Featured Image Credit: Getty
Topics: Michael Jordan, NBA, Chicago Bulls, Baseball, Basketball
Luke Davies
Topics: Michael Jordan, NBA, Chicago Bulls, Baseball, Basketball
Michael Jordan once issued a brutal response after ‘putting a reporter in hospital’ during a basketball game.
Jordan, 62, is best known for his illustrious basketball career, during which he won six NBA titles with the Chicago Bulls.
As a result, he is widely considered to be one of the greatest players of all time alongside the likes of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James and Steph Curry.
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However, in 1994 he turned his hand to baseball and signed a contract at Minor League Baseball side Chicago White Sox – before playing for their minor league affiliate Birmingham Barons.
“Michael Jordan gave up everything he had earned as the king of basketball to play Minor League baseball and subject himself to criticism,” Jordan’s agent David Falk said.
“He put everything on the line to compete, with nothing to gain.”
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"His dad had died," Falk added. "And his dad had always wanted him to try to play baseball."
Jordan also appeared for the Scottsdale Scorpions at the 1994 Arizona Fall League and batted .252 against several top prospects.
However, he still found time for a game of basketball, as reported by Vulture.
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In 1994, Jordan and Scorpions manager Terry Francona invited a reporter named Steve Gilbert to play in a basketball match.
But the event took a turn as Gilbert ended the evening in hospital as he could not keep up with the pace.
"That was an experience,” Gilbert later claimed.
"I played growing up," Gilbert said. “But I wasn't in the best shape because I was so busy with the Jordan stuff. Throw in the fact that I was terrified to be out there with Jordan, and I don't even remember if I breathed the whole time we played."
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The following day Jordan reportedly approached him near the locker room and said: “Listen, you can't play basketball with us ever again.
“Because I can't have a good time if I'm worrying about you keeling over and dying."
The pair struck up a friendship and worked closely with each other, so much so that Jordan told Gilbert to shave his head, according to MLB.
"I was already kind of losing my hair back then," said Gilbert. "My dad blessed me with many things, but a good hairline was not one of them.
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"So we're driving back from the park, and Jordan goes, 'When are you going to shave that head of yours?' I said I didn't think it would look good, and he points to his own head. So I said, 'You can do that - you're Michael Jordan!'
"And he said, 'No, no, you're missing the point. It's all about being true to who you are.'
"I did it a few years later. And for whatever reason, after all this time, that's still something that sticks with me."