They Were Just Too Small: Ex-Rockets Player Ridicules Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls Would Have Beaten Them in 1995 – Essentially Sports

The 1994-95 NBA season saw Houston Rockets win back-to-back titles. They had won it the year before and with a clean sweep in the finals they claimed consecutive championships. The Rockets got their hands on the trophy as soon as Michael Jordan retired in 1993. But MJ was back on the Bulls team during the Rockets second championship quest. But why couldnt he stop them?

Many people believe Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player ever. Keeping this in mind, even the GOAT could not stop the Rockets and Hakeem Olajuwon from winning consecutive titles. The Bulls had made winning so normalized through their three-peat that the fans expected them to win everything.

However, when MJ returned in 1995, the Bulls werent in good shape. At the end of the regular season, they finished third in the central division and fifth in the eastern conference. The iconic #23 was avoided by Jordan when he returned due to certain reasons. He chose to wear #45, a decision that was quickly overturned by His Airness.

After 21 months without competing in the league, it was definitely a challenge for MJ. The team ended up going to the playoffs but it did not last long. The Orlando Magic dominated the Bulls with a 4-2 victory in the conference semi-finals. A talented team comprising Shaquille ONeal and Penny Hardaway advanced to the finals after beating the Bulls and later eliminating the Pacers in the conference finals.

Sporting landmarks like these always tend to raise up a lot of discussions. Several what if scenarios appear before our eyes and we cant help but think about them. Here, the main question is, if Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls made it to the 1995 NBA Finals, who would have emerged champions? The Bulls or the Rockets? Michael Jordan or Hakeem Olajuwon?

Well, a member of the 95 Rockets team expressed his views on the matter on ESPNs First Take. Kenny Smith might be popular these days due to his appearance as an analyst on Inside the NBA. But before that, Smith won the championship twice by playing for the Rockets.

Here is what the 55-year-old had to say on the matter. Though Smith offered due respect to the greatest player ever, he disagreed with the idea of the Bulls defeating the Rockets in 1995.

First of all he was wearing number 45, the year that they lost, Smith said. And he was actually in the league. People forget that. But they were just too small. No Horace Grant. He was in Orlando. Dennis Rodman was still in San Antonio. Thats why they lost to Orlando Magic, he explained.

We wouldve done the same thing. The team that they lost to 4-2, we swept, he reasoned. It wasnt Jordan wasnt the best player. That wasnt the best team. So if they didnt keep Horace Grant or they didnt get a Dennis Rodman with Michael, they wouldve been too small on the inside. I dont think they wouldve won eight straight, Smith expressed.

Do you agree with Kenny Smith or is there a different take from your side? Thoughts and opinions are most welcome!

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They Were Just Too Small: Ex-Rockets Player Ridicules Michael Jordan and Chicago Bulls Would Have Beaten Them in 1995 - Essentially Sports

Diors Coveted Air Jordan 1 Sneakers Are Finally Here. Heres How to Get a Pair. – Robb Report

The kicks that sneakerheads have been lusting over since last December have finally dropped. The long-awaited Air Jordan 1 OG Dior sneakers will be available online today, June 25, on a first-come, first-served basis.

The French fashion house has launched a dedicated microsite in which interested parties can reserve the limited-edition sneakers, as reported by WWD. Heres the skinny: Customers first need to choose whether they would like the high-top Jordans (priced at $2,200) or the low-tops ($2,000). Be sure to pick carefully as you can only register once for your preferred size and style. Then, youll be asked to choose your size and pickup location. If you successfully secure a pairlucky youyoull be emailed a special QR code on or after July 1, which youll need to present along matching photo ID upon pickup. For the Chinese market, a separate online experience will be held via WeChat.

Its been a difficult road to delivery for Dior. The sneakers, which were unveiled at Diors pre-fall 2020 show in Miami last December, were initially slated to go on sale in March. But the launch was delayed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Alas, the day is finally here, and to mark the momentous occasion, Dior is rolling out two pop-ups along with an Air Dior capsule collection of ready-to-wear and accessories.

Dior

The pop-ups will showcase the painstaking manufacturing process via interactive videos and photos. There will also be a real-time countdown correlated to sneaker pick-up. One pop-up will be held at Selfridges department store in London from July 8 to 21; the other will be at the Taikoo Li shopping mall in Chengdu, China from July 8 to 19.

Why all the fanfare? The coveted kicks represent the first time that a Parisian couture house has partnered with the iconic basketball brand. The sneakers will be crafted from smooth calfskin according to the labels exacting standards, but will offer all the street cred that Jordan Brand brings.

If youre interested, best head to Diors microsite posthaste for a chance to get your very own pair.

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Diors Coveted Air Jordan 1 Sneakers Are Finally Here. Heres How to Get a Pair. - Robb Report

Yeezy vs. Jordan? How Kanye Wests Deal With Gap Changes The Game – Forbes

On Friday, Kanye West announced a new ten-year partnership with clothing retailer Gap. In doing so, the billionaire entertainer expands his business empire and prompts the once unfathomable question:

Could Kanye overtake Michael Jordan as the king of celebrity endorsements?

Its possible. The new arrangement between West and Gap creates a new fashion line called Yeezy Gap that will roll out to the international retailers stores and online outlets in the first half of 2021. The line of casual, ready-to wear clothing is expected to generate over one billion dollars in annual sales. If it does, it would have an immediate impact on the retail giant, which had reported global revenue of $4.6 billion last year. The arrangement would also substantially reward West, as his wholly-owned company, Yeezy, will reportedly receive both royalties and potential equity based on the new fashion lines sales.

