Chicago Bulls' legendary announcer was allegedly fired for breaking a strict rule when Michael Jordan returned.
Jordan won six NBA championships with the Bulls - made up of two separate three-peats either side of a stint in baseball following the murder of his father.
His Airness transcended basketball and though he, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman were the stars in the 1990's, the Bulls announcer also achieved legendary status.
Advert
Ray Clay manned the PA system for 12 and a half seasons and was known for belting out an iconic introduction for' 'MJ', when he said, “Froooom North Carolina… at guard… 6ft 6in… Michael Jordan!" while the "Sirius" background music played over the tannoy.
So when Jordan was slated to return to face Bulls as an opposition player for the first time with Washington Wizards at the United Center in 2002, there was intrigue as to how he would be introduced.
Clay reportedly told Chicago Sun-Times columnist Jay Mariotti that he wanted to roll back the years, but those above him ordered him to announce Jordan as if he was just another player.
"When I gave my opinion, that was Ray Clay, the fan, talking. But when you work for an organization, you are bound by rules and how they want you to talk and act," Clay said.
Months afterwards, Clay was sacked in May. No official reason was ever given but Clay is adamant that the Jordan return introduction fiasco was related.
"When you put two and two together, that’s all it could be," he stated.
"I can’t think of anything else I ever did wrong."
Recalling the saga three years ago, ESPN analyst Darren Rovell posted: "Bulls let go PA announcer Ray Clay, whose familiar voice introduced the Bulls lineup for every title year, after the 2002 season because of what Clay says was an argument over how to introduce MJ in Chicago as a Wizards player.
"Clay wanted his usual intro. The team did not."
Clay did then have the honour of announcing Jordan's very last game in the NBA, after being invited by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2003.
He also later became an announcer for WNBA team Chicago Sky.
Topics: Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan
Josh Lawless