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The long-running documentary about the 1997-1998 Chicago Bulls season finally came to light. Michaelo Jordano The club agreed to let journalists whose images had spent more than two decades in the warehouse enter.
Various attempts to document and expose raw material to the world have failed, but 2020 was crucial, with ESPN and Netflix taking over. The 10 Dance The Last Dance project has appeared.
The summary of the first two series can be found here, the third and the fourth, here, and this time we will review the fifth and sixth. For those who intend to watch the documentary on Netflix, it is recommended that they open the article only after that. For those who don’t have a chance to see The Last Dance, we will provide an opportunity to experience the story created by M. Jordan in Chicago.
The fifth series begins with the 1998 “All-Star” match, which took place at Jordan’s favorite Madison Square Garden. This match became a kind of torch relay: the 35-year-old star possibly played the last such game, the nineteen-year-old Kobe Bryant – first.
The young man from the Los Angeles Lakers was already considered a future legend and a follower of Jordan. He immediately confirmed this in his defense by taking his goddess, whose work he admired throughout his childhood. Bryant was then unable to stop the Bulls star, who became the MVP of the All-Stars game, but at the same time established a long-term friendship.
“I hate comparing who would be a better player one-on-one, even though people told me they could beat Michael. It must be understood that without him I would not have won five titles and become what I was, “said K. Bryant.
It was not only his work in the plaza that contributed to the creation of M. Jordan’s reputation. In 1984, when he debuted in the NBA, he immersed himself in the world of advertising. At the time, most of the league’s stars belonged to the Converse family and advertised and played in the company’s shoes. However, this company did not want to elevate Jordan over people like Larry birdas ar Magic Johnson so he had to turn the other way.
Agents David falk and mom encouraged the basketball player to negotiate with Nike against his will, which at the time was still focused on running or tennis and was on a much smaller scale. When handcuffed to a young star, the Air Jordan line of sneakers appeared, from which she was expected to earn $ 3 million. These expectations have been far exceeded: shoes have quickly become part of not only sports but also culture, with revenues reaching $ 126 million in the first year.
In 1992 Jordan faced the Portland Trail Blazers in the final. The Bulls legend acknowledged that the opponent was truly dangerous, but at the time he simply took offense at a comparison with Clyde Drexler.
I love Clyde Drexler he is one of the best players who has ever played in the NBA. Jordan: “I was offended to be compared to him.” And MJ was right.
– Dave Biddle (@davebiddle) May 4, 2020
On the eve of the final, Jordan promised Johnson that he would not forgive his opponent. As he said, he did: Already in the first game he improved records even before the long break by throwing 6 triples and earning 35 points, and the Bulls swept opponents 122: 89. Jordan, who tormented C. Drexler throughout the series led the Bulls to a 4: 2 win and their second title.
Immediately after this series, preparations began for the 1992 Olympics, in which NBA basketball players were allowed to participate for the first time. The former national star did not join the US national team. USA At that moment Isiah Thomasas. Rumors immediately spread that this was due to disagreements with Jordan, but he denied it.
“I’ve always respected Isiah’s talent. In my opinion, the greatest player of all time is Magic, and Isiah is right behind him. No matter how much I hate him, I respect his game. It was speculated that I didn’t want him on the team. national, but I never mentioned his name, “Jordan said.
The Bulls star greatly appreciated the Dream Team’s training and harmonious character. Thomas at the time disagreed not only with him but also with Johnson, L. Birdu and Scottie Pippenu, who was already a large part of the team.
In training in Barcelona, the team split in two and played against each other, and Jordan responded to every phrase or foul like in the NBA playoffs. There were times when he scolded the guy who had judged the game or angrily threw the ball onto the podium, but all this remained on the field: at the hotel he was playing cards with M. Johnson until the evening.
At the Olympics, the most obvious challenge for Americans was the Croatian national team, represented by a young star. Toni Kukočius. Croatia had already been selected by the Chicago team in the rookie exchange, and the team stars were upset by the attention given by the team leaders. T.Kukočius was called the future of the team, therefore, in Barcelona, the Bulls stars decided to try their own thing: M.Jordan and S.Pippen took their self defense into their hands. Croats were abused in the square, so NBA stars even questioned whether they still wanted to cross the Atlantic.
The United States won the first game 103: 70, and T.Kukočius scored 4 points. American stars no longer believed in a future Croatian in the world’s strongest league, but the picture changed completely in the teams’ second clash in the Olympic final. The United States won again 117: 85, but T. Kukčius scored 16 points (3/5 triples), bounced 5 balls and made 9 assists, thus earning respect.