In some ways, the announcement is a homecoming for West, who worked at Gap as a teenager before he became a superstar. He has repeatedly expressed interest in Gap, and once said in an interview with New York magazine that he would like to be the Steve Jobs of Gap serving as its creative designer and having the ability to make mass-appeal clothing. The newest deal brings him close to realizing that dream, as Yeezy will have creative control over the design of the new fashion line. The partnership will undoubtedly be a huge draw for the retailer that has struggled amidst a changing retail landscape and differences in purchasing habits since the start of the pandemic.

The new retail partnership adds to the billionaire entertainers already impressive foray into shoes and athletic apparel. Yeezys popular sneakers, which are produced and marketed in partnership with Adidas, are some of the most coveted shoes on the primary and secondary markets, with reportedly over $1.3 billion in sales last year. In fact, Wests Yeezy shoe sales helped push the entertainer to the Forbes list of billionaires.

BEVERLY HILLS, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 09: Kanye West attends the 2020 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted ... [+] by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 09, 2020 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Rich Fury/VF20/Getty Images for Vanity Fair)

But is it enough to top Jordan? The Jordan brand, and its partnership with Nike, is considered by many to be the gold standard of celebrity shoe and apparel partnerships. Jordan has reportedly earned over $1.3 billon from Nike since the partnership was first established in 1984, helping Jordan climb his way on to the Forbes billionaire list with a reported net worth of $2.1 billion. Nike has also immensely benefited from the Jordan partnership and now dominates the basketball sneaker market, with seventy seven percent of NBA players wearing Nike or Jordan shoes during the 2019-20 season, according toshoe database siteBaller Shoes DB. Additionally, the Jordan brand has established itself as a cultural touchstone, as evidenced by the recent ten-part Jordan documentary, The Last Dance on ESPN.

But Kanye West also has all the makings of a cultural icon, and his blend of fashion, music, artistry, and creative adventurism make him a ubiquitous element of American culture. Despite a history of sensationalism, this past spring West also demonstrated that he continues to learn and grow, as he stepped up his philanthropy amidst the recent racial justice protests, using his wealth to help address needs in his home community of Chicago and beyond.

By partnering with Gap, West has taken another step in his journey from a backpack rapper to a global fashion phenomenon. Will he catch up with his Airness, Michael Jordan, as he climbs the corporate partnership ladder? That remains to be seen. But one thing is certain the original Jumpman is going to need to jump a bit higher to stay ahead of an ascendant Yeezy.

Game on.

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Yeezy vs. Jordan? How Kanye Wests Deal With Gap Changes The Game - Forbes

First Flight grad Jordan High never missed a day of school – The Coastland Times – The Coastland Times

Jordan High finished out his senior year at First Flight High School having never missed a day of school.

I never had a reason not to go, Jordan said in speaking with The Coastland Times. I just saw it as part of my daily routine.

When his friends would skip, he didnt want to miss out on the work, said Jordans mother, Anne High.

Anne said Jordan had a heavy course load through high school; between AP classes and basketball practice and games, he found it easier to go to school and get his work done rather than have to make up the work later on.

Jordans exemplary attendance has followed him since kindergarten. Anne noted that from third through eighth grade, Jordan earned all As because he would never skip class. One of his teachers commented, you have to be in it to win it.

Ive always instilled in my two boys that their only job was to make good grades so they could get into a good school; Jordan got into all eight colleges that he applied to, Anne shared.

My parents always taught me to have a strong work ethic, said Jordan. Not only was he heavily involved in basketball, but Jordan was also in student government and served as vice president for his senior class.

Chad Williams, athletic director and basketball coach for FFHS, said Jordan comes from a family that instilled a tremendous work ethic and a moral compass that is unwavering.

I had the privilege of coaching his brotherTyler (a great player and a 1,000-point scorer in his own right) for four varsity seasons and then Jordan for four (with one overlapping). I could always depend on Jordan to give me all he had every night out.

Jordan and Tyler both have served as ideal role models for my own son, Mason. He gets it done in the classroom, on the court and in the community. He epitomizes the term student athlete. I am a better coach and a better person for having Jordan as part of our program, stated Williams.

My other son, Tyler, only missed two days in second grade for his K-12 school career. They [Jordan and Tyler] dont call in sick to work either. I made all their doctor and dentist appointments after school hours, Anne said.

According to the Dare County Schools, Jordan was the only senior to graduate this year with an exemplary K-12 attendance record.

Jordan plans on attending college at NC State in the fall, pursuing a major in engineering. He said in his time spent at school so far, a big takeaway is to just have fun.

Some people dont like school, but these are some of the best days of our life. You dont have to know exactly what you want to do for the rest of your life, we have plenty of time for that, he shared.

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Rotten Tomatoes editor Mark Ellis is obsessed with Michael Jordan’s The Last Dance – CNET

Mark Ellis

Mark Ellis is a stand-up comedian and the host of Versus, the Rotten Tomatoes YouTube show where he pits two movies or TV shows against each other to determine which one's better. It has something for everyone: for instance, there's a Jaws vs. Jurassic Park episode and one that pits The Office against Friends.

In a new episode of CNET's I'm So Obsessed podcast, Ellis talks about his life as a stand-up and working with Rotten Tomatoes, and he shares what he's been watching during the pandemic.

Subscribe to the CNET Now newsletter for our editors' picks for the most important stories of the day.

Basketball has been a big theme. He admits to watching the ESPN Michael Jordan documentary The Last Dance multiple times, and he's enjoying reliving the '90s Chicago Bulls with the help of 2020 social media.

