At 10 am on June 27, 1999, the Knicks' championship parade officially began.
It still followed the route of the Knicks' championship parade in the 1970s, starting from Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan, moving along 42nd Street, and finally arriving at Madison Square Garden.
Manhattan, which was already congested, was already crowded at this time, and tourists who liked to join in the fun would also participate in the parade to celebrate the team's fourth championship in history.
The parade route was actually not long, and the straight-line distance was less than 1.7 miles, but in the end everyone chose to walk in a "self" shape, passing through Bryant Park, the Public Library, City Hall and other places along the way.
Lee didn't take the bus at this time.
The bus was almost unable to move.
There were people on both sides of the street.
The New York Police Department was the busiest today, but it was not a loss to get donations after a busy day.
"Lee! This way! We came to New York specifically to participate in the event!"
The identity of ABC made it difficult for Lee to gain recognition on the other side of the ocean, but in the United States, most people liked him very much, and there were also many Asian fans.
"Ah!!"
Lee, wearing a championship T-shirt, high-fived the fans on both sides.
Everyone shouted excitedly, and suddenly he arched forward, scaring the security personnel to quickly pull Lee back.
On the top of the double-decker bus in the back, Oakley, wearing sunglasses and holding a cigar, saw this scene and immediately grinned, and said loudly to Ewing beside him:
"Pat, dreams come true, we have a chance to win three consecutive championships."
"We watched the Bulls win back then, and now we have done it too!"
In the early 1990s, the Knicks were considered to be losing.
Ewing would be criticized for being a softie every time he lost a game.
After losing the finals, he was almost sprayed out of New York.
Thinking of the experience in the early days of his career, Ewing was a little absent-minded for a while.
Since winning the finals, in just two days, the New York media has hyped him up as the "league's top center."
In the morning newspaper, in order to mock O'Neal in Los Angeles, the gorilla was praised to pieces!
No one cares that he won a championship by doing nothing, and no one cares that his body shape has changed and his state has fluctuated this season.
A championship can cover everything.
Ewing did not expect that at the end of his career, his reputation would turn 180 degrees.
The cheers and shouts of the crowd around him brought Ewing back to his senses.
Most of the people on the roof of the bus were team staff. Alan Houston, Larry Johnson, and Sprewell were all talking and laughing beside Lee and waving to the crowd around them.
Oakley, who took a few puffs of his cigar, picked up the two O'Brien Cups at this time, causing the fans around him to cheer loudly again.
The old guy seemed particularly proud at this time and could not help but shouting:
"Fuck! Champions are great!"
The Knicks chose to turn the championship parade into a grand party this year.
After returning to Madison Square Garden, there will be many interactive activities.
Of course, the most important part is the "Knicks Hall of Fame" held by the Knicks themselves.
After returning to the stadium, MSG naturally broadcast the whole process live, and the legendary Walt Frazier became the host again.
Most of those invited to participate in the celebration were old fans who often bought tickets.
Looking at the four trophies placed in the center of the venue, cheers continued to ring out before the event started.
"I'm glad to see the Knicks win the championship again. This is such an exciting moment!"
"We have a chance to fulfill the dream that we never realized back then, three consecutive championships. Yes, we have a chance to achieve three consecutive championships!"
Walt Frazier, dressed in a brown suit, said this, and the scene burst into huge cheers again.
Lee and his teammates sat in the center of the venue, watching the old predecessors begin to reminisce about the past.
When Willis Reed came on the court, the scene also burst into applause.
In the history of the Knicks, Willis Reed also won MVP and FMVP in a single season.
That was the most glorious moment of the team, and this year is a repeat of history.
The "Knicks Hall of Fame" event is mainly to pay tribute to the outstanding players and coaches in the history of the team.
When James Dolan smiled and presented a customized golden basketball trophy to the legendary star, the big screen on the scene also began to play the video and interview of that year.
In the early 1970s, Lee was not born yet, so naturally he didn't have much sense of substitution.
But many old fans were very excited to watch it.
Stephen A. Smith, who came to participate in the event specially, kept clapping his hands, as if he recalled the grand occasion of that year.
Although Lee thinks these activities borrowed ideas from the Lakers and Celtics, most fans don't care about them.
This is also a move to increase a sense of belonging.
Holding the trophy, dressed in a black suit, Willis Reed smiled and waved to Lee.
When the two came to the front of the trophy, the shouts rang out again:
"MVP! MVP! MVP!"
Willis Reed, who was in good shape and in a good mood, took the microphone and joked:
"According to the original plan, the event should be held during the second game of the finals, but in the end James told me that the team will win the championship and the event will be held after the championship."
"Lee, I want to thank you! If I don't win the championship this year, maybe I have to wait another year to have a chance to win this trophy!"
Everyone at the scene laughed.
Winning the championship for two consecutive years has made everyone swell.
Willis Reed was naturally aware of the issues that everyone was concerned about, and then he asked Lee beside him with a smile:
"We are only one step away from achieving three consecutive championships. Lee, will the Knicks realize the dream of all of us next season?"
The event was all about bragging.
Lee took the microphone and answered without hesitation:
"Of course! The Knicks will still be the strongest team in the league next season, and we will continue to win the championship!"
"Wow!"
New York fans like this.
The more they brag, the happier everyone is.
The two of them brag about each other, and the fans at the scene are overjoyed.
The next season hasn't started yet, but everyone has already borrowed the championship.
When James Dolan took the microphone again, the big screen at the scene began to play the picture of Reed Holzman coaching the team:
"Again, a tribute to Mr. Holzman!"
At the end of last year, this legendary coach left.
