The rest is just noise

Are Americans patriotic? That's like asking, "Do dung beetles eat dung?"

Louis still remembers that every Independence Day he spent in Ohio, the school would hold a singing party and invite his family and friends from the town to attend.

If domestic holiday parties all arrange songs with various main themes, then of course this kind of singing party in the United States will sing all kinds of "beautiful songs", such as "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America"...

When the song was played, everyone, men, women, old and young, stood up, raised their hands to their chests, and sang in unison. Looking back to this day, I can still feel how patriotic they were.

That's the insidiousness of Bristol's attack on the Knicks on the grounds of patriotism.

If not handled properly, the Knicks will be on the opposite side of the entire United States.

When the Knicks' press and public relations department informed Louis of the unexpected situation, his heart sank to the bottom.

"Tell this situation to others."

Players must know this news in advance, otherwise if they are suddenly interviewed by reporters at the press conference later, they will be in bad luck if they give an incorrect answer.

When the team's publicist said opponents were using patriotism to attack Mohamed Rauf and the Knicks for supporting Rauf, players who didn't understand the seriousness of the matter laughed.

"Isn't that true?" Rodman said jokingly, "Isn't there anyone who doesn't know that Mars is not patriotic?"

Stockton, a fanatical patriot, even said: "Isn't this the attitude that Muhammad has always expressed? Now everyone knows about it, isn't it just right?"

"What's so good?!" Louis couldn't stand listening anymore, "Do you know how bad the impact will be once this matter spreads? Do you know what to say in front of reporters later?"

Louis can't expect the players to support Rauf.

This is simply a fantasy.

After all, none of them approved of Rauf's actions, but just not supporting it is not enough for the fans.

In the eyes of fans, it is the great country of the United States that allows them to be promoted to the rich class just by playing basketball. What reason do these people have to not be patriotic?

The attitude of "no support" is perfunctory to fans.

They want to see a tougher attitude.

However, if he openly opposes Rauf's position, the Knicks will definitely be affected internally.

The Knicks locker room, which is already riddled with holes, is facing a difficult test at this time.

Even if only one person opposes Rauf, it will bring a devastating blow to the locker room.

"So, we're going to pretend we don't understand the situation?"

Stockton looked at Rauf.

"Mohammed, you should know that we do not support what you are doing, but we will not stop you from doing it. Now that the matter has become a big deal, do you want us to face reporters and answer questions that we do not know the inside story?"

"No, he can't be interviewed!" Louis rejected Stockton's plan to let Rauf wipe his own ass. "If he is provoked at the press conference, something more terrible will happen."

However, Stockton has no intention of backing down on this matter.

"I'm a patriot and I'm proud to be an American. Now you want me to make excuses for a shameful hater. Isn't this terrible? Is this fair to us?"

Stockton asked others: "Am I the only patriot in this locker room?"

What made Louis angry was not that Stokes openly contradicted him, but that he couldn't see the respect for the head coach in Stockton's eyes.

Stockton's appeal is reasonable and whoever caused the problem will resolve it.

If Raouf was a normal person, Louis would certainly let him face the torrent of the outside world alone.

But he is not a normal person, he is a psychopath who may go crazy at any time. Once he becomes ill, he will turn into a mad dog and spout a lot of swear words uncontrollably.

"Mohammed, don't you have anything to say?"

McHale believed Rauf's own opinion was more important.

Rauf did not want to drag his teammates into trouble.

"This matter has nothing to do with you. I will solve the trouble I caused myself."

"If you can solve it, do we need to close the door to discuss it?" Louis did not explain clearly, because some things do not need to be pointed out, "Once you can't control the situation, once you can't bear the bombardment of questions from reporters,

Everything is over, do you understand? I don’t agree with your attendance!"

Reggie Williams expressed his opinion: "To be honest, we don't know the specific circumstances of this matter, but now we have to accept questions from reporters about this matter, which is very difficult for me and others.

It's unfair."

Rauf did not have a personal relationship with most of his teammates.