"It's been great to go back in time and relive everything that I already knew about Michael Jordan and about the Chicago Bulls. But getting to have that conversation now in 2020 on social media and with my friends has been so cool for me." said Ellis. "There was stuff in there that I was not familiar with or that I was learning for the first time. But a lot of it is like, 'Oh, I remember that.' And, 'Oh, I forgot that.'"

Listen to my entire conversation on I'm So Obsessed with Ellis on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or in the player embedded above, and subscribe to I'm So Obsessed on your favorite podcast app. In each episode, we catch up with an artist, actor or creator to learn about work, career and current obsessions.

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That Memory Sticks With Me: Vince Carter Recalls Giving Starting Position To Aging Michael Jordan – Essentially Sports

After an illustrious 22-year career, Vince Carter has announced his retirement from basketball. With the Atlanta Hawks not participating in the NBA return, Carters last game was in March, when the Hawks took on the Knicks. Even as he leaves the sport, he has turned the spotlight on to Michael Jordan, saying he cherished the chance to play against him.

NBA on ESPN shared a video from Carter where he shares an iconic incident from 2003.

In the video, Carter says, My story about MJ goes back to All-Star in Atlanta. I was the leading vote-getter. I gave my starting position to MJ, which he declined multiple times throughout the day. So we go on and he accepts the starting position. Any time that All-Star game is played on TV or talked about that, memory sticks with me because it was just historic in my mind (and) historic for all the fans who were watching to see MJ do his thing one more time in an All-Star game

Jordan retired for the second time in 1998, the year when Carter was drafted. But they were able to face each other when Jordan returned with the Washington Wizards in 2001. They went head to head four times, and the results were split. However, Carter being in his prime, outperformed the almost 40-year-old MJ.

But Carter was grateful to just share the stage with Jordan. Being in the NBA for 22 years, I can proudly say I got the chance to play against Michael Jordan. And it was nothing short of an amazing opportunity that a lot of players in todays game cant say. His impact on the game, his impact on players today, and players in the past is well documented.

In his last few years, Carter wasnt able to contribute much on the court but was an asset to the Hawks. His experience was helpful to the young Hawks team. Carter leaves as one of the best dunkers the game has ever seen. His dunks earned him multiple nicknames like, Air Canada, Vinsanity, and even Half-Man/Half-Amazing.

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Baseball that Michael Jordan autographed when he was 13 years old up for auction – CBS Sports

Watch Now: The Jim Rome Show: Bob Costas talks Michael Jordan baseball career (1:25)

A baseball that Michael Jordan signed when he was 13 years old is reportedly up for auction. The ball was signed in 1976 when Jordan played for a local baseball team, in Wilmington, North Carolina.

Given everything else about Jordan's legacy in the world of sport, the ball was signed by everyone on the team to commemorate a championship season that the Babe Ruth League youth baseball team had achieved. According to the ball itself, the team won 11 games and lost only three.

Goldin Auctions is hosting the sale of the ball, which comes with a letter of authorization from Jordan's former baseball coach, Richard Neher, along with the little league roster and a photograph of the team. The coach had the ball in his possession until 2002, when he decided to sell it.

"It is the sport that pulled Michael Jordan away from basketball," the baseball's description reads on the auction site. "America's pastime baseball was always a part of the great Michael Jordan's sporting legacy. Already a superstar basketball player in high school, Jordan was an excellent baseball player, so much so, his father - the late James Jordan hoped his son would become a professional baseballer."

The bidding began at $2,500 and is currently at $3,250 as of this posting.

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Baseball that Michael Jordan autographed when he was 13 years old up for auction - CBS Sports

I Was Better Than Him: Former Teammate Sheds Light on Michael Jordans Freshman Year – Essentially Sports

Every NBA fan knows about the greatness of Michael Jordan. He entered the league in 1984 and captivated everyone with his talent. While almost everyone is aware of how MJ carved the path to achieve NBA greatness, His Airness made an immediate impact as a college freshman too.

Michael Jordan excelled as a high-school basketball player and was a part of the McDonalds All-American game as a senior. With a high-school career on his back, he received a scholarship from the University of North Carolina.

In 1981, MJ joined the University of North Carolina, and represented the Tar Heels. When he joined the team, The Jumpman was just an addition to a talented team of college players. One of the athletes, who had already established himself as a future star when MJ arrived, was James Worthy.

James Worthy was senior to Michael Jordan in college. He also entered the NBA two years before the Bulls legend did. Worthy joined North Carolina in 1979 and began starting games as a freshman. His talent made it impossible for coach Dean Smith to keep him off the team.

Worthy knew he was the best player on the team until a young Michael Jordan arrived. In 2017, the Lakers legend explained how Michael Jordan made a startling impression on the college team as soon as his entry in 1981. Speaking in a discussion on ACC Digital Network, Worthy shared how Jordan quickly took over as the teams main man.

I was better than Michael Jordanfor about three weeks. The first three weeks of practice, and I saw some things in him that II mean, he dunked one time on Sam Perkins, and I still dont know how he did it, Worthy shared. I saw him in the raw. Most of us were kind of in the raw when we came to coach Smith, and he either slowed you down or he either enhanced your game through his theory.

Moreover, Worthy spoke about how a young Michael Jordan gathered tremendous success in his first year at UNC. Michael was an incredible freshman, Worthy said. You know, one of the rare moments was that he was able to start. Phil Ford, myself and Michael, I think, was the third freshman ever to start.

Showcasing his talent was never a problem for Michael Jordan right from a young age. From making heads turn as a high-schooler to becoming the NBAs greatest player ever, MJ wanted to do it all. The flame inside him that pushed MJ to accomplish greatness never diminished as he rose through the ranks to cement his legacy.

