The Last Dance – Episode 6
The Last Dance Episode 6
In the last episode, we learned about how Michael Jordan forever changed the game of basketball, and how the Bulls had won back-to-back titles. Today, Jordan looks for his 3rd straight title, but he was starting to lose interest in the game, and some of his “problems” came to light.
Episode 6
The episode opens with Michael saying that people want to be like him, but it’s tougher than they think. We go into Jordan’s hotel room, where he says that he’s alone in there, and how nobody bothers him.
Tim Hallam was the Bulls Sr. Director of Public and Media Relations. He says, “From the moment Michael Jordan leaves his hotel room, the spotlight is on him. Everybody in the world wanted to either see him, talk to him. They all wanted a piece of him in some way or another. He had to be on with people all the time, taking pictures, signing autographs, giving interviews. Given his whole hectic schedule, before a game, he would sit down for 5-10 minutes with a terminally ill child. He made the kids feel like they knew Michael Jordan. On top of all of that, he had to perform. He knew that everybody, from every game, was there to see him. After the game, he had 10 minutes in the locker room to cool down. Then a room full of media, with all of there microphones and cameras are right in his face. Even after the press was done, people still followed him. As he gets back to his hotel room, another large group of people.”
“You know, this is not one of those lifestyles that you envy, you know? I’m ready for getting out of this life, you know. You know when you get to that point? I’m there, with no reservations at all. I’m there.”
With all the people, media, and everybody in between, it took a toll on Michael. After doing it for so long, it got tiring. Nobody in the world had to deal with that. Michael was done, he was ready to just let go.
Jordan was playing a game with his security guards. It involved throwing quarters and money. Even if the stakes were not high, Jordan was still very competitive and wanted to win at everything he did.
“His life was just one big competition,” said Will Perdue. Scottie, Michael, and Ron Harper would play cards in the back of the plane for thousands of dollars. Me, John Paxson, B.J. Armstrong, we would play blackjack for a dollar a hand at the front of the plane. Michael would come up to us in the front of the plane and ask to play. John Paxson said “Why in the hell do you want to play with us? We’re playing for a dollar a hand.” Michael looked at John and said “Because I want to say that I got your money in my pocket.”
Michael just wanted to win, at all costs, no matter the stakes.
The date is April 11th, 1998 and the Bulls are playing the Magic, with their old teammate Horace Grant. The Bulls won 87-78, and they won their 60th game of the season. This would secure them home-court throughout the Eastern Conference Playoffs. The NBA Playoffs are 2 weeks away.
Flash back to November of 1992, and the Bulls are entering the 92-93 season with the aspirations to win a 3rd straight title. Only two other franchises had won 3 in a row to that point, and the Bulls looked to become the 3rd.
Jordan was on top of the world. He had led the Bulls to 2 straight championships and was the best player in the league. He led the Dream Team to a Gold Medal in 1992, and had changed the way the world looked at the NBA. He was so widely celebrated by everybody.
But, as with every popular figure, there will be people to try and tear them down, try to find some dirt. This started with Sam Smith’s book Jordan Rules. The book detailed conflict between the Bulls, and how Jordan treated his teammates. The book exploded, with people eager to see something new with the Bulls. People liked the book because it was the first shred of proof that Jordan was not perfect, and that he was not loved by all. There was backlash towards Jordan, and some of the brightness had come off of him. But, the team was not sure who had given out some of the information. Michael said that it was Horace Grant. “He was telling everything that was happening within the group,” he continued. With all of the spotlight going to Jordan, Pippen and Jackson, Grant grew resentful. Grant said that he never said anything to Sam Smith. Even if it was Horace, BJ Armstrong said that other people might have been involved. Other players, coaches, and management could have been involved.
Smith had to stay home from work for a week because of the threats he was getting for publishing the book. But, even with all the off-court distractions and antics, Jordan and the Bulls remained dominant. Many of Jordan’s peers like Magic and Isiah had won 2 straight NBA championships. But, if Jordan were to win a 3rd straight championship, then he would put a separator between him and his peers.