This is the reason why everyone is unwilling to stand up for him.

In this case, the opinions of the coaching staff cannot influence the players' will.

Because the main ones affected are the players.

Louis could not force them to resist the pressure for Rauf.

Among the players, there are some sober-minded people like Stockton and Williams who "responsible for whoever causes trouble", and there are also co-prosperity people like Rodman who "lose everything".

The relationship between Rodman and Rauf was as light as water.

"Did it just recently that CJ (Rodman forgot about changing his name) not participate in the national anthem ceremony before the game started? Are you so fucking embarrassed now that you have cleared yourself up? Didn't he say hello to us in the first place? Didn't we?

Do you understand his thoughts? Wasn’t what he did done with our acquiescence? Now something has happened, but you have become patriots? My God, you are so damn pure and pure, I am attracted by your patriotism

I’m so moved that I want to fucking vomit!”

Williams fumed: "I never said I agreed with him doing this!"

Rodman sarcastically said: "Excuse me, when did you object? If you have never objected to this matter, don't talk nonsense! You don't care about this matter at all. This matter has never been important in your heart. It's just

Because it has become a big issue now and you have become a patriot again. If you want to break away from it, your patriotic method is really flexible."

"Dennis, you have never understood what patriotism is. You have no sense of honor, you cannot understand our feelings, and you are not qualified to accuse us." Stockton retorted fiercely.

"What the hell did you say?"

Rodman was furious and stepped forward to take action.

Kemp stood directly between them: "We can't solve the problem like this!"

Louis watched them quarreling indifferently.

While observing, he "marked" it in his mind.

Rodman was a jerk, but his reaction was exactly what Louis wanted to see.

This is also the most appropriate reaction based on various circumstances.

If they are a united team, this is how it should be.

But apparently, Stockton and Williams and the rest of the silent crowd don't think so.

At this point, only two people can set the tone for this matter.

One is Ewing and the other is Wilson.

This is a matter between players. Apart from expressing his attitude, Louis can only let the players decide the rest.

Stevens agreed with Rodman's statement, but others spoke softly. In this case, it was Ewing and Wilson who could express their attitude on behalf of all players.

Therefore, he first stopped everyone's quarrel, and then turned to look at You and Wei, who were still speechless.

"Patrick, Benj, everyone has their own opinions, why don't you two discuss it and come up with an idea, and we'll just do it."

Ewing and Wilson are the core of the team. Although they are not the loudest people in the locker room, the current situation is too stiff and someone must stand up and call the shots.

This person cannot be Louis, because this matter has nothing to do with the game, but involves the image and public opinion of the team and players off the court. Louis objected to Rauf going out to face reporters directly because if Rauf did not handle this matter well, it would be very difficult for him to do so.

It could turn into an irreversible public relations disaster.

The external disaster is endless, but the internal impact... Looking at it now, it may not be that big, because the situation cannot get worse.

The ball was kicked to the feet of Ewing and Wilson.

Wilson, who usually calls Ewing the leader of the team, does not intend to take any responsibility at this moment and simply stays out of the matter.

He legitimately pulled away and let Ewing decide where to kick the ball.

Nonetheless, Wilson's statement also disappointed Louis.

"I listen to you on this matter."

Wilson said this, no matter what the outcome, he could escape responsibility.

He does not need to be the "patriot" who pushes Rauf out on the street, nor does he need to risk offending other pure patriots by proposing a Rodman-style approach of mutual prosperity and shared loss.

He just had to stand quietly and watch what Ewing did.

What Louis was disappointed with was not that Wilson kicked the ball to Ewing, but that Wilson didn't give his attitude.

He has not publicly stated his support for Rauf or his lack of support.

Whether he supports it or not, it is reasonable.

Not taking a stand can be interpreted as protecting one's own safety, but to a certain extent, it is an attitude of indifference.

So Ewing needs to make a decision on his own.

Ewing looked at Rauf and said seriously: "Mohammed, I will go to the media room with you and let us resolve this matter."

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