‘I was able to surprise him’: When a regular guy went one-on-one with Michael Jordan in an unlikely matchup

The idea of ​​a regular guy taking on Michael Jordan in a one-on-one setting not only sounds comical, it’s absolutely laughable. But this happened not just once, but many times in 13 years.

Michael Jordan Advanced Flight School was a fantasy basketball training camp held from 1997 to 2010, targeting basketball enthusiasts aged 34 and above. These passionate middle-aged fans not only have the opportunity to learn from the best coaches in the world, but also interact with NBA legends such as Bill Walton and Charles Barkley.

Now, when this camp is called “Michael Jordan Senior Camp,” one would expect Jordan to come at least once. But obviously, MJ showed up every day and not only interacted with the participants, but taught them his game, shared advice, and ultimately challenged them to a 1v1 game.

While many campers tried their luck against the five-time MVP and tasted defeat, one man took a chance and surprised not only the other campers, but even the GOAT himself.

Who is our average Joe?

John Rogers, born March 31, 1958, is Chairman and Co-Chief Executive Officer of Ariel Capital Management. As a child, Rogers was a dedicated basketball player, even playing college basketball for Princeton University for three years under famed head coach Pete Carrier. During his time at Princeton University, Rogers had a rather low-key career, averaging only 3.5 points per game and shooting 50% from the field.

Rodgers recalled Coach Carrier’s honest take on his game in an entertaining interview with CNBC’s Fort Knox Show host John Ford:

“Coach Carrier always used to say I was a good one-on-one player, but when it came to passing the ball, he said I was legally blind.”

Rodgers is by no means a conditional athlete. However, given his experience as a college baseball player, he’s more than capable of holding his own in one-on-one situations.

When Jordan’s experience meets John’s competitive spirit

In August 2003, Rogers attended the annual MJ Advanced Flight School. On the last day of training camp, Jordan challenged the campers to a 1v1 match with up to three people. Wearing the right basketball gear, Jordan dominated the game. Just to save some energy, Jordan would sometimes let the campers score a few points on him before going all-in at the last minute to win.

This tradition lasted for seven years, and no one seemed to be able to surpass Jordan. Eventually, it was Rodgers’ time to stand up to Jordan, who had defeated 20 challengers so far, with Rodgers apparently being his last victim.

At 45, Rodgers is five years older than Jordan, so he’s at a disadvantage in almost every physical measure. But Rodgers believed in his one-on-one skills and wanted to be the first to beat Jordan in his own camp.

“Don’t be mad at me; I’m too good for you,” Jordan said before the duel, possibly to piss off Rodgers.

Shortly after Jordan’s comments, Rodgers took two strong dribbles to his right and hit Jordan in the face for a layup. He then returned to the three-point line, faked a jumper, dribbled to the left twice and created enough distance to hit a circus layup on the backboard.

Leading 2-0, Rodgers dribbled to the right several times but failed to score. Jordan then stepped to the three-point line and made two consecutive shots to tie the score. Surprisingly, Jordan missed his third jump shot, and Rogers finally got the ball and once again gained glory.

Rodgers took two strong dribbles to the left and hit a Hail Mary layup. Campers cheered in disbelief as they witnessed a rare moment in basketball history as Rodgers and Jordan embraced moments later.

Ultimately, Rodgers not only earned Jordan’s respect, but also his approval.

Also read: Recap Michael Jordan was asked about his ‘biggest regret in life’; here’s what he said