's any weak-minded guy on our team who's jealous of Larry for that."

As soon as Louis said what he said, Russell laughed.

Isiah Thomas sat calmly, as if what Louis said had nothing to do with him.

"It seems that you are really in trouble." Russell said arrogantly, "Unfortunately, I have never had such trouble. The team has a consensus on my strength. I don't need other people's approval, I only need their approval.

And they recognize me, which means more to me than the whole world."

Just as Louis was about to say a few more words, the chef brought the food himself.

The dish Louis and Thomas ordered together was called "Pig Nicorette".

Louis has never eaten this thing. Russell said it is a traditional black food. Judging from the appearance, it looks a bit like Chinese braised large intestine.

So with such a curious name, it actually means braised large intestine?

"What is this?" Louis wanted to ask clearly before he spoke.

"Just eat it with confidence." Russell's laughter was shocking again, "Hey, this is the crystallization of hundreds of years of wisdom of us black people!"

Black people say in front of Chinese people that what they eat is the crystallization of their wisdom? It’s so funny.

Louis wanted to laugh but couldn't, so he had to try a bite himself.

What looked like braised large intestine was put into his mouth through a knife and fork, and Louis was sure it was large intestine.

But the taste is completely different from braised large intestine.

China's braised large intestine, with its advanced technology, is always fresh and sweet when it enters the mouth, crispy and tough without losing the feeling of fatness. When you bite down, it feels like sinking into pig intestines, squeezing out a lot of marinated juice, which is delicious.

It's chewy and smooth, and you can chew it until it makes a squeaking sound. The more you eat, the more you want to eat.

And this thing...

For a moment, Louis blushed.

The burning taste buds reminded him that when he went to the toilet to drop a bomb tomorrow, there would be nothing left of the chrysanthemum.

"How is it?" Russell is still a good-looking person.

Louis couldn't tell the truth, so he could only eat several bites and then perform live: "It's delicious!"

"It seems you have the taste buds of a black man!" Russell said happily, "Give me a few more bites!"

"No problem, I'm hungry!"

Louis inexplicably missed his mother at home and authentic Chinese food. He shouldn't have come.

"Where did we just talk?" Thomas didn't want to interrupt such a serious topic just for a moment of food.

"Speaking of the issue of media focusing more on white people." Louis returned to the topic.

He was already crying. It was obviously spring and the temperature was low, but he was sweating a lot.

"Times have changed. Players a few decades ago were paid less than one-tenth of what they are today. Fans don't like this sport, and there are no national broadcasts. The media won't pay that much attention to the stars of this sport."

"Now, million-dollar contracts, historical status, who is better and who is stronger, various issues and titles, and various interests-related matters have made the media's presence far greater than in the past, and they control the weather vane.

.”

"So, whoever they like can become a superstar. On the contrary, for those guys who are not liked by the media, even if he is as strong as Isiah, many people think he is not as good as Bernard King." Louis made another insinuation.

Thomas glanced at Louis, and he knew that the other party had seen through all his thoughts.

Russell is a master of psychology. He can hear what's going on in Louis' words, knows who those words are referring to, and even knows what trouble Thomas is having.

"So sometimes it doesn't matter the color of the skin. Bernard King was great, but not as great as the New York media made him out to be. You know what? After they won those two championships in the '70s, they had hundreds of writers writing for them.

We publish a book, but how many people pay attention to us?" Russell asked unhappily.

Louis smiled and said: "I remember that the Knicks in those years were also led by black people, right?"

"Yes, Willis Reed, Kaz Russell, Walter Frazier and later Earl Monroe."

Russell was actually a little envious.

"As long as it's in the right place, skin color doesn't matter at all."

"So," Thomas asked, "Boston isn't the right place?"

"Never."

Louie numbly ate the black "delicacy", he had to finish it.

This is not Russell's request, but a basic etiquette. When someone invites you to eat, you must force yourself to eat more even if it is not to your liking.

"If I can never get applause for what I do, why should I keep doing it?"

Thomas seemed to have a showdown, no longer expressing euphemistically, but directly using the first person.

"It depends on what you want."

Russell made several more laughs that made people feel psychologically and physically uncomfortable.

"Hehe, just like Wilt and me, he wants data, countless women and a comfortable life, while I just want fairness, honor, and defeating all opponents!"

Louis still has the same view, but times have changed.

It would be difficult for Thomas to compete for pure honor like the players he did 20 years ago.

And these are Russell's values, he demands equality, respect, and honor.

This is the foundation of his success.

Thomas never came to his senses.

Looking at the future of the Celtics, if Thomas can't figure it out, or he just can't accept that he has done so much for the team, but the media only sees Bird, then maybe a change of environment would be better for him?

Louis discovered that he didn't know Thomas that well.

Because he is not sure which is more important to Thomas, honor or fairness.

Louis was so spicy that he lost consciousness and finally finished the black food on the plate.

Russell asked enthusiastically if he wanted another helping.

Louis pursed his bright red lips and said, "I'm full."

"My appetite is too small, Coach Lu, I can eat three big plates in a row." Russell said proudly.

Louis found that Thomas had only eaten a few bites. Obviously, even for a black man like him, the food in Russell's restaurant was not delicious.

Fortunately, eating is just a temporary task for this trip and can be completed or not.

Louis is a quality guy, so he got it done without compromise.

Thomas came to brainwash him, and he learned about Russell's situation in Boston.

Will his views change when he discovers that even Russell, who allowed the Celtics to dominate an era, can't get the fairness he wants?

Before leaving, Russell mentioned something.

"Do you remember 1981?" Russell asked.

At that time, Thomas was still at Indiana University and Louis was just an assistant coach, but he remembered what happened that year.

"Of course, the second-year Larry defeated the doctor and won the MVP that year, and won the FMVP in the finals." Louis said.

This makes Bird the second player after Kareem Abdul-Jabbar to win double MVPs in his second year.

Russell smiled bitterly: "Some people are really forgetful. Just because Larry won that championship, they think Larry is the best player in the history of the Celtics. I

Admit it, he is very versatile, just like Big O, but the strongest in the history of the team? Not necessarily, he is not even better than Hondo now."

Although Louis doesn't think Havlicek was better than the current Bird in any season, it is nonsense to say that the current Bird has a higher status than the former.

The implication of Russell's words is that if Bird can't compare to Havlicek, how can he be better than him?

King of the Rings keeps saying that he doesn't pay attention to the Celtics, but it can be seen from his words and deeds that he always cares about the troubles in Boston.

He even remembers what the media said about Bird three years ago.

Before leaving Russell's store, Thomas solemnly thanked him: "These words are very important to me tonight, Bill, thank you."

"By the way, do you have any suggestions for improvements regarding Nicorette?" Russell finally asked.

Louis was full of praise: "It's perfect. I haven't eaten such delicious food in a long time. I will definitely come back when I have time."

"It seems I have to issue you a VIP card." Russell smiled.

Then, Louis and Thomas left together.

When he walked to the roadside and waited for a taxi, Thomas asked: "Do you really think Bill's Nicorette is delicious?"

"No, it's not delicious at all. I feel like vomiting just thinking about that taste."

Thomas was used to Louis's behavior of being duplicitous and unrecognizable.

"Why did you ask me to come to see Bill?" he asked.

"Why, you know it in your heart. If you still can't see it, then there's nothing I can do about it. I hope your inner demons won't hinder us in the playoffs." Louis looked like he was enlightened. He had already been beaten by Russell.

The Nicorette pork dices in the restaurant are so spicy that I have no idea.

After eating that food, his fighting spirit was gone.

"Inner demon? I don't have that thing."

"Humph, it's better not to have any!"