For the first time since I was 7 years old, I am currently living a life that is completely absent of something that has since been such a consistent and important part of my life that I so passionately enjoy: sports. In a recent conversation with friends, as we talked about how strange it is to be living in this kind of world right now, it suddenly hit me that if in fact there is no baseball season with fans, it will be the first time since 1982 that I have not been to an Orioles game- or any baseball game for that matter! This sinks in as a surreal and sad thought. I miss sports. I miss the thrill of victory, and even the agony of defeat. Normally this time of the year, I would be watching and going to baseball games, watching the NBA playoffs, and hopefully also be watching my Washington Capitals making a deep run to the Stanley Cup Final, in efforts to take back the Cup! Though I certainly don’t miss the later nights and sometimes exhausting tradeoff that also comes with being a big sports fan- especially when the Caps are in the playoffs- I do really miss being with people, and bonding over our sports teams.
In the middle of these unprecedented COVID-19 times in our world history with no live sports to watch, ESPN stepped up and pulled off perhaps their biggest coup ever to completely captivate our starving sports culture, with “The Last Dance.” And what an incredible docu-series it was, on so many levels! As expected, the TV ratings were incredibly high and through the roof! It was the perfect time for this long-awaited series to finally debut. And though it was still strange, in that it wasn’t involving actual live games, it was so fun for the sports world to finally engage in meaningful, real-time sports conversations via social media, and mainstream sports media outlets. It instantly became by far the most talked about “sports” news. Sports fans who have been starving for what is increasingly being missed so much. And now, we are taken back in time 20+ years to the 1990’s, to re-live and experience up close- with some footage never seen by anyone before- the greatest basketball player, and arguably one of the greatest sports dynasties of all-time.
My interest in basketball began in the late 80’s, and Michael Jordan quickly became my favorite NBA player. The interesting thing about this as I reflect, is that if I had been a college basketball fan while MJ was at UNC, I probably wouldn’t have liked him the same in the NBA! When I also started liking college basketball in the late 80’s, I was actually at first a fan of 2 of my hometown teams, MD AND Georgetown! So yes, when MJ broke the hearts of the hometown Hoyas with his winning shot in 1982, though it was a loss that I didn’t experience live, it was painful to reflect on in those early Hoyas fan days on what their dynasty could have been. It would have certainly stung and probably stayed with me had I been a Hoyas fan at that time. And then as a Terps fan, I have no doubt I would have felt differently at that time, watching MJ (who almost became a Terp!) play hard and win for rival UNC, and especially really want to beat my Terps! Both teams were very good, with Len Bias and his Terps defeating MJ and the #3 ranked Heels in 1983. I think a big “what if” in NBA sports and rivalries, would have been if Len Bias hadn’t tragically died right after being drafted by the World Champion Celtics, in 1986 . A sad day that I remember vividly. Make no mistake, the great rivalry that Bias vs Jordan was in college, could have very well been one of the greatest NBA rivalries. Perhaps similar to Bird vs. Magic.
Yes, the Bullets (now Wizards) were my favorite NBA team. But in those times, whenever the Bullets were not in the playoffs (which was virtually every season at that time), I would root for Jordan and the Bulls. One of my most despised teams in those early NBA fan years were the Celtics, and Larry Bird- who was always a painful thorn in the side to the Bullets. I loved when MJ dropped 63 points in that unbelievable playoff performance vs. the Celtics at the Garden! Seriously, to put up 63, vs that elite 1986 NBA Champion Celtics team- arguably one of the greatest teams of all-time- it was stunning. One of the single greatest performances in sports history. I loved Larry Bird’s quote in The Last Dance when he said, “That wasn’t Michael Jordan out there. That was God disguised as Michael Jordan.”