The only thing that stood between Jordan and a trip to the NBA Finals? The New York Knicks with featured Patrick Ewing and John Starks, with Coach Pat Riley. The Knicks were a tough and physical team. In the 90’s the Knicks were always trying to beat the Bulls, always coming up short. Chicagoans and New Yorkers hated each other. The Knicks were like the Bulls against the Bad Boy Pistons. They were on the come up, trying to dethrone Jordan and the Bulls.
The two rivals met in the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals. The Knicks had the home-court advantage. Game 1 was in New York. The Knicks won the hard fought Game 1, 98-90. Jordan struggled in the 2nd half, only shooting 3 for 13. The Bulls needed a Game 2 victory to avoid going down 2-0 in the series. The Knicks won another hard fought, physical game 96-91. The game was capped off by John Starks dunking on Michael Jordan.
Now the Bulls were in serious trouble. They were down 2-0 in the series. But, news reports surfaced that Jordan had been gambling in Atlantic City the night before. Jordan was seen in the casino as late as 2:30 am.
Jordan explains that his father wanted them to get out of New York City. So, they went to Atlantic City and gambled for a few hours, and they came back. They came back at 12:30-1. “Everybody went totally ballistic,” said Jordan. People all around the media grilled Jordan for gambling. But, Jordan had violated no rules, just people’s expectations of him.
David Aldridge gave us the backstory to why the gambling was such a big deal. After the Bulls had won their first championship in ’91, they went to the White House. Except Michael did not go. He said that he wanted time with family. In reality, he was gambling with Slim Bouler, the golf hustler. In December of ’91, Bouler was brought up with drug and money laundering charges. Federal agents found a check mode out from Michael Jordan to Bouler for $57,000. Jordan initially said that it was just a loan. But, Michael was a witness in the case. And, he admitted that the check was not a loan, but a payment for his gambling debts.
Then, after Jordan gambled after the Game 1 loss, people began to wonder if this was a problem with him. On top of all that was being thrown around, the Esquinas book, which came out in the midst of the Atlantic City fiasco. The book was titled Michael and Me, Our Gambling Addiction. Richard Esquinas was the GM of the San Diego Sports Arena. Esquinas claimed that Jordan owed him $1.2 million dollars, the result of gambling on golf matches. People thought that Jordan was purposely throwing games. Esquinas said that this type of thing never happened. The NBA called Jordan in for questioning. Jordan told them what was happening, and the NBA did nothing to Jordan.
One reason why people were taken back by the gambling was the amount of money. But, for Jordan, betting $1 million dollars was like betting $10 for you or me. Jordan had collected so much money to that point, that these types of things were not going to affect the way that he was living.
The gambling didn’t affect endorsements for Jordan, or money. It didn’t affect his popularity. But, it affected the good name and reputation that he had built up. And, Jordan faced hundreds of media members asking him the same questions, all related to his gambling. Michael was having to constantly defend himself and his actions. Jordan was fed up with the media, and refused to talk with the media for a period of time. He wanted no part in all of the media criticism that he was facing. Michael’s dad answered some questions for him. Around that time, Magic Johnson said, “You are going to drive him out of the league, out of this game. If you keep picking on him, he’s going to break.”
After being down 2-0 to the Knicks and the media hounding him like a dog, Jordan had to respond. And he did. Jordan and the Bulls steamrolled the Knicks in Game 3, winning 103-83, making it a 2-1 series. Jordan exploded for 54 points in Game 4, and the Bulls had tied the series 2-2. Game 5 was back in New York. The winner of this game would likely win the series. The Bulls led 95-94 with 20 seconds left. Charles Smith had the ball down low with a chance to win the game. But, Jordan, Pippen and Horace Grant blocked his multiple shot attempts at the rim. This is one of the greatest defensive stops of all time. The Bulls won Game 5, 97-94. The Bulls closed out the series in 6 games, going on to their 3rd straight NBA Finals.
