No one needs more Michael Jordan-Bulls drama

No one needs more Michael Jordan-Bulls drama

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When it comes to athletes who have transcended the realm of sports and entered the world of pop culture, it’s hard to find one greater than Michael Jordan. The Chicago Bulls star has obviously had great success on the court, but he’s also become a global celebrity, selling shoes, McDonald’s, and seemingly everything in between.

And, thanks to a combination of these victories, his name has become synonymous with greatness. As Barack Obama once quipped, there’s reason to tell someone is the Michael Jordan of their profession, whether it’s a rabbi, a neurosurgeon or an outrigger canoeist.

In 2020, a new generation witnessed its greatness. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, last dance transmitted to the television broadcast. In the absence of live sports, everyone can tune into the reality soap opera of Jordan and his Bulls.

But not everyone likes the show. Nearly four years later, the trend appears to be continuing as three former Bulls players, Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant and Luke Longley, embark on Australia’s “No Bull****” tour , telling their stories.

Think this sounds interesting? Well, while we may get some good offers, the larger trend will only continue to make basketball fans losers.

Let’s break things down.

Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen
Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen of the Chicago Bulls talk during a game against the Miami Heat on May 22, 1997. Pippen, Horace Grant and Luke Longley will talk about their time with Bulls…


Vincent Laforet/AFP via Getty Images

More Michael Jordan drama appears to be on the horizon

last dance It caused a sensation immediately after it was broadcast. While the reception was mostly positive, the docuseries did spark some drama among former teammates.

Much of that involved Pippen, who, rightly or wrongly, was widely regarded as Jordan’s assistant during his time with the Bulls. The forward said he wasn’t happy with the final product of the broadcast, and he apparently told Jordan as much. But that’s not the end of the tension; if anything, last dance The fuse seemed to be lit.

Since then, Pippen has taken multiple opportunities to criticize his old running mate, calling him selfish and suggesting he was a “terrible player.” There are also some comments about all-time greats and how Jordan earned his place in this ranking.

But Pippen wasn’t the only Bull to speak out. In 2020, Grant also made it clear that he wasn’t happy with his image, especially the accusations that he leaked information about the book Jordan Rules.

“Lies, lies, lies… If MJ has a grudge against me, let’s deal with it like men,” Grant said, according to a transcript of the ESPN Radio interview.

“Let’s talk,” he continued. “Or we could go about it another way. But, nonetheless, he went out and told this lie that I was the source behind (the book). Sam (Smith, ” Jordan Rules) and I have always been good friends. We are still good friends. But the locker room is sacred and I would never put anything personal in there. The fact that Sam Smith is an investigative journalist. I guess he had to have two sources, two, to write a book. Why did MJ point it out to me?

“It’s just resentment, man,” Grant said. “I’m telling you, it’s just a resentment. I think he demonstrated that in this so-called documentary. When you said something about him, he would interrupt you and he would try to destroy your character. . ”

Among other things, Grant insisted last dance is a “so-called documentary” that discusses Jordan’s treatment of the Bulls and defends Pippen’s commitment to the team.

Now, it looks like we’ll be hearing more of this response.

So Pippen, Grant and Luke Longley (who didn’t show up) last dance, something Jordan would change in hindsight) will tour Australia with their version of the story. If you think the promotional video works, the trio won’t hesitate.

More drama will just drag everyone down

Before moving forward, it’s important to realize that different people have different tastes. Some people have a higher tolerance for drama than others. Think about reality TV: Some of us can’t wait for a fight, while others cringe after taking a verbal shot at it.

That disclaimer aside, continue last dance The drama doesn’t seem like a positive development for anyone.

Firstly, this is undoubtedly based on speculation rather than confirmed fact, and we’re unlikely to hear anything too groundbreaking at this point.Pippen and Grant spoke freely about their relationship with Jordan; the former even published a book last dance broadcast.

Although Longley kept a low profile, he did talk about his time in Chicago.

“You don’t have to love a guy to be on his team, to care about him, to play basketball with him,” the big man ultimately explained. “I don’t love MJ. I think MJ is difficult and unnecessarily harsh to his teammates and even himself, and I just don’t enjoy being around him. That’s cool. It’s cool to be around MJ, And it’s cool.” It has nothing to do with me. We found ways to coexist. “

Keep in mind that all of this has been said before the documentary came out about four years ago. Do you think any of these people have been sitting on a story as old as time, thinking they’d save it for a promotional tour of Australia? Or they’ll take the story to ESPN, The Dan Patrick Show or some major podcasts last dance Is the world waiting for every episode?

Only time will tell, but one scenario seems more likely than the other.

But a (potentially) bland story isn’t the biggest risk. There is a larger narrative.

Like it or not, the Chicago Bulls of the 1990s are an important part of modern sports history. The club dominates the competition and boasts some of the most famous players in modern football. Of course, Jordan’s status is huge, but the other players on the roster still deserve praise.

Take Pippen, for example. While he’s widely considered the Robin to Jordan’s Batman, the Central Arkansas product is a talented player in his own right. Despite being 6-foot-8, he can still handle the ball and play lockdown defense like a guard, freeing his Airness from doing some of the dirty work. Pippen also had the ability to score. In the 1993-94 season, without Jordan, Pippen averaged a team-high 20.7 points per game for the Bulls.

Is Pippen’s summary a little weaker than his momentum? Sure, but almost anyone can be overshadowed by the greats of history. The problem, however, is that it’s hard to appreciate Pip’s achievements these days because it seems like every mention of him is associated with some new drama.

Blaming Jordan doesn’t make people take a step back and say, “Wow, Pippen is really better than we thought.” If anything, it makes the forward look more like a tabloid figure than anything else. A revered part of modern NBA history. We wait to see what outlandish claims he makes next, rather than judging him for his insight.

For another example, let’s go back to the Bulls’ 2024 Ring of Honor ceremony. While you could argue that the club could have handled things more organically rather than trying to bring in the entire team, plus a few individual names, the event became the next chapter in Pippen and Jordan’s tense relationship. Will two people interact? Will anyone take some kind of force action? What kind of quotes will appear?

In fact, neither man showed up. And, from a basketball perspective, it’s a shame that the personal drama of two all-time greats overshadowed the celebration of sporting success.

On the subject of that ceremony, the main headline of the event became how the widow of late Chicago general manager Jerry Krause was booed.Jordan at least got some flack for it and whether you buy last danceWhatever role it plays in the equation, the results do prove that an eye for an eye ultimately blinds the entire world.

Again, sports is an emotionally charged business and grudges will exist. Players bumped heads with each other. Fans view certain characters as pantomime villains. It happens. However, a Ring of Honor ceremony can often tie in with all of this, creating a celebratory atmosphere.

Weekly newspaper Grant was contacted via his website (Grant promised to speak his mind and used the wording “no bullshit”) and NBL was contacted via email requesting further comment. We’d also like to ask if the three former Bulls players have any hesitation about adding further fuel to a situation that’s been brewing for years.

That’s the kick-off to the current Australian tour. How things will play out remains to be seen. Maybe we’ll get some headline-worthy stories that make Jordan look like more of a villain. Maybe we’ll get a different version of the story we’ve already heard, whether it’s about the flu game, Jordan leaving the Bulls to play baseball or some other landmark moment.

However, it’s not an ideal situation when boredom and blandness are the least combustible outcomes.