(Newswire.net — April 26, 2022) — Michael Jordan entered the National Basketball Association (NBA) in 1984 as a gangly rookie with a heroic leaping ability. From then, the legend didn’t look back and in no time, he became an indomitable scoring machine and a multi-time champion. He was a marketing icon and collaborated with Bugs Bunny, and successfully convinced many kids to act like Mike. Additionally, there are also many other factors associated with the fun side of Michael Jordon that you may not know about. Let’s have a quick look at them!
1. Bet with a Fan
When Jordan left the NBA for the third and last time, his funny tactics did not end with him. One of his many famous moments that went down the golf course includes a momentarily bet with a spectator. In Reno, during a charity golf event, a man started yelling at Jordan and according to a golf digest, this random stranger did not think that Jordan could successfully hit the green in one shot on a Par 3. Things started heating up between that man and the Bulls star, which resulted in that man putting his $500 on the line and making a bet with Jordan.
Jordon, of course, made the shot and after the match, he marched straight to the fan, demanding his rightfully owned money. Jordan, with a net worth of around $2 billion, surely did not get much affected by the $500, but it wasn’t about cash, it was clearly about a test of Jordan’s capabilities, and the basketball icon did not fail even then. While things could’ve gone south before the start of the match, Jordan handled it with grace and even added a humorous element to it, by demanding the money!
2. Cartoon Debut
Most people think that Michael Jordan made his cartoon debut with a Nike commercial in 1993, alongside Bugs Bunny, which was soon followed by Space Jam in 1996. But in reality, in 1991, he started with Bo Jackson and Wayne Gretzky in the show called Pro Stars. The theme song was far from decent, the name of the show also did not keep the heads up of the audience, and the characters were over the top, most of the time.
The basketball legend, Michael Jordan, was the leader of a particular group of superheroes, and his character was voiced by Dorian Harewood. Along with Gretzky, Jordan, and Jackson, the not-so-good show also featured an old woman simply called ‘mom‘, who invented crime-fighting tools, her apprentice, and several special appearances from Mike Fratello and Marv Albert along the way. However, the show somehow still managed to last for 13 long episodes.
3. Funny Moments during the Interviews
a) In 1997, during one of his interviews, with the Jay Leno of The Tonight’s Show, when the host asked Michael Jordan if he regretted everything in life? Or is there a thought in his mind that right now he should be playing and not giving an interview, Jordan answered, “I don’t regret my decision at all, I think it’s appropriate, or else no one would have an opportunity to win if I keep playing”.
b) In 1991, when Jordan beat the Los Angeles Lakers in five games and won his first NBA championship, he came as a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show. The iconic host also did not hold back from staying in the headlines with the legendary player and asked him a double-meaning question.
Do you know how big you are? And I don’t mean in size!
Right after the question, the audience burst into laughter, to which the Winfrey repeated her question,
“Do you realize the enormity of your fame and what you mean to people? Does it ever hit you?”
The career of Michael Jordan is not only filled with some groundbreaking basketball shots but a lot of witty moments when he proved again, why he’s a legend!
That’s why, he also had fun with Winfrey’s question, reminding her that they’re such ‘good friends’. In the same interview with Oprah Winfrey, Charles Barkley (fellow player) also accompanied Michael Jordan. Michael said, “When you ride a motorcycle, you’ve to be a defensive driver, you don’t have time to eat, you can’t talk on the phone, you don’t have time to do a lot of things that most people do every single day, which is more dangerous when riding a motorcycle. You’ve to be focused on seeing the traffic ahead. Then pointing toward Barkley, Jordan said, he doesn’t know about this, he never rode a motorcycle, he never understands what it takes to be a winner”, to which, everybody burst out in laughter, including Barkley!
4. Joking About His Height
In 1989, Jordan was giving an interview to David Letterman, and when asked about his height, the Chicago Bull replied hilariously!
“I’m the tallest. My father is about 5’10, my mother is about 5’5, and everyone else is about 5’6.5, 5’7. The milkman is about 6’7.
It seemed like Jordan was waiting for THE right moment to make this joke and he successfully got Letterman into his trap. The host couldn’t control his laughter. Because of his extraordinary height, Jordan perfectly used his gift and entered the NBA, contributing to the growth of the league. It was only because of the popularity of Mike and the Bulls in the 90s, that NBA also became famous in a short period.
5. Banter with the Opponents
The third run of Jordan with the Washington Wizards in the NBA was one of the most remarkable times. He had the habit of holding back when his name was announced, and when all of the players were gone; he would then step in, alone, and gather all the praises of the audience.
One of the teammates of Wizards, Jared Jeffries – a huge Jordan fan himself, asked about his idol and why he didn’t come with the team. According to the Basketball Network, Jordan did not utter a single word and then went on like, “Cause they’re here for me, they’re not here for y’all!” Jeffries couldn’t help but stay quiet on a statement that was everything but false!
Michael Jordan – A Myth, a Legend
Even after bidding his farewell to the league, Michael Jordan still remains one of the most popular athletes in the world. However, he now works as the owner of the NBA team, Charlotte Hornets, and also founded many businesses, including the Jordan Brand sportswear company. He uses his popularity and wealth for promoting many good causes and actively participates in many philanthropic purposes. Because of his incredible aura, the basketball legend not only intimidates his opponent on the field but also gives many memorable interviews. The NBA Hall of Famer is a multi-tasker in its truest form!