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What Justin Thomas learned from watching Michael Jordan in ‘The Last… – Golf.com

By: Josh Berhow June 25, 2020

Justin Thomas has played several rounds of golf with Michael Jordan, even when he was a teenager.

Getty Images

Millions of sports fans watched ESPNs The Last Dance documentary on Michael Jordans final season with the Chicago Bulls. But there are few people who watched and actually know the man in the documentary a group that includes mostly former teammates, friends, family members and acquaintances.

Count Justin Thomas among that group.

Thomas has hit the golf course several times with Jordan even back when he was a teenager and has hung out with him off the course as well.

I loved it so much because Ive been very fortunate to get to know him just from living in the same area and playing a lot of golf with him, so I see the golf side of him when we go out and mess around, Ive seen the fishing side when we go fishing or just the fun side, Thomas said on Wednesday at the Travelers Championship. But thats the only side to him that Ive never seen. I havent seen Ive seen highlights, but like Ive never heard I dont ask him about basketball. I dont want to be that person when Im around him. But to just hear and see how that team went about and to understand the trades that happened and why they happened and why his decisions were doing what he was doing.

But just his will to win, and he was going to do anything and everything possible, its something that you cant you dont just learn it. Its not something that just happens overnight. I think youre really just born with it. He wants to be better than everybody else. He wanted to be better than everybody else, and he was going to work hard and do everything he could to get there.

Thomas said seeing how hard Jordan was on some of his teammates how demanding he was to make them and the team better reminded him of the relationship he has with one of his friends who is currently trying to work his way up to the PGA Tour.

Im very hard on him, but because hes a good friend of mine, Im very honest with him, Thomas said. After him watching that, I think I was able to like say, You know all that crap I give you, this is the same exact thing. The way Jordan was giving his teammates, the way he was giving them jabs, the way he was poking fun at them, the way that it seemed like he was talking down to them, it was to get them better, its to toughen them up, its to see how they were going to rise to the occasion. It was kind of little things like that to where man, it was unbelievable.

MJ is competitive both on the court and on the links.

Getty Images

Thomas, one of the most fiery players on Tour, said hed never been more motivated watching anything in (his) life than I was watching The Last Dance.' But that competitive side of Jordan was something Thomas was used to seeing on the golf course. One instance, for example, came when Thomas was just 16 years old.

In a story Thomas told to the Action Networks Jason Sobel a couple of years ago, Jordan and some of his friends would often stop at Harmony Landing for a round before going to the Kentucky Derby. Harmony Landing, in Goshen, Ky., is where Thomas grew up, as his dad and coach, Mike Thomas, was (and still is) the head pro there. Justin Thomas said he started caddying for Jordans group when he was as young as 13, but he finally got the call to join them when he was 16.

I was riding with MJ, Thomas said. When we got to the first hole, he said, Go get your clubs. He told [his group], Alright, Ive got the little man. Well take whoever wants us. Theres eight people. He wouldnt tell me the game; he said I didnt need to hear that.

Thomas, playing from the same tees, went on a late run.

We played the last seven holes and I made four birdies, he said. We drummed em pretty good. That was fun. He just made me feel comfortable. Id played in some big national tournaments, but that was the biggest deal Ive ever played in. It was pretty cool. We had a pretty memorable day that we still talk about. He always took care of everybody tipping, so lets just say my tip was a little bigger that year.

Berhow is the managing editor at GOLF.com, the sites primary homepage editor and the edit teams on-site lead during major-tournament weeks. He plans the sites daily coverage, marquee story placement and long-term content rollout for magazine pieces and special projects. He writes for both the website and magazine, edits and assigns stories. Berhow also contributes to podcasts and appears on camera for a variety of digital programming. The Minnesota native attended Minnesota State in Mankato.

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Incredible Stats and Records Which Prove the Wizards Stint of Michael Jordan Was Heavily Underrated – Essentially Sports

When we look back at Michael Jordan as an NBA legend, his two years in Washington Wizards isnt a talking point ever. A lot of times its considered an unnecessary part of his incredible career. But if we take a close peek at those final Jordan years, he was ruling the NBA at that time as well.

In 2001 Michael Jordan was back in the basketball business after his second retirement. The first season for the Wizards went a little patchy for him. Despite a knee injury, he averaged more than 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 5 assists per game in the 2001-02 season.

Jordan was among the best at that time as well. With new young players coming in the league, he was insane at the age of 40 years. In the last season of his career, Michael was among the only eleven players in the league who averaged at least 20 points, six rebounds, and 3.5 assists.

Even then he was making records and setting an example on the court. From the Wizards roster, he was the only one who played all 82 games of the season. The team finished at 37-45 in the season, way better than the previous years.

In the 2002 season, Michael dropped three 40 or more point games that was more than Dirk Nowitski and Ray Allen who were touching the prime time of their career. In total in the two years with the Wizards, he had eight such games. The recent powerhouse players, Kawhi Leonard and Jimmy Butler hold six and five in their entire career respectively.

The six-time champion was shooting at a percentage of 50 from the field. Despite not being at the top of his career numbers, he was an asset to the team even then.

In the 90s when Chicago Bulls star was ruling the NBA world, his clutch shots formed a tremendous part of his career history. Even in his last two years of basketball, he grabbed such moments that are everlasting. In 2002, it was Wizards vs Cavaliers where MJs team was behind by a point and 1.6 seconds were left. Michael hit a mid-range jumper right into the basket to win the game.

Many would remember that game in his first season with the Wizards. Jordan was dealing with an injury and after a rough phase he was back scoring 51 points against Charlotte Hornets. Thats when he became the oldest player to join the 50-point club in NBA history.

