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Michael Jordan and his competitive spirit are no mystery to an NBA fan. And yet, there is a new anecdote that can be added to the directory every new day.
Dan Patrick is an American sportscaster who is one of the most reputed names in sports broadcasting. And inevitably, most NBA stars have shared the limelight with Patrick and various anecdotes have seen their origin on his show.
Michael Jordan has shared the screen on multiple instances with Dan Patrick. And when asked about his favorite MJ story, Patrick was quite verbose about a particular tale.
Patrick’s story revealed yet again to the public how competitive Michael Jordan was. Even title celebrations in arguably his last dance did not stop MJ from putting a challenge forth to Patrick.
Michael Jordan wasn’t going to take jokes even after his supposed last dance
Dan Patrick described his interaction with Michael Jordan and Phil Jackson after the 1998 NBA Finals as his favorite Jordan story. Patrick talks about how he told MJ that it was a shame he had to retire and that he wanted a piece of him. Jordan’s response was as typically Jordan as it gets.
“I said hey it’s a shame you are retiring man. So I wanted a piece of you and he turns so he’s got the basketball, the game ball with him. He said how would you guard me motherf****r? And I’ve got my suit and tie on. I went and put my forearm in the middle of his back and he goes ‘Is that all you got?’”
Patrick recalls this incident with awe, describing Jordan’s competitiveness even at that stage of his career. A challenge is a challenge, regardless of the time and place, for MJ.
“You’re lucky I’m retiring” was Jordan’s follow-up statement to Patrick’s weak defensive stance. If there was a ‘mentality monster’, this was he.
Did it eventually prove to be Jordan’s Last Dance?
Well, no. For starters, this was not Michael Jordan’s first retirement either. After his first three-peat, Jordan retired to pursue his baseball dream.
In this instance, Jordan was leaving the game after yet another three-peat. And MJ wasn’t merely some veteran role player, he was the guy for the ’98 Bulls. So, leaving at such a high was considered outlandish. But a return wasn’t expected.
However, His Airness did return to the game. This time, as a player and President of the Washington Wizards. The return wasn’t anywhere near as triumphant as his prior tenures in the NBA, though.
Patrick may not have gotten any new triumphant stories from MJ’s third NBA stint. But Jordan had left his fair share of those prior to his Wizards career, really.
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