My first Bullets/Bulls game I went to was on 4/19/89, when the Bullets beat the Bulls. I remember Ledell Eackles having a good game, and still being happy that the Bullets won. But at the same time, b/c the Bullets weren’t making the playoffs and Jordan’s Bulls were, there was a part of me that wanted to see the Bulls win to better their upcoming playoff chances and momentum. I also went to see the Bullets play the Bulls the next year, and once again, I had the same mixed feelings as my hometown Bullets- led by probably my 2nd favorite player from that time, UT alum Bernard King- pull off the stunner to beat the Bulls near the end of the season! But I vividly remember that it was during that 1989 Bulls run, that I found myself rooting especially hard for MJ and the Bulls. I loved when MJ buried “The Shot”, vs the Cavs in the first round, and I was hopeful it would help fuel momentum to help them go the distance! A specific reason I pulled for the Bulls at that time was how much I couldn’t stand their arch-nemesis the Detroit Pistons, aka, the “Bad Boys”. The Pistons were notorious bullies on the court, trying to impose their will and I think, often play dirty. No one personified this reputation and infuriated me more on the court than Bill Laimbeer, who is arguably recognized as the dirtiest player in NBA history. I wanted him, and the Pistons to lose so bad. It was now time for the Eastern Conference Finals, vs the Pistons. I loved the Bulls player intro song, which in my opinion is arguably the greatest pre-game intro song and tradition of all-time! Listening to it just now gives me chills, and also brings back sweet memories. I was especially fired up when MJ and the Bulls exploded in game 3 to take the series lead, and was hopeful they would knock the Pistons out. And even though MJ continued his spectacular play, Detroit came back to win the series, and the NBA championship. Then the next year, I had hoped the Bulls would prevail over the Detroit villains in the highly anticipated ECF rematch, but again the Pistons would break hearts, and move on to win another NBA championship. Losing to the Pistons in the ECF back-to-back years was brutal. The Bulls just couldn’t seem to get past them. As someone who loves seeing underdogs slay giants, and villains be defeated, it was so satisfying to see the Bulls finally overcome their rival in 1991- especially in dominant sweeping fashion- knocking the Pistons out in the ECF. And not surprisingly, the Pistons were classless in defeat, walking off the court with no congratulations prior to the horn going off! Isaiah Thomas, Bill Laimbeer, Dennis Rodman (wild that he came to the Bulls), John Salley...so many players that I didn’t like. But they were defeated, and it was great. And then I thought it was appropriately fitting that MJ’s Bulls would have to face 5-time NBA champion, the great Magic Johnson, in the 1991 NBA Finals to claim their first. When I think of MJ’s most incredible and athletic shots, I often first go to his unbelievable shot in game 2. It was spectacular. Then watching MJ celebrate in the clinching postgame with his Dad and teammates, and cling to his hard-fought, seemingly long-awaited and deserved championship trophy, it was special. Then after their repeat championship in 1992, sports got to witness what I honestly believe is the greatest team in sports ever assembled: The United States Olympic, “Dream Team”. Though I can honestly say I have never really been an Olympics watching sports fan, the Dream Team was different, a must watch for all sports fans and true spectacle. Simply dominating, and fun to watch win the gold with extraordinary ease. And I just loved the story from Last Dance about a Dream Team scrimmage, and how Magic trash talked MJ when his squad was winning, but MJ came back with a vengeance to dominate and lead his team to victory, with conflicts and tempers flaring up on the court. Then on the team bus when there was an awkward, stunned, and complete silence after the scrimmage for several minutes, until Magic finally piped up and told Barkley, “I guess we shouldn’t have pissed the man off!” And laughter erupted, loosening up the team, and probably galvanizing them even more. Jordan was truly “The Alpha”, among “Alpha’s.”
Yes, I was a huge Jordan fan. I loved how MJ was an optimistic person, who never gave up. He was a relentless worker, fierce competitor, and a leader. He overcame incredible challenges. No one outworked him. I loved the Gatorade “Be Like Mike”, and the MCD’s commercial in showdown vs. Larry Bird! Makes me smile and happy, and brings back fond memories as I watch these right now! I owned the “Come Fly With Me”, “Michael Jordan’s Playground”, “Air Time” and “NBA Superstars”, VHS productions and watched them many times!
And of course, I was through the roof elated, when MJ came out of retirement again in 2001 to suit up for my hometown, Washington Wizards! The Wizards had won an abysmal 18 games in ‘99 and just 19 games in 2000, so they were clearly a long ways from winning. But Jordan, though clearly not quite the same player he was in his prime, instilled his tough, tenacious and relentless work ethic and was determined to help make a big difference. Though the Wizards would start that ‘01 season slow (5-12), I remember when they started catching fire, and ripped off 9 straight, and 21 of 30! It was really impressive to see, especially considering how bad the Wizards had been in recent years, as the team was now 26-21 and seemed playoff bound. My favorite moments during this stretch was when he hit “The Shot 3” vs. the Cavs, then shortly after, another classic MJ buzzer-beater vs. the Suns! Jordan was the catalyst as the incredibly mediocre Wizards were turning the corner and on a roll. But he suffered an unfortunate knee injury, and the team would then lose 9 of 10 and down the stretch while he missed 22 games, fell out of contention. Still, finishing with 37 wins- nearly double from the the year before- was an overall impressive feat, especially considering how well they were playing before MJ got hurt. Jordan certainly brought some great, thrilling moments for my Wizards. Then the next season in what would be his last NBA All-Star game, things were set up perfectly as he had the dramatic, storybook game-winning shot! Except…there were 4 seconds left and the West dramatically tied it, and won in OT to stun MJ’s East squad. The only All-Star game I have ever cared about as I wanted to see MJ win it, and get the MVP. But if I had to pick my favorite Jordan Wizards moment, it was from a game I went to! It was of course, vs. the Bulls. Yes, it was fun to see him reach the 30.000 points milestone that night, but what especially stood out was a jaw-dropping highlight, and really one of the greatest defensive plays I have ever seen, when he blocked Ron Mercer! The arena exploded. Another example of witnessing the best to ever play just do something that created shock and awe. There there were no championships and no playoffs in this actual Last Dance, it was still a very good, fun and memorable 2 years with my Wizards that I will always savor.