Michael Jordans game never weathered across 15 seasons of basketball. He gave sensational performances till the end of his legendary career. Its beautiful how he maintained his charisma after all those years of excellence.

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Incredible Stats and Records Which Prove the Wizards Stint of Michael Jordan Was Heavily Underrated - Essentially Sports

A detour to Mars from the Jordan Valley – The Times of Israel

Paltiel held the plastic container up to the rays of the morning sun coming through the living room window. Transparent, with a close-fitting red lid, it was filled to the halfway point with what looked to be powdery sand, the kind that the hamsin winds blow up from the south each spring. The kind that is the bane of soldiers, that forms drifts against the hills of the Judean desert in which feet sink deep, making every step an effort and running impossible.

Helis lips were pursed angrily, and there were tears in her eyes. She stood erect, a few steps behind him, her fingers curled and rigid.

Yoav, their six-year-old, stood between them, surveying his mother and father defiantly. He wore a yellow t-shirt, from beneath which soiled fringes cascaded over his blue shorts.

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The container had left their house in Mitzpeh Yeriho that morning, an hour and a half before, in Yoavs school bag. Heli had filled it with cherry tomatoes and cucumber slices, to supplement the cheese sandwich shed prepared for his midmorning school break. Heli glared at Yoav. Paltiel lowered the container but continued to gaze out the window. A small piece of the Jordan was visible between the houses of the next street over. From the spot on the edge of the cliff just outside the perimeter fence where he liked to pray some mornings, the full length of the valley stretched below him. There he could see, at this hour in the summer, sparkles of sunlight playing on the dark waters at the northern tip of the Dead Sea.

Helis voice was threatening and despairing all at once. Why didnt you go to school? Where were you?

Yoav shrugged his shoulders. Mars.

Silence. Paltiel could feel Helis eyes on his back, demanding that he speak. He turned to look at his youngest son. He stroked his beard.

Mars?

Heli drew in her breath sharply, demanding that he acknowledge the severity of the infraction. He knew this because she reacted the same way each time he confirmed to her that, no, no one had called to book him as a tour guide and that this month, too, they would have to ask her parents for money.

And whats in the box? Paltiel shook it. Yoav held a hand out in warning.

Careful. It could explode.

Do you know how worried we were? Now Heli was crying. We thought the worst. Terrorists. Rattlesnakes, scorpions.

Yoav tried to be helpful. Its real Alien Martian Superhero Dust. They gave me a free sample. That much usually costs more than a million krorks.

Heli looked at Paltiel in despair. What are we going to do with him? I cant handle it anymore. Her hands went to her belly, as if she were protecting the child inside from the one who had been to Mars.

Paltiel kneeled down and placed his hands on Yoavs shoulders.

Couldnt you have gone to Mars after school?

Yoav rolled his eyes. Abba, theres only one bus every day, at eight-oh-five.

You could have waited until summer vacation. Its only a week from now.

But today they had the special offer on the Alien Martian Superhero Dust. Where would I get a million krorks?

Paltiel looked up at Heli and then back at Yoav. You know you have to get a punishment for not going to school and scaring us out of our wits.

Yoav leaned forward to whisper in his fathers ear. Make it easy and Ill give you some.

Paltiel stood up and assumed a command pose. He raised his arm and pointed to the hallway. Yoav, you are going to your room and youre not coming out until tomorrow morning. Yoav winked at him and obeyed.

Heli glared at him. The punishment was inadequate, as was pretty much everything else he did. She reached to take the container from him.

Ill wash it out.

Ill take care of it. You have things to do.

The whole settlement spends an hour searching for him and all you can do is send him to his room?

Heli

Fine, fine. She sighed and turned and walked down the hall to her sewing room, where she made bridal dresses and did alterations. The door didnt quite slam, but it didnt close softly, either.

Paltiel stood for a moment to get hold of himself. Then he took a volume of Talmud down from the shelf and settled into his reclining armchair to go over the days page. His morning class had dispersed before it began when the word came that Yoav had gone missing. He read the first few lines, looked at Rashis commentary, tried to focus.

Rav Hisda said: Mem and Samekh stood miraculously. It was about the tablets Moshe brought down from Mt. Sinai. The letters werent merely engraved in the stonethey went right through, so that you could see them from both sides. But these two letters are a square and a circle and so how did their centers stay in place? They were disconnected from the rest of the stone and suspended in midair.

Paltiel looked out the window. He realized that he still had the container in his hand. He looked at it, then back at the large volume open before him, then back at the container. He got up and went to Yoavs room. Yoav was sitting at the computer he shared with his two brothers.

What does real Alien Martian Superhero Dust do?

Yoav didnt look up. Pretty much everything. Depends where you sprinkle it.

Paltiel waited. Yoav shot down the alien spaceship that had suddenly soared onto the screen and paused his game. He looked up.

Like if you sprinkle it here. He pushed up the sleeve of his t-shirt and pointed to his biceps. You get really big muscles, like Superman. If you sprinkle it on your feet, you can run at the speed of light. Almost. Cuz nothing but light can reach the speed of light. If you sprinkle it on your head, you get a super brain and understand everything.

Ok, thanks. He came out of the room and encountered Heli.

Whats he doing? she asked him.

Playing on the computer.

Some punishment. She entered the room. There were firm words and objections and the sound of a screen going blank. When she came out she walked right past him to the kitchen and put the water on. He followed her.

She didnt offer to make him coffee. Looking at her mug, not at him, she said: Youre not good for much, are you?

