Episode #75 | The Last Dance | EP05 & EP06 | MJ Off-court Grievances
StatMan Sports Podcast
English - May 06, 2020 23:00 - 32 minutes - 22.5 MB - ★★★★★ - 20 ratingsBasketball Sports Football nba nfl ncaa basketball football sports professional college soccer la liga Homepage Download Apple Podcasts Google Podcasts Overcast Castro Pocket Casts RSS feed
In last week's episode we highlighted MJ's first championship and how Phil Jackson played a big role into all of this. This week we explore the main key highlights especially Michael Jordan's grievances off the court, his gambling/competitive sides and how it affected him mentally during the infamous 1993 playoffs series v.s the Knicks.
No one ever brings up how exhausting it was to be Michael Jordan. It doesn’t fit the narrative. He could outshoot you, outhustle you, melt your defense, and stop you on the other end. He was a two-way player who gave it his all, and his all, of all the alls, trumped everyone else’s. His reputation isn’t all roses and rings. Jordan was—is?—kind of an asshole.
That much is known, even championed. He gambles. A lot. Maybe too much. Definitely in the millions, but that’s not my money nor my card game. He broke many hearts when he said “Republicans buy sneakers, too.” Those actions suggest he’s inconsiderate, destructive, or self-centered. But none of them indicate exhaustion. Exhaustion is something else. Exhaustion is not a character flaw; it’s a sign of weakness. And there’s no mention of weakness in the Michael Jordan story.
But Jordan was tired.
At the end of the sixth episode, MJ is shown in the car with his friend, NBC broadcaster Ahmad Rashad. It’s April 1998, one week before the playoffs are about to begin, and the discussion around whether Jordan will really leave the game (again) is all anyone can talk about. Jordan drives out of his estate as iron gates with the number “23” on each side split open to let the two through. “I want to leave two years before my skills tell me I can’t play this game,” Jordan tells Rashad. “I don’t want to miss my time to go.”
Sunday’s episodes show the Bulls star’s frustration and fatigue, along with a handful of other iconic Jordan basketball stories—the kind that do fit in to his legend.
Episodes 07 and Episode 08 debut next Sunday.
You'll Also Learn
Michael Jordan's Kobe story.Who was the mastermind behind MJ getting to sign with NikeThe infamous 1992 Scrimmage.Michael's reasons for retiring the first time.---
Enjoy the episode!
----
To share your thoughts:
To help out the show:
Leave an honest review on iTunes. Your ratings and reviews really help!Subscribe on iTunes, Spotify, TuneIn, and now Google PodcastBuzzsprout - Let's get your podcast launched!Start for FREE
Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may receive a commission at no extra cost to you.