From June of 1993, we flash forward to April of 1998. Jordan and his team get a day off, and they go golfing. Jordan and his teammates remain competitive, but they get to relax and get away from the court. The Bulls are 1 week away from the 1998 NBA Playoffs.
From April of 1998, we go back to June of 1993. The Bulls are in the NBA Finals after a grueling series with New York. They now faced league MVP Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns.
Before Game 1, Michael broke his two-week media silence with Ahmad Rashad. In the interview Jordan says that gambling is a hobby, and that if he had a problem, he and his family would be starving, and that he would be selling all of his valuables. Also in the interview, Jordan hints at the possibility of him walking away from the NBA.
Phoenix had the best record in the league at 62-20, and they had league MVP Charles Barkley.
“I was a little bit upset that I didn’t get the MVP that season and they gave it to Charles Barkley, but with that said, I said okay, fine. You can have that. I’m going to get this,” said Jordan. “I knew that Jerry Krause loved Dan Majerle, and just because Krause liked him was enough for me. You think he’s a great defensive player? Okay, fine. I’m going to show you that he’s not. Jordan did not want Majerle to be considered on the same level as him, so he attacked.
Jordan had 31 points in game 1, and the Bulls won 100-92, taking a 1-0 series lead.
“We lost Game 1 because we were so nervous, but in Game 2, I played as well as I could play,” said Barkley. “And Michael just outplayed me. That was probably the first time in my life that I felt like there was a better basketball player in the world than me, to be honest with you,” he continued.
The Bulls also won Game 2, 111-108. Jordan had 42 points and the Bulls led 2-0 going back to Chicago.
Game 3 was back in Chicago. “One of the most roller coaster series I’ve been in,” said Phil Jackson. The game went into triple overtime. But, Barkley and the Suns won 129-121, making it a 2-1 series.
Game 4 would be pivotal to both teams, as the Suns looked to even the series, and the Bulls looked to take a commanding 3-1 lead. Jordan, again facing a challenge, responded the only way he knew how. Total domination. Jordan had 55 points, including the iconic and one over Charles Barkley with 13.3 seconds left, and the Bulls won 111-105, taking a 3-1 series lead.
Before Game 1, Chicagoans had already started to celebrate, as all expected the Bulls to win Game 5 and take their 3rd straight championship. The Suns were reasonably upset by the gesture, and they beat the Bulls 108-98, making it a 3-2 series. Game 6 would be back in Phoenix.
The Bulls were not happy about going back to Phoenix. Jordan spoke with his team on the plane. “Look man. I don’t know about you guys. I’m only packing one suit.” That was the confidence Jordan had, and tried to instill on his teammates.
Game 6 was a very close affair throughout. With 38 seconds left, the Suns led by 2, 98-96. The Bulls got the ball back with 14.1 seconds left. Jordan dribbled down the court and found Scottie Pippen. Pippen dished it to Horace Grant, who found a wide open John Paxson for 3. Paxson nailed the 3 from the left wing, and the Bulls led by 1, 99-98. “It was pretty special,” recalled Paxson.
The Bulls got one final stop, and they had won Game 6 and the series. The Bulls were the 1993 NBA Champions, and they had won the last 3 NBA Championships.
“I have no problem losing to Michael. Losing to Michael, there’s no shame in that. Sports are like a gunfight, and we lost to the fastest gun,” said Barkley.
Jordan said that he was exhausted physically, but beyond exhausted mentally. He said that he had lost some of that hunger and edge over the 3 championship runs.
Jordan and the Bulls felt relieved that they had won, but it had been a tough year, especially for Michael.
We flash forward back to April of 1998. The Bulls finished the 1997-98 regular season with a 62-20 record, tying the Utah Jazz for the best in the NBA. The Bulls begin their quest for a 6th title by facing the 8th seeded New Jersey Nets in a best of 5 series.
What did you think about this episode of the Last Dance? What was your favorite part? Leave all of your Last Dance comments down below.
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