NFL
Taken from Wikipedia:
(The Last Dance is a 2020 American sports documentary miniseries about the career of Michael Jordan, with focus on the 1997–98 Chicago Bulls season. The series features film from a crew that had an all-access pass to the Bulls during the National Basketball Association (NBA) season. ESPN and Netflix announced their joint production of the 10-part miniseries in 2018, with an official trailer released on December 24, 2019. The first two episodes aired on April 19, 2020).
Jordan is one of the greatest basketball players of all-time. This article is not debating that. The purpose of this write-up is to talk about the things the media will not discuss when it comes to MJ. Fox Sports show host, Colin Cowherd, said last week, “I love that Jordan doesn’t apologize for anything. He never apologized for hating Isaiah Thomas, and he never apologized for gambling.”
In other words, No. 23 hasn’t evolved, he is still the same bitter, cantankerous person he has always been. He has a checkered past.
- In 1992, Jordan was called to testify in the criminal trial of James Bouler to explain why Bouler, a convicted drug dealer, was in possession of a Jordan-signed personal check for $57,000.
First, Jordan claimed it was a business loan, but under oath he admitted that it was a payment for on gambling losses for a single weekend. - In 1993, Richard Equinas revealed in his book Michael and Me: That he won $900,000 from Jordan in golf betting.
- After the Bulls won their third championship, the NBA launched an investigation into Jordan’s gambling. The league was checking whether he had violated any league rules.
Four months later, Jordan retired from the NBA. MJ was in his prime, he had won three straight titles and 3 straight Finals MVP awards … and he just walked away from the sport?
Did he leave or was he forced out because of a gambling addiction? Did Jordan bet on himself or the Chicago Bulls? We don’t know because once he retired, the investigations were dropped. When asked if he would ever return to the NBA, the North Carolina star said,
“If David Stern lets me back in the league, I may come back.”
If anyone believes that MJ wanted to pursue a AA baseball contract and career, they are clueless.
Post-Retirement:
On June 15, 2006, Jordan bought a minority stake in the Charlotte Bobcats, becoming the team’s second-largest shareholder behind majority owner Robert L. Johnson. As part of the deal, Jordan took full control over the basketball side of the operation. Other than James Dolan of the New York Knicks, Joran has been the worst owner and decision maker in the entire NBA.
Charlotte’s first round draft picks under Jordan:
2006: Adam Morrison (Jordan passed up, LaMarcus Aldridge, Brandon Roy, Rudy Gay, Rajon Rondo and Kyle Lowry).
2007: Brandon Wright (traded to Golden State).
2007: Jared Dudley.
2008: DJ Augustin (Jordan passed up, George Hill, Brooks Lopez, Serge Ibaka, JaVale McGee and Nicolas Batum).
2009: Gerald Henderson was drafted with the 12th overall pick. He had a career average of 11 points and 3 rebounds per game.
2012: With the No.2 overall pick the Hornets selected, Michael Kidd-Gilchrist. (Jordan passed up, Bradley Beal, Damian Lillard, Andre Drummond and Harrison Barnes. Kidd-Gilchrist averaged 8.6 points per game for his career.
2013: With the No.4 overall pick the Hornets selected, Cody Zeller. (Jordan passed up, Giannis Antetokounmpo, CJ McCollum, Rudy Gobert and Tim Hardaway Jr.).
2014: With the No.9 overall pick the Hornets selected, Noah Vonleh. (Jordan passed up, Zach LaVine, T.J. Warren, Jusuf Nurkić and Clint Capela).
2015: With the No.9 overall pick the Hornets selected, Frank Kaminsky. (Jordan passed up, Myles Turner, Kelly Oubre Jr., Montrezl Harrell and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson).
2018: With the No.11 overall pick the Hornets selected Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Charlotte traded him to the Clippers. LA drafted forward Miles Bridges of Michigan State with the 12th overall pick and sent Bridges and two future second-round picks to the Hornets for Gilgeous-Alexander.
Since 2006, the Hornets have 3 winning seasons. They made the playoffs 3 times and lost in the first round every one of those 3 years. In 2 of their 3 appearances they get swept, 4-0.
Jordan’s draft picks and free agent signings have been an unmitigated disaster. He has been the worst owner and decision maker in the NBA. We judge people for the totality of their life, not one aspect of it.The media rarely calls Jordan out for his failures and I don’t know why?
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