by ESPN’s “The Last Dance” aired episodes 5 & 6 Sunday night, and just when you thought it couldn’t any better, it did! It was real, raw and cut deep as they didn’t skirt around the Horace Grant leaks to the press or Jordan’s Gambling issue.
Perhaps the coolest moment of the show came within the first few minutes as they focused on the 1998 NBA All Star Game. Anytime you have Larry Bird coaching Jordan, with Magic Johnson coming in pregame to talk a little trash is pure gold!
Mix in the whole Kobe Bryant storyline about playing against Jordan and it got even better. As a Kobe and MJ fan, it was excellent to find out Jordan offered to mentor him. I do not believe Bryant was the next Jordan, not even close actually, but you can’t take away from the guy that he was incredible and so was his career!
As mentioned, prior, this episode didn’t shy away from anything controversial and that is what continues to make this series great! I love how Jordan was hesitant at joining Nike first, and then became the greatest spokesperson in shoe history. He took Nike beyond just shoes, and made them a clothing empire!
As someone who is very much into tradition and sentimental, I couldn’t help but dig the story of Jordan wearing his original Nikes in what he thought would be his last game at the Garden. When you find out that his feet actually bled as he put up 42 points, it just builds his legend even more!
As much as I loved these two episodes, they screwed up one thing pretty badly as they completely skipped talking about the 1992 Eastern Conference Finals against Cleveland. It is one of the greatest Conference Finals in NBA History.
Go back and watch the games, the Cavaliers were the second-best team in the entire NBA that season and would have cruised past Portland in the NBA Finals.
Don’t believe me? Check out Cleveland’s Finest by yours truly at the link below as I spoke with Joe Tait, Larry Nance and Craig Ehlo who can personally walk you through each and every amazing game in that 1992 Eastern Conference Finals.
The 1992 NBA Finals were another showcase for Jordan and the Bulls to display their dominance amongst anyone.
Many feel that the 1992 team was even better than the 1995-1996 Bulls that won 72 games. The Blazers never stood a chance and that was evident by Jordan who stayed up until the wee hours of the morning playing cards with Magic Johnson the night before.
Perhaps the greatest part of this episode was no one shying away from the fact that Isiah Thomas was not welcome on the 1992 Dream Team. Jordan takes most of the heat for this, but it was clear that no one wanted him on the team.
Thomas made remarks about Magic Johnson’s HIV, called Larry Bird average and that he only got attention because he was white. Mix that in with the heat he had with Jordan and there was no chance Zeke was making that team.
Speaking of the Dream Team, poor Toni Kukoc. This humble man gets drafted by the Bulls and doesn’t want to leave his family alone in a worn torn country during a horrendous time, so the Bulls take it as a slight. Scottie Pippen and Michael Jordan made his life hell in their first Olympic clash. Shutting him down and then Pippen saying Kukoc couldn’t make it in the NBA.
Those of you who know the whole story, will want to stay tuned for the 1993-1994 season when Jordan leaves, and Kukoc arrives.
Who didn’t sing the “Be Like Mike” song every time they shot hoops in their backyard, the gym or neighborhood court?
If you’re easily offended you may want to stop reading now….. Still Here? Good. Michael Jordan was under zero obligation to support African American politician Harvey Gant. Jordan is on record saying that his main focus was basketball. Why wouldn’t you want that in your star player? Focus on the sport you’re playing and worry about world peace later.
Also, just because you share the same skin tone doesn’t mean you owe anyone anything, or they owe you. I can’t speak for other races, but the African Americans I’m proud to call friends, would tell you that to! Do the right thing no matter the color, don’t feel pressured to do something simply because there is color involved. Right is right, wrong is wrong.
With Jordan, it was about basketball and winning. He didn’t care if he was liked or hated. Somethings don’t need further explanation and this one of them. He even went on the record stating that he didn’t want to be a role model and that it was more or less thrust on him because of his talent. He’s right!
If Episode 5 wasn’t powerful enough, Episode 6 to follow dropped even more bombshells.
Jordan almost never had a private moment and showed signs of cracking pre-retirement in 93 and 98. Can you blame him? Unless he was locked in a bathroom stall, or in his hotel room, he wasn’t getting a second’s peace. He was the most famous human being of all time at that point, if not still.
What did he do in his free time? Well, considering we haven’t heard from his wife or kids yet, my guess is not father of the year. He played golf, and he gambled. He let loose because when you’re in the spotlight 24/7 and people think you’re perfect, you need to do something normal people do to feel ok. For Jordan, that meant compete. That was his fun, competition. There was no such thing as a friendly round of golf.
A lot of this may have stayed secret if it wasn’t for the certain figures and hustlers getting arrested and linking back to Jordan. Not to mention, big mouth Horace Grant who leaked a lot of personal team issues to sportswriter Sam Smith. As for Smith, he pretty much sold his soul to sell a few copies of his book “Jordan Rules”. Any sportswriter will tell you, that is a cardinal sin and that guy is a snake!
Let me make one thing clear, the New York Knicks were never a threat to take over the East from Chicago. If you were alive and remember watching those series as I do, the Knicks were light years behind the Bulls. Again, I implore you, go back and watch the games on You Tube, or the NBA app. The Knicks got up 2-0 in the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals because the officiating was horrendous. Once Jordan got his legs under him in Game Three, it was all over but the shouting!
The Knicks would go to the Finals in 94, without Jordan in the league. Losing to the Houston Rockets in Seven Games. They would return in 99, once again without Jordan in the NBA, and get swept by the San Antonio Spurs.
The press was all over Jordan for gambling in Atlantic City with his Dad the day before Game Two in New York. So what? While I don’t condone gambling during a playoff series by any stretch, I sure as hell don’t criticize a star athlete for wanting to spend some rare time with his father. Jordan would lose his father only a few months later, and I’m positive relishes that moment with him that weekend.
If you’re not gambling against yourself in a game that you’re playing in, or have any control over, then what does it matter? It’s not like today when athletes spend days off during a playoff series at home in a Cryo Tank, or lord only knows what else. Back then in 93, things were different, much different.
Quite frankly, do some digging and find out what LeBron James was doing the night before Game Two of the 2010 Playoff Series against Boston at home. He wasn’t at home with the wife and kids, he was out partying with the team celebrating his second NBA MVP award. His stat line the next night, 7 of 15 with 7 turnovers in a blowout 104-86 loss. Jordan can party all night and dominate the next day, not so much “The King”.
The Episode concludes with the 1993 NBA Finals win over league MVP Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns. A new team for Jordan and the Bulls to conquer, but the same result in six games. The 1993 Jordan is shown worn down, asking to speak with his wife on the phone and just needing a few minutes to breathe. It wasn’t satisfaction after 1993, it was relief. If that doesn’t set the table for Episodes 7 & 8 next week, then I don’t know what does.
Kobe Bryant, shoe empires, bloody feet, gambling rings, a conspiracy against Isiah Thomas, political pressure for Kukoc and Jordan and Horace Grant leaking info. Sunday night had it all and with the impeding murder of Mr. Jordan, next Sunday will easily be the most emotional and powerful night yet.
Night 3 gets 5 out of 5 stars.
