FERRARI STORE OWNER DISCRIMINATES AGAINST STEPH CURRY WITHOUT KNOWING WHO HE WAS – AND REGRETS I…
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The California sun glistened over San Francisco’s Financial District, casting sharp reflections from the mirrored skyscrapers and the pristine windows of Michael Lawson’s luxury car dealership. At 58 years old, Michael had built his reputation as the premier Ferrari dealer on the West Coast, and his showroom was a symbol of that success. His employees moved in a well-choreographed manner, polishing cars and managing the sales floor with meticulous care.
“Gary, is the Lamborghini that arrived yesterday already in the system?” Michael asked his young, eager salesperson.
“Yes, sir, I’ve just updated the inventory,” Gary replied confidently.
Michael smiled. “Excellent. Remember what I always say: We don’t sell cars, we sell exclusivity.”
The mantra was the backbone of his business, and Michael’s sharp eye for the perfect client was legendary. He could spot the wealthy buyers—those who could afford the Ferraris that lined his showroom—just by their posture. They carried an air of exclusivity, and he was a master at recognizing it.
A few kilometers away, Stephen Curry, the NBA superstar for the Golden State Warriors, was finishing up his training session. Dressed casually in a faded sweatshirt, loose pants, and a cap pulled low over his face, Curry was enjoying a rare moment of anonymity. His Toyota SUV was hardly a showpiece compared to the Ferraris he was about to visit.
He wasn’t planning to buy a car today—he simply wanted to gather information for a gift he was planning for his assistant coach’s birthday. The coach had always admired Italian cars, and Curry wanted to surprise him with something special.
Curry parked a few blocks away from the dealership, deciding to walk the rest of the way. No bodyguards, no personal assistants—just him, a man who had earned his fame, quietly walking through the busy streets.
As he entered Exotic Motors, the cool air conditioning was a welcome relief from the heat outside. The showroom was nearly empty, except for a well-dressed couple who were being attended to like royalty by one of the senior salespeople. Curry wandered the showroom slowly, his hands in his pockets, admiring the Italian craftsmanship displayed in the gleaming cars.
Michael immediately noticed him from his glass office. He frowned as he observed the casually dressed man touching one of the Ferrari models. There was something in the way the man moved—respectful, knowledgeable, but without the expected air of privilege. Michael, ever the professional, decided to delegate. He motioned for Gary to approach the man while he focused on a supposed important call.
Gary approached with visible reluctance. “Can I help you, sir?” he asked.
Curry responded politely. “Yes, I’m interested in the SF90 Stradale.”
Gary raised an eyebrow. “That model starts at around $500,000.”
“I understand the performance specifications are impressive,” Curry continued, demonstrating his genuine knowledge. “I’ve read about the hybrid system.”
Before Gary could respond, Michael walked out of his office with a practiced smile plastered on his face. “I see you’re admiring our showroom,” he said, sizing Curry up. “These machines are true works of art, aren’t they? Perhaps we could direct you to something more suitable to your possibilities?”
The awkward silence that followed was interrupted by Sophia, the young administrative assistant, who entered the showroom carrying documents. She looked up, recognized Curry, and her eyes widened with genuine recognition.
“It’s Mr. Curry. Stephen Curry from the Warriors,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. The well-dressed couple across the showroom immediately turned, whispers of excitement filling the air.
Curry smiled, removing his cap. “Yes, that’s me,” he said modestly.
Sophia, almost forgetting her professional demeanor, asked, “Would it be too improper to ask for a selfie?” She added, “My younger brother has all your signature shoes, and he watches every game.”
“Not at all,” Curry replied, positioning himself for a quick photo.
Michael watched in stunned silence as the scene unfolded, his face paling. The reality of what had just happened hit him hard. The years he had spent building his reputation in the luxury car industry were now at risk, all because of his arrogance. He quickly approached Curry, forcing a smile that didn’t reach his eyes.
“What an absolutely unexpected honor,” Michael said, extending his hand. “I sincerely apologize for not recognizing you in this casual look. I’m Michael Lawson, owner of Exotic Motors.”
Gary stood behind them, his face pale with embarrassment.
“You mentioned interest in the SF90 Stradale?” Michael continued, his desperation beginning to show. “Please, let me show you our VIP area. We have models that aren’t even displayed in the main showroom.”
Curry, ever the professional, politely agreed. As they headed to the VIP area, Michael launched into a frantic monologue. “LeBron was here last month, left with two vehicles. And Klay Thompson—great connoisseur of engines—always says nobody understands Ferraris like we do.”