Listen. Paltiel couldnt keep it inside any longer. Do you think, like, well, he really went to Mars?

She looked up at him sharply. The water boiled and she poured it into her mug.

Have you gone totally off the edge? she said to the mug. She wiped an eye.

He waved his arm in the direction of the volume of Talmud he had left on his armchair. I mean, we believe in miracles, dont we?

She was holding back tears, he saw. She took her mug and, her eyes on the floor, went back to her sewing room.

He sat back in his chair and picked up the volume. His eyes ran over the letters but comprehended nothing. The box was still in his hand. Keeping his unseeing eyes on the page, he pried the red lid open and took a pinch of real Alien Martian Superhero Dust and rubbed it on his forehead.

He sprang immediately to his feet as the rest of the dust erupted all over the Talmud, the armchair, and the floor. He knew it. He knew what he had to do. Striding, almost running, to the front door, he left his home for good. He nodded at the occasional neighbor he saw until he reached the fence. Some time ago, after guard duty, hed made an illicit copy of the key to the chain that held the gate on the southeastern corner closed. It was only a few steps from there to his precipice. He looked back to make sure no one saw him and positioned himself with his toes on the edge of the rock. He reached up to feel his forehead, where the real Alien Martian Superhero Dust still adhered. Looking up to heaven, he nodded with his superior knowledge. Looking down at the sea, he smiled and took a deep breath.

Abba!

He closed his eyes and tried to ignore the voice.

Abba?

His will broke and he turned. He stared at his son.

Its not real Alien Martian Superhero Dust.

Paltiel touched his forehead, then his right biceps.

It doesnt make you understand everything.

Yoav imparted the information matter-of-factly.

Ema says you should come home.

Paltiel nodded. He placed his hand in the hand his youngest son stretched out to him. They walked through the gate. Yoav took the key from him and locked the chain and put the key in his pocket.

There isnt really a bus to Mars at eight-oh-five every morning.

I knew that, Paltiel said, squeezing Yoavs hand tightly.

Yeah, I know you did. Yoav squeezed back. I guess you just forgot.

****

Haim Watzmans Necessary Stories appear in The Times of Israel every four weeks. He is the author of Company C, A Crack in the Earth, and a collection of his stories, Necessary Stories. For more information on his books, and an archive of all his Necessary Stories, visit Southjerusalem.com. To receive an email notification each time a new story appears, sign up for the Necessary Stories mailing list.

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A detour to Mars from the Jordan Valley - The Times of Israel

Flight information for Dutch citizens in Jordan | News item – The Netherlands and You

News item | 21-06-2020 | 10:39

Information about flights that leave Jordan is hardly available and can change, sometimes even within a couple of hours. The Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands receives many questions from Dutch nationals about flights leaving Jordan.

In order to inform Dutch nationals as much as possible, the Embassy will communicate and update a list of flights that may take place and that may bring nationals to destinations with a transit to the Netherlands. The information has been validated to the maximum extent possible, but the Embassy does not guarantee that these flight will actually take place and that access to these flights is possible. This is up to the airline and the Jordanian authorities. The list below is also not exhaustive.

Please read the notes at the bottom of this page for more information.

Royal Jordanian, the national carrier of Jordan, has confirmed that their normal flights have been suspended until 5 July 2020 as the airspace in Jordan remains closed to regular commercial flights.

In the meantime, Royal Jordanian is operating a number of repatriation flights to bring back stranded Jordanians. These flights will not leave empty from Amman airport. Tickets are available for sale at the Royal Jordanian Office located at the 7th circle or by telephone (06 510 0000).

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Flight information for Dutch citizens in Jordan | News item - The Netherlands and You

22 Years Ago Michael Jordan Achieved Something That No Other Person Has Managed to Replicate Till Date – Essentially Sports

The legacy of Michael Jordan is untouchable. The iconic #23 jersey proudly hangs on the rafters of the United Center for multiple reasons. MJ stirred up the NBA world with his extraordinary talent, and made his fans drop their jaw in astonishment.

The tale of Jordans greatness is widely known and there is no need for it to be retold once again. The six-titles, five MVP awards, and many other honors stand bold in his mighty basketball resume. Along his career, MJ found a lot of attention, grew through fame, and was celebrated by his fans.

The Jumpman has etched his name on many records in basketball. He tops the list in several scoring charts and one cant forget his ability to excel in both offense and defense. Just like the plethora of records he holds to his name, there is also something Jordan did, nobody in the world has ever done before. To be precise, in the world of print media.

Due to his massive fame, Michael Jordan could never travel anywhere without fans following him. One can only imagine how it would have been if His Airness was in his prime today. The attention, the media, the paparazzi, and everything. Not that he doesnt get any media attention these days. MJ once again reminded people of his legacy with the soaring success of The Last Dance.

Moreover, in his playing days, there was no other NBA star like Michael Jordan. His on-court talents often got him appearing on magazine covers. If you talk about the most popular magazines around the world, or ones with a great deal of success, you might stumble upon the likes of Time, Fortune and Sports Illustrated.

These three giants in the industry had their own share of following in the market. In 1998, the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan pulled off a sensational victory against the Utah Jazz to win the NBA championship. The Bulls became six-time champions and Michael Jordan was an instrumental member of the franchise that achieved the double three-peat.

Following the massive triumph, the reality kicked in that MJ was no longer going to stay with the Bulls. The 6th championship just politely pulled the curtain on a historical career. MJ quitting the NBA became the most talked-about matter. On June 22, 1998, three influential magazines co-incidentally carried the photo of Michael Jordan on their cover.

