Chapter 516: The Bereaved Dog

[Chapter 581: The Dog of a Loser]

With the announcement of the 1996 Golden Globe nominations for American film and television, Galaxy's films The English Patient and Evita both received nods.

A week before Christmas, Arthur returned to Los Angeles, showing little interest in the "East Coast-West Coast rap feud."

At night, at the Galaxy Center in Los Angeles.

The Los Angeles Galaxy was facing off against the Chicago Bulls, and Arthur was in a luxury box watching the game with Jennifer Connelly.

"This is the Triad," Arthur remarked as he pointed out Bulls players Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman on the court.

"The Galaxy has Shaquille O'Neal," Jennifer Connelly explained.

"Yeah, they've got Shaquille!"

The seven-year, $121 million contract was the biggest in the league at that time, while Michael Jordan's salary of over $30 million that year remained the highest; this year, Juwan Howard signed a similar seven-year deal with the Washington Bullets; Alonzo Mourning also struck a seven-year contract worth $105 million with the Miami Heat.

Because Michael Jordan's annual salary exceeded the salary cap, the league allowed each team to sign one player above the salary cap upon the request of other team owners; to secure Shaquille for the Galaxy, Arthur offered a seven-year, $121 million deal, a competitive response to the Lakers.

"Still, it's worth it," Arthur said, giving Jennifer a peck on the cheek. "The Galaxy moved to a new stadium, and having Shaquille onboard means more ticket sales and additional revenue. Hundreds of luxury boxes sold for a pretty penny, the Galaxy Center is also hosting all sorts of concerts and events, it's going to become a new landmark in Los Angeles!"

Jennifer Connelly chuckled, "The Lakers have been completely overshadowed by the Galaxy now; the Galaxy Center is so much better than the Forum."

"The Forum?" Arthur scoffed. Jerry Buss had even wanted the Lakers and Galaxy to share the Galaxy Center. What a notion!

Two teams sharing a venue? It was hardly a sound idea, especially since the Galaxy Center was his private enterprise, and he couldn't even be bothered to sell the naming rights.

After the game, Arthur and Jennifer Connelly headed out to a bar in West Hollywood to unwind.

"Hang on," Arthur said, pulling away from the woman he held close on the couch. "I'll be right back; I need to hit the bathroom."

Jennifer nodded.

...

After using the restroom and on his way back, he bumped into Michael Ovitz.

"Hey, Michael, long time no see," Arthur greeted him with a smile, noticing that Michael seemed to look like a loser of sorts. Having been kicked out of Disney, this was the first time Arthur had seen Michael Ovitz after that incident.

Michael had just celebrated his fiftieth birthday last week but was facing the biggest crisis of his life.

"Arthur, good evening. Is there something you need?" Michael Ovitz clearly didn't want to chat.

"Come on, Michael, we've been friends for a long time," Arthur said, moving closer and patting Michael's shoulder. "Is it true what Eisner said about you having some kind of mental breakdown, locking yourself to the desk in the Disney president's office with a chain and refusing to leave?"

In Hollywood at that time, Michael Ovitz had become a laughingstock. A colossal joke; having offended too many during his time at CAA, the man now found himself with nowhere to turn.

"Arthur, I can't believe you're still this childish? You think this kind of ridicule will have any effect on someone like me?" Ovitz shook his head. "I've been working in Hollywood for many years; I can still return to the talent management business."

Arthur gave him a thumbs up. "That's the spirit! I love seeing you defiant like this after your fall. Making a comeback? At your age, you should understand that those in charge of CAA now will never allow you back in as a talent agent. And if you somehow manage to sneak in, CAA will undoubtedly crush you!"

Then, Arthur wiped the smile off his face. "You've become the public enemy of Hollywood's film companies, talent agencies, and PR firms, you know that? Heck, you've truly become a scapegoat in this industry! And you still think you can remain in Hollywood? Take my advice: spend your severance from Disney wisely and enjoy life, or you'll end up with nothing!"

Arthur turned and walked away, realizing that Michael Ovitz had basically become a nonentity; he would never return to CAA, and even those mid-sized talent agencies that had once suffered under him now despised him.

The major agencies wanted nothing to do with him, and film companies were even publicly refusing to work with him!

Michael Ovitz stood watching Arthur walk away, his fist tightening in anger, grappling with resurgent feelings of rage toward his longtime friend, Michael Eisner; now, he truly understood the wrath and bitterness that Jeffrey Katzenberg had felt towards Eisner years ago.

...

Arthur returned to his seat, leaned back on the couch, and took a sip of his drink, feeling a bit pleased with himself.

He smiled while running his hand over Jennifer Connelly's thigh, saying, "I just ran into Michael Ovitz and had a little chat. We really hit it off!"

"You and Michael Ovitz hit it off?" Jennifer's expression turned suspicious. Everyone in Hollywood knew about Arthur Smith's past conflicts, and Ovitz was not the only one; Mel Gibson was another.

Arthur cleared his throat and wrapped his arm around Jennifer Connelly. "I enjoyed it; as for how Ovitz felt, that's his business. But I did teach him a lesson or two on how to carry himself and what direction to consider for the future. I'm sure he appreciated it, right?"

Jennifer couldn't help but laugh.

"He's not doing too badly, either; after nearly two years as Disney's president," Jennifer consoled him with a light kiss.

"Now that he's fired by Disney, his severance package should still be at least between 60 to 70 million dollars."

"Yep, that's quite a chunk of change," Arthur chuckled, knowing Michael Eisner would have to pay up after his legal battle with Jeffrey Katzenberg. And Michael Ovitz's dismissal would be yet another significant expense. All these financial blunders were hidden under the Disney merger with ABC.

However, Pixar's rise would confirm the decline of Disney animation. As for live-action films, they had never been Disney's strength in the first place. And regarding ABC, Arthur was more than confident in using his own CBS to suppress any competition!

*****

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