At that time, the Knicks were in a labor dispute, and they could not hold an event for this legendary championship coach.
This championship can be regarded as making up for the regret at that time.
Jeff Van Gundy, who kept smiling throughout the game, looked at the side with yearning.
He has now tied the history created by this legend.
As long as he wins another championship, he will not only become the best coach in the team's history, but also the super coach in the league!
Thinking of what the legendary coach once taught him, Jeff Van Gundy secretly made up his mind:
"Stick to defense and let the players decide the game!"
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Ewing is still loved by the fans.
There are still old fans wearing No. 33 jerseys at the scene, but more are young people wearing No. 1 jerseys.
Players will be replaced, and so are fans.
"Fight for Ewing" has been successful.
General Manager Grunfeld looked at the gorilla who made chicken soup for the fans and felt helpless.
The rational choice is to send this away in exchange for younger and more talented players, and it would be best to upgrade the inside line.
But this does not conform to the team culture.
Ewing, who has played in New York for most of his life, did not take the initiative to propose a trade, and no one would take the lead.
If the team's performance improves after the trade, everything will be fine.
If it fails, the general manager will have to take the blame.
Considering the goal for next season, Grunfeld simply pulled Jeff Van Gundy aside and whispered:
"Jeff, you need to strictly require the players. You can't get out of shape again. Next season is very important!"
The bald young coach who was originally laughing and listening to chicken soup suddenly stopped laughing after hearing this.
He couldn't control this matter.
Not wanting to bow down in front of the general manager, Jeff Van Gundy whispered:
"Don't worry! After the new season starts, I will make every player in the best condition!"
In the past, the two did not have much communication, but as the team won the championship again, Jeff Van Gundy's status also rose.
Sprewell looked at the Knicks' guessing, lucky wheel, interactive shooting and other activities and secretly said it was a pity.
New York fans are really enthusiastic.
If he can start, he will definitely stay in the team, but being a substitute does not meet his pursuit.
He still wants to be the boss.
Sprewell has seen that the Knicks' celebrities are all supporting Lee, and the gorilla is completely out of date.
Although the championship parade was great, at the end of the event, the "madman" was also thinking about his future.
Even if he could become the boss of a weak team, that would be great!
On the morning of June 28, when Lee woke up in his apartment in Manhattan, Ivanka, who was only wearing a loose T shirt, was looking at the inscription on the FMVP trophy.
Last night, Charles's dinner party turned into a gathering of celebrities at the city hall.
The mayor and a real estate developer attended the dinner party.
Everyone had a good chat.
Lee laughed so hard that his cheeks were sore.
Lee hugged the blond white rabbit, whose face became rounder.
He couldn't help but joked:
"If you get fatter, you might as well say goodbye to your modeling career!"
It seems that she is not worried about her figure.
Her weight has increased and her confrontation ability has also improved.
Ivanka retracted her divergent thoughts and simply sat on Lee:
"NBA teams are so profitable!"
At the dinner party last night, the blond white rabbit learned from the playboy dad about the market value and income of the Knicks in the past two years.
Every time they win a championship, there will be a huge advertising effect.
The Knicks are not only in short supply of tickets, but the price of advertising space is also increasing.
Next season, the front-row tickets will increase in price, but they are now sold out.
There are many upper-class people who are fooled.
Even if they don't go to watch the game, they have to buy these tickets!
Guessing the other party's thoughts, Lee held the little hand that was touching him and joked with a smile:
"NBA teams also have losses. This is New York. If you are interested, you can learn about the Vancouver Grizzlies and some small-market teams. Everyone is not doing well!"
"At least this year, there must be some losses!"
Thinking of the activities of the Knicks and the situation of the sports league in New York, Ivanka quickly leaned into Lee's ear and whispered:
"If there is a chance, you should still get some sports industry. It should make money."
The New York Yankees and the New York Mets are also very popular.
Lee certainly knows that the sports industry is a good investment direction in the future.
After hearing Ivanka's whispers, some memories also emerged.
But thinking of the situation of the US dollars on his body, Lee decided to press F to help the fat girl next to him lose weight!
On June 30, the 1999 NBA draft was held at the MIC Center in Washington.
At the lottery, the Chicago Bulls, who were playing badly, got the No. 1 pick.
This also caused dissatisfaction among some teams.
It was obvious that this was special care from the league.
When David Stern announced with a smile that the Chicago Bulls had selected Elton Brand, there were scattered boos at the scene.
Ron Artest, who was sitting in the audience, was very nervous.
He wanted to be selected first, but also wanted to play for the Knicks at home.
The Grizzlies selected the hot combo guard Steve Francis with the second pick;
The Hornets selected Baron Davis at the third pick;
And the Clippers selected Lamar Odom at the fourth pick.
When the Washington Wizards selected Hamilton at the seventh pick, there was finally cheering at the scene;
The Suns selected Shawn Marion at the ninth pick;
And the Hawks selected Jason Terry at the tenth pick.
After the top 10 picks were announced, Ron Artest in the audience showed a lost look.
At the 16th pick, Artest heard his name and was selected by the Bulls.
After he went on stage, he forced a smile and shook hands with the president.
Back in the audience, he saw the young players around him celebrating.
Artest took off his hat and was stopped by his agent before he could go back to his family.
"God! This is definitely good news!"
"Ron, you're going to play for the Knicks. Our chance has come!"
Artest, who was a little frustrated just now, immediately hugged his agent excitedly after hearing his agent's words, pumping his fists repeatedly to vent his excitement:
"Yes! I knew my hometown team wouldn't give up on me!"
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