As put forth by Darren Rovell on Twitter, the June 22nd edition of Times, Sports Illustrated and Fortune magazines all contained the photo of MJ. Appearing on a magazine cover was a common factor is MJs professional life. However, even MJ had never managed to appear on the same dated edition on three different magazines before 1998.

After this unique happening, no other personality, be it an athlete or a celebrity or a person of any such influence has managed to achieve this. MJ remains the only person to have done so. It has been 22 years since this happened, just days after the Bulls iconic second three-peat.

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22 Years Ago Michael Jordan Achieved Something That No Other Person Has Managed to Replicate Till Date - Essentially Sports

He Could Definitely be a Good Pro: How an Unimpressed Michael Jordan Responded to the Hype of LeBron James – Essentially Sports

No one can question the basketball IQ of Michael Jordan. However, his team owner IQ has proven to be embarrassing at times. All the success he had as a player has failed to translate in his tenure as an executive. From drafting Kwame Brown at #1 at the Washington Wizards to wasting multiple lottery picks with the Hornets, Jordan has been questionable at his job.

His talent-spotting skills were questionable right from the early 2000s. Kwame Brown was a testament to that, but his comments about a high school LeBron James were dated, to say the least. He may think hes great enough to be on this level now, Jordan said. But when he gets on this level and plays against guys whove been competitive and very good on this level, hes going to find its a big difference from that 5-10 high school kid.

When asked if LeBron had what it takes to be a franchise player, Jordan didnt have a lot of expectations. Thats a tough label to give a kid at 18. It depends on how well he adapts. And dont just think of the offensive end. Defensively, I wouldnt say thats his strong area right now.

While talking about what the future holds for LeBron, Jordan again seemed to doubt the high-school sensations potential. If he takes on the dedication of being the best basketball player, he can be and continues to improve and accept challenges and not get comfortable with whats been given to him or what the expectations may be, he could definitely be a good pro.

18 years since these statements, LeBron has defied Jordans expectations and has gone beyond being a good-pro. Four-time MVP, three-time NBA champion, 16-time All-Star, the list goes on. LeBron has been the only one, along with Kobe Bryant, from the modern era of basketball to be called among the greatest ever.

If the 2019-20 season resumes, LeBron can potentially get the fourth ring. This might be his best and probably last chance to win a ring. Along with a DPOY-level player in Anthony Davis, LeBron can also bring a title to Los Angeles after a 10-year drought.

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He Could Definitely be a Good Pro: How an Unimpressed Michael Jordan Responded to the Hype of LeBron James - Essentially Sports

Michael Jordan once lost to this NFL QB and wanted to up the ante to $1… – Golf.com

By: Zephyr Melton June 16, 2020

Michael Jordan has never been afraid to wager some hefty figures on the course.

Getty Images

In the wake of the hit documentary series The Last Dance, everyone seems to be coming out with their favorite Michael Jordan stories. Just on GOLF.com, Charles Barkley shared some insight into the type of gambling Jordan was keen to on the course, while Greg Norman spoke on the basketball superstars unrivaled drive and passion. There are few secrets left about Jordan, but such is life as one of the greatest athletes of all time.

Though he didnt make his mark on the game of golf like he did on basketball, weve still spilled plenty of ink on this site regarding Jordans golf feats. But just when it seemed as though the Jordan golf stories were completely exhausted, former Bears quarterback Jim McMahon joined GOLFs Subpar and shared his favorite personal tale about the legend.

Back when both McMahon and Jordanwere Chicago sports stars, the two went out to the Merit Club for a friendlyround. Or at least as friendly as a golf match with Jordan could be, meaningthere was some cash on the line.

We were playing $100 Nassau agood bet for me, McMahon said. I had little kids at the time I wasntmaking a lot of money.

McMahon played well on the frontnine and had Jordan down two or three bets on the front. As McMahon preparedto hit his tee shot on No. 10, Jordan decided to raise the stakes.

He said, Alright, Ill play you this side for a million, McMahon said. I said, Dude I would love to, because right now, Im kicking your ass, but something would happen and I would lose this back nine and my kids dont go to college.

McMahon conceded that they couldkeep bumping up the $100 bet, if Jordan so pleased. The day ended with McMahontaking the pot on the golf course, but Jordan bested his compadre on the pooltable later that night.

Hes a pretty good pool player,too, McMahon said. He just loves to gamble.

That may be the understatement ofthe century. Check out the full episode of Subpar below.

Zephyr Melton is an assistant editor for GOLF.com.

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Michael Jordan once lost to this NFL QB and wanted to up the ante to $1... - Golf.com

Jordan and Bryson are all that we need – Yahoo Sports

I'm bound for Hilton Head this afternoon to cover live golf for the first time in two months, I'm duly excited, and there's only one problem: I'll miss Jordan Spieth's entire second round. That may sound like a quibble, and it definitely isa whiny, annoying quibblebut I'm currently addicted to professional golf in a way that feels almost unhealthy. There's plenty I could say about the exciting state of the sport, or the fact that we're all probably a little desperate after the pandemic dry spell, but I can't hide the truth: My current obsession comes down to two men.

Jordan Spieth. Bryson DeChambeau.

Golf can't live on one player alone, unless that player is Tiger Woods, but in the absence of Tiger I can absolutely dine out for years on these two larger-than-life mega-characters. As I write, I just watched DeChambeau burn the edge with a birdie attempt on the third hole at Harbour Town, and I reacted with more emotion than DeChambeau himself. Let me remind you: It's Friday morning. Nobody should feel like this on a Friday morning, including the players. I am capital-E Engaged.

"Wow," you might be thinking, "you must really like Jordan Spieth and Bryson DeChambeau."