The award ceremony was marked by a new scandal: the Jordanian flag obscured the Reebok logo, which was placed on the chest of American athletes at a high price. The reason was simple: Jordan, who highly valued loyalty, remained on Nike’s side.
Brand loyalty even damaged the basketball player’s reputation. In the 1990 North Carolina senatorial election, a black Democratic candidate ran Harvey Ganttas and a republican famous for his racist ideology Jesse Helmsas. Jordan declined to participate in Gantt’s election campaign, citing a simple phrase: “Republicans also buy sneakers.” Politically active athletes like it Muhammadas Ali the respected M. Jordan decided not to get caught up in this and to prioritize the sale of his paraphernalia.
This briefly damaged M. Jordan’s image, but her miracles in the field quickly led her to oblivion. In 1998, possibly the last game of the legend in Atlanta broke the record so far: up to 62 thousand spectators watched the game in Georgia.
The situation within the team was not so ideal. Jordan’s competitiveness and strict stance sometimes increased tensions, for example, at crucial moments he did not allow certain players on the team to give the ball. The situation was exacerbated by the appearance in 1992 Samo Smitho a book, Jordan Rules, in which the Bulls’ backstage was illuminated. The quotes from anonymous team players on M. Jordan’s dark side divided the team into different parts and encouraged the search for scapegoats.
The behind-the-scenes adventures did not stop the Chicago club from reaching the Eastern Conference final in 1993, where a new growing force was waiting for it: the New York Knicks with Patrick Ewingu In the foreground The metropolitan team, who wanted to take the throne, demonstrated a tough game reminiscent of the Detroit Pistons and showed its teeth by winning the first game of the series: 90:88. The second game ended analogously: 96:91.
Before the second game, Jordan was seen playing in Atlantic City after midnight. This immediately turned into a big scandal, as he had been involved in betting before. In 1991 Jordan did not appear in the title commemoration at the White House because he James Bouleriu. The latter went to court and Jordan witnessed that he had paid him $ 57,000 for the lost debt. San Diego Arena Manager Richard Esquinas Jordan has said he has lost more than a million dollars on the golf course.
“I played golf very often if people offered me a bet for money, I bet. It wasn’t until later that I found out what people I was dealing with. I learned that lesson. But the game itself was not a bad thing,” Jordan said. .
The Bulls leader said he gambled only on golf and card games, and excluding basketball, was seconded by Esquinas and the then NBA commissioner. David Stern, without seeing anything criminal.
“Michael loved to bet on money and bet on sums larger than many. However, given how much he won, the game has never reached the level of a major crisis, “Stern said.
Jordan said he had never had a problem with the game because he could stop doing it at any time. Their only problem was competitiveness and the will to compete in all areas. The gambling scandals did not affect him financially, but it took a hard hit on the basketball player’s reputation: At press conferences, questions about the game had to be answered almost as often as they annoyed basketball and athletes. Finally, he opened the wall of silence. Jordan proved his point on the field: the series against the Knicks broke completely and won 4: 2.
In the final, the bulls awaited the Phoenix Suns with the MVP season Charles Barkley Jordan admitted that he was a little disappointed by the choice of the most useful player of the regular season, but used it as a motivation. Already in the first game, the Chicago team won 100: 92, the second – 111: 108. Saúl had no intention of landing, he won the third game after three extra hours (129: 121), but fell again in the third and gave the Bulls a 3: 1 lead.
An early celebration of the title began in Chicago, and the Suns ended all speeches with victory in the arena. The sixth game was marked by a tough, decisive fight John Paxson three points and third Bulls title. In Chicago, however, it became a relief rather than a true joy, which did not last long either.
“Physically, I was very tired, and psychologically, I had crossed that line for a long time. When you do something many times, you lose your hunger for it. It would be better behind closed doors than listening to criticism from people who don’t even know me,” Jordan said. , who was only 30 years old at the end of his career.
Shocking news for the basketball world allowed the legend to turn to baseball for a short time, take a break from drama, and earn additional titles when he returned. Jordan’s second career finale in 1998 was completely different: even his was clearly expected and announced.
“No one wants me out while I’m still dominating, but I’ll be gone two more seasons before my skills show I can’t play anymore.” I don’t want to spend the right time going out. Others have a different attitude, Ewing said he would have to be taken off the field because he would play until he left. No one will take me, I want to go out myself. I don’t think he misses basketball, “Jordan said on the eve of the playoffs.
He faced the game against the New Jersey Nets with great confidence and Two Treys’ prophetic car numbers, meaning they won three titles in a row for the second time.
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