But Curry finally spoke, his calm voice breaking Michael’s nervous chatter. “Actually, I was just interested in the Stradale specifications for a gift. My assistant coach has a birthday next week.”
Michael’s eyes lit up, and he practically jumped at the opportunity. “A gift? Of course, we can offer exclusive conditions, personalized delivery, discreet documentation.” He sounded desperate now.
Outside, a small crowd had begun to form as someone had posted Curry’s location on social media. As Michael continued his hard sell, Curry checked his watch and politely excused himself. “Unfortunately, I need to go. Thank you for your time.”
At the door, Curry turned to Sophia, completely ignoring Michael and Gary. “Would your brother like tickets to Friday’s game?” he asked, handing her a discreet card. “Send a message to this number.”
The door closed behind him, leaving Michael standing in a stunned silence, his stomach sinking as he realized the opportunity he had just squandered.
The next morning, Michael arrived at the dealership two hours earlier than usual, unable to shake the events of the previous day. As he walked into the staff room for his coffee, he noticed a cluster of salespeople gathered around a computer screen. Gary turned the monitor towards him, showing Michael the viral video of the previous day’s incident.
The caption read, “See how they treat one of the world’s greatest athletes when they don’t know who he is. Ferrari discrimination. Steph deserves better.”
Sophia looked at Michael, her face filled with concern. “It’s everywhere—Twitter, Instagram… it’s already got 4 million views.”
By the afternoon, the damage was already done. Three high-value reservations were canceled, and one VIP client withdrew a half-million-dollar offer, directly citing the incident with Curry.
Michael’s phone buzzed incessantly as he was bombarded by notifications from media outlets and social media platforms. His reputation was crumbling in front of his eyes. The regional vice president of Ferrari North America called him, sounding icy.
“Michael, I’m looking at a very disturbing video. The board is extremely concerned about this behavior. We need an emergency meeting to discuss your dealership’s alignment with Ferrari’s values.”
Michael spent the rest of the day trying to salvage what remained of his business. The consultant he hired for crisis management didn’t mince words. “This isn’t just a PR error,” the consultant said bluntly. “This is a systemic problem that needs to be addressed. A public and sincere apology followed by real changes is the only way out.”
Three weeks later, Exotic Motors was a completely different establishment. Michael had taken full responsibility and committed to change. The dealership was more diverse, with a new emphasis on customer relations and partnerships with youth sports programs in underprivileged communities.
Michael had learned a hard lesson: arrogance had nearly cost him everything. But through genuine reflection, action, and a commitment to change, he was able to rebuild.
At the end of the day, he realized that some mistakes could be turned into opportunities if you were willing to learn from them.
Michael Jordan’s controversial answer when asked if Steph Curry deserves to be in NBA Hall of Fame
Michael Jordan delivered a bold take when asked if Steph Curry deserves to be in the NBA Hall of Fame.
Jordan enjoyed a legendary basketball career, winning an impressive six NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls.
He’s widely regarded as the GOAT of the sport following his incredible exploits on the court.
In 2009, Jordan was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame alongside fellow greats John Stockton, David Robinson and Jerry Sloan.
Curry is destined to follow Jordan in the Hall of Fame once his career is said and done.
The 37-year-old is still going strong and achieved a remarkable milestone in Golden State Warriors’ victory over the Sacramento Kings earlier this month, with Shaquille O’Neal arguing the point guard deserves to be in the GOAT conversation.
But, speaking in 2019, Jordan claimed Curry is not yet a Hall of Famer.
“I hope not. He’s still a great player. Not a Hall of Famer yet, though,” he said. “He’s not.”
Curry responded to Jordan’s claim by stating that he still has a lot to prove to himself.
“I think I’m good, but then I’m never complacent,” he told Matt Welty during an interview for Sole Collector.
“I know I have more to prove to myself.
“When you hear a guy like that who’s the greatest of all time, it’s kind of funny.”
Steph Curry in action for the Golden State Warriors. Image: Getty
Curry added: “Since we’ve been on this stage, we’ve heard a lot of retired guys chiming in on this generation of basketball players and evaluating talent and saying their generation was better and all that.
“It’s a great conversation for the fans to get in on.
“I know I’m in good shape for that, but I still have a lot to prove to myself.”
A lot has happened in the world of basketball since Jordan’s comments over five years ago.
In 2022, Curry won a fourth NBA championship and won a gold medal at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