To me, I have long thought it will always be another one of the biggest “what if’s?” in sports. Coming off their first 3-peat, had Michael Jordan not “retired” and taken essentially 2 years off for baseball, would the Bulls have continued their dominance with perhaps 2 more championships sandwiched between their incredible 2nd 3-peat from ‘96-98…for 8 in a row? Quite possibly, yes. And then, could there have been another after ‘98- had Jerry Krause and Jerry Reinsdorf not orchestrated what to me is right up there with one of the most stunning and inconceivable, botched front-office decisions in sports history: not retaining Phil Jackson, and essentially deciding to break up the Bulls dynasty, knowing that the player dominoes would fall next as well. What makes it most stunning, is not only that they made this happen, but that this decision was made prior to the ‘97-98 3-peat season. It could have potentially caused more organizational division and risk hijacking that championship, when Krause told Phil Jackson “he could go 82-0”, and still not be brought back! A fresh reminder of this fiasco, to me was one of the biggest takeaways from “The Last Dance.” Yet even from that stunning pre-season revelation of certainty, I think in the brilliance of Phil Jackson, he still used that to help fuel his team and their drive towards that final run in declaring that season, “The Last Dance.” And then for Jordan to cap off that championship in game 6 with one of the greatest individual sequences at the end of a game to will his team to victory, culminating with the game winning shot, it was indeed storybook. I enjoyed this interview on Jordan’s take of circumstances surrounding that last season, and some other details as well. But yes, a huge “What If?”: had Jordan continued playing, and had the Bulls front office extended these contracts after ‘98, could there have been an unbelievable, “Nine-Peat” to extend this prolific dynasty? Again, I would like to think probably yes.
Another huge takeaway to me from this docuseries was seeing how MJ used- and even self-created- circumstances, conversations with rival players, adversity, and multiple challenges as ways to fuel and fire him up! Rookie Bryon Russell’s boasts to him while he was out of the league in baseball, about being able stop him certainly didn’t end well! But these examples also got me thinking: is it possible MJ embellished his well-known, “cut from high school” story? Could this have been another example of something that fueled his incredible drive?! And what about “the pizza” story? I was floored as I heard this, contrary to what has always been know as “the flu game”! What MJ did that night, whether it was the flu or food poisoning, was simply sensational. I was just wondering what those guys must have been thinking (especially if they also watched Last Dance!) when MJ still smoked them that night! And on a different side of emotions, how could you not get teary eyed watching MJ weep on the floor, no doubt missing his dad on Fathers Day, after winning the ‘96 Championship. And it was hilarious watching MJ’s expressions and laughing while watching various clips and interviews, especially when Gary Payton talked about what could have been, in the ‘96 Finals! Just like the famous “Crying Jordan” meme, I think this hysterical meme will be used for years! Here are several of the “most shocking” moments from the series. And on a side note, I also loved the soundtrack main theme.
In going through the Last Dance, it brought out some sweet emotions and memories. And I’m sure it did this in many people all across the world as well, as many people have been putting together incredible pieces and reflections of the great career and legacy of Michael Jordan. It was a personal reminder of how much I love and miss sports during this quarantine. I reflected on how much I used to love the NBA, especially during the 80’s and 90’s. My love for basketball and MJ during those days, was freshly rekindled. I watched every episode on Mondays, then pulled out my Jordan Wizards jersey and went out to shoot free throws on my home basketball goal. Definitely some of the greatest and most relaxing moments during these unprecedented times that I am grateful for and think will always stay with me, as memories of my teenage and young adult years came back as I watched, shot the basketball, and reflected on those days.
I think The Last Dance will only enhance and further solidify Michael Jordan as indeed, not only the greatest NBA basketball player of all-time, but right there for arguably the greatest, most skilled, and prolific winning athlete of all-time.
