Chapter 25: The Friendly New York Media

On July 18, 1996, the Los Angeles Lakers officially signed Shaquille O'Neal.

The Lakers had been clearing cap space for some time, and while the media knew the team was planning a major move, the actual signing of "The Diesel" still left onlookers stunned. A seven-year, $120 million contract, combined with the promise of Jerry West’s vision, ultimately lured O'Neal away from the Orlando Magic. The partnership between Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway and O'Neal—which had reached the NBA Finals in 1995—was now officially over. With Michael Jordan’s return fueling a resurgent Bulls dynasty, this highly anticipated duo had finally parted ways.

Of course, O'Neal’s departure was also tied to the choices made by the Magic’s front office. After Alonzo Mourning signed a seven-year, $105 million deal with the Miami Heat, Shaq felt his own market value shouldn't be any lower. The Magic management, however, failed to prioritize O'Neal’s perspective, still viewing Penny Hardaway as the true core of the team. Compounded by local media and fans fanning the flames and constantly dredging up past failures—mocking O'Neal for always being swept out of the playoffs—Shaq decided to head West and leave the Eastern Conference behind.

The trade caused a massive stir. For days, ESPN and TNT focused entirely on how the Lakers would fare in the upcoming season. Meanwhile, most media outlets sang the praises of Jerry West’s maneuvering, while the New York press, green with envy, reverted to their usual habit of digging up old grievances: "Perhaps we should make a change; Patrick Ewing is the reason the team cannot take the next step!"

The bitterness of the New York media was also linked to rumors surrounding Michael Jordan. Whispers suggested the Knicks were aggressively courting Jordan with a massive contract offer. However, on the 13th, Jordan released a brief statement: "I am happy to continue playing for the Chicago Bulls, and I hope to help the team win another championship!" At $30.14 million for one year, Jordan secured the highest single-season contract in sports history at the time—a salary he certainly deserved. The Knicks were likely merely a tool used by Jordan’s team to drive up his price; there was never any real intention of him coming to New York.

Having lived in Manhattan for nearly a month, Li You had fully grasped the power of the New York media. As the largest media market in the United States, New York’s myriad television stations, radio outlets, and newspapers were obsessed with every move and performance of the Knicks. MSG, a cable network dedicated to the Knicks and other local sports, held exclusive broadcasting rights and provided fans with pre-game, mid-game, and post-game coverage. Programs like "Knicks Game Night" and "Knicks Overtime" were staples for the city's fanbase.

Beyond MSG, the local NBC affiliate, WNBC, also covered the Knicks, often inviting former stars to provide commentary during the playoffs. Shows like "NBC 4 Sports" and "Sunday Sports Final" enjoyed high ratings. WFAN, the first 24-hour sports radio station in the country, served as the official radio partner of the Knicks and kept the chatter going throughout the offseason.

The print media was equally relentless. The New York Times, a national paper with immense influence, always reserved space for the Knicks in its professional sports section. The New York Post, a tabloid-style urban paper, favored light, humorous, and clickbait-heavy content, with the Knicks never far from its headlines. The Daily News and Newsday offered daily variations of team analysis, while weeklies like The Village Voice and Sports Illustrated also ran featured reports on the team.

With the Lakers signing Shaquille O'Neal, the New York media began their crusade against Patrick Ewing. It was no wonder Ewing had a strained relationship with the press; no one would have a pleasant demeanor after being constantly commodified and belittled by the media.

On the morning of the 20th, after breakfast, Li You was reading the New York Post with amusement: "Knicks’ Pretty Boy: Clay-Lee’s Charm!" The New York reporters were truly professional; they had snapped photos of Li You strolling through Central Park with Melinda and several other young women. The article largely mocked Li You as being all style and no substance. Even though he hadn't played a single game yet, the envious New York media was sparing no one—not even a rookie—attacking indiscriminately. They even brought up his comment from the draft interview, "College basketball is no different from the NBA," teasing him repeatedly over the past few days.

Seeing these newspapers and programs, Li You felt a sense of familiarity. The sensationalist headlines actually made him feel quite at home. "These articles aren't interesting enough. They should make a bet or eat something strange for the sake of entertainment value. I’m starting to like the New York media!"

Without the ability to surf the web, Li You’s primary source of entertainment was the newspapers and magazines of the era. Mark Bartelstein could only shake his head helplessly at Li You’s comment. He had initially worried about Li You struggling to adapt to New York life, but after observing him for a few days, he realized his concerns were misplaced. "Getting used to New York is fine. The media in Chicago is much the same as here. Don't worry about what they say; as long as you perform well on the court, you can make these guys shut up."

Li You just smiled; he genuinely enjoyed reading these fabricated news reports. "The trainers have some issues. The ones who accepted our invitations are too focused on strength training, which isn't what I’m looking for." Scientific training and dietary structure were technical tasks, but in the environment of this era, most trainers didn't meet Li You’s standards.

Mark Bartelstein didn't have many solutions for that. The most famous private trainer currently was Tim Grover, who, as Michael Jordan’s personal trainer, held the highest prestige in the industry. "Perhaps you need a personal assistant-style trainer. I’ll help you find some suitable candidates in a few days."

"Li, don't go playing at amateur courts. I've set up a membership for you at the New York Athletic Club." Mark was terrified that Li You would get bored and head to places like Rucker Park to exert himself.

Li You agreed readily; he had no interest in showing off at a so-called "mecca" of streetball. The recently hyped Rafer Alston was fast becoming a "streetball king," but that title held little value. Once you reached the NBA, those flashy moves were useless, and the offense required you to obediently feed the ball to the big man in the low post.

At the end of July, Li You received good news from his former teammate, Travis Knight. After the Bulls selected Knight with the 29th pick, they had no intention of signing him and released him shortly after. After two weeks of uncertainty, the Lakers finally picked up the white big man.

"I almost thought I was going to be out of a job. It was a nightmare! I still don't understand why the Bulls drafted me only to let me go." Knight sounded emotional over the phone, and Li You did his best to comfort him. "It’s all in the past now. Los Angeles is a great place. When we play away games, I’m counting on you!"

After ending the call, Li You looked at his newly purchased, rainbow-colored Motorola StarTac. He felt a wave of nostalgia. "A classic flip phone, weighing less than 100 grams. This $1,000 was money well spent!"