Like? Like? To use a word "like" is to miss the point tragically and entirely. I don't know if I like them, and I don't care. Most people "like" Spieth, and most people seem to feel the opposite about DeChambeau, but these types of shallow analysis diminish the historical impact of what's happening here. Jordan and Bryson are transcending worldly notions of "liking" or "disliking." If you were standing in the middle of a hurricane, unable to resist its sheer force, recognizing in its magnitude your human smallness, how would you react if somebody sidled up and said, "hey, uhh...you like this?"

What we're witnessing is epic. It's a shame that I have to use that particular word here in 2020, since it's been robbed of its power by blogger overuse, but it's the correct word for the moment. Epic. Historical. Singular.

We all know about Brysonhis new beef-and-muscle body, his aggressive approach, his unapologetic and irrepressible urge to revolt against received wisdom. The patterns of this latest transformation are familiar. First, he was a meme. Then, he forced people to raise their eyebrows. Before long, Rory McIlroy was singing his praises, and even on a week when he couldn't putt, his new jacked-up game launched him to within one shot of winning the Colonial. It was the same when he started putting with the flagstick in after the rule change; it was almost a joke at first, and then other players realized he was right and copied him. It will be the same with his uniform-length ironsthis, too, will be adopted in time by the masses. With regards to his body, I don't know for sure whether going Full Chunk is feasible long-term, or whether he's going to hurt himself like everybody seems to believe. I do know he's making us all think, and I do know his game is a flaming meteor, and I do know that I can't look away.

(Note: DeChambeau just made birdie on no. 4, and I let out a guttural "yeahhhh" and did a sort of drumbeat on my own stomach.)

We all know about Jordan, too. He's every bit as compelling, every bit as captivating, but for entirely different reasons. At the peak of my live golf coverage in 2014 and 2015, he went from talented but somewhat petulant wunderkind to steely champion, and came as close to winning all four majors in a single year as anyone had since Tiger. Then things got complicated, and they remain so today. I have played my part in contributing to the "is he back?" narrative, and I have followed the rises and falls just as closely as my fellow addicts. It's riveting materialfrom one moment to the next, it's impossible to tell if he's going to be the best player in the world, or if he's going to fade in ways that range from "disappointing" to "choke-adjacent." Already, the RBC Heritage is looking like Peak Late-Stage Spieth. On his third hole of the day Thursday, he hit an abysmal drive and ended with triple bogey. The narrative machine was off to the races, and then had to come to a grinding halt and reverse course when he made a career-best six straight birdies on the back, went out in 29, and finished two shots off the lead.

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They say you can't step in the same river twice, and before Spieth overcomes his weekend blues, he's going to have to burst forth from this chrysalis and discover a new version of himself that integrates everything he's learned in service of becoming a champion again. There's no going back to 2015; there's only the future form of himself waiting to be inhabited. I believe he'll get there, and I continue to believe he's rounding into form even now.

In fact, this notion of progress is what's at the root of both men. In a word, it's evolution. Spieth's is a personal evolution, and it's irresistible because Spieth himself is an irresistible figure. DeChambeau's evolution is personal too, but it's also a broader evolution of the sport itself. These men are agents of dynamic change on the micro and macro level, which is why the concept of "liking" either one of them is irrelevant. Whether you're into them or not, they loom as large as nature. If it rubs you the wrong way, too bad; you might as well shake your fist at the sun.

In my book, this is a lucky time to be a fan. The change we're witnessing is happening at breakneck speed, and is essentially disappointment-proof. Whether they succeed or fail in the moment, the missions they're on are dramatic enough that you can't feel anything but total absorption. Count me as a devotee of this bizarre, thrilling cultgolf is working on multiple levels right now, but when it comes to the essential figures, Bryson and Jordan embody a new kind of magic.

And by the way, Bryson just made another birdie to move into solo second, and then birdied again to move to within one shot of the lead. How can I ever leave my TV again?

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Jordan and Bryson are all that we need - Yahoo Sports

Jordan’s Draft Anniversary, No Best Player Available, Trading for Rose and Griffin?! And Other Bulls Bullets – bleachernation.com

I didnt know it was Friday until like 10:00 am today.

Yesterday, we learned the Chicago Bulls will offer paid time off in honor of Juneteenth. The official announcement came earlier this morning ahead of the Bright Star Church Chicago peace march, in which several members of the Bulls organization plan to walk later today. For those in the Chicagoland area and looking to celebrate, I encourage you to check out Block Club Chicagos post here. As for anyone looking to educate themself further on the history of Juneteenth, here are a couple of links: CBS This Morning, New York Times, Juneteenth.com. Whether it be joining in a march or learning more at home, I hope everyone can find some way to celebrate!

On this day in 1984, the Bulls drafted a guy named Michael Jordan. Heard of him?

I love his draft day interview. The guy is so modest, but we all know deep down hes thinking Im about to be the best player this world has ever seen and one day verbally beat the crap out of Scott Burrell.

Ive had variations of this conversation before, but since it pertains to one of my more recent posts, lets start it up again. The best player available approach isnt going to be all that easy in the 2020 NBA Draft. Im not saying this means the Bulls should go a different route, but rather merely pointing out that it isnt as cut-and-dry as the last couple of seasons. Sure, a draft hierarchy of some kind is bound to fall into place as we near draft night, especially if pre-draft workouts and the combine are allowed to occur. However, even then this draft order will be flimsy at best. Karnisovas and Eversley have both received praise for their evaluating chops, so lets hope those come in handy right away.

And on top of a hard-to-organize draft board, both new front office leaders will head into 2020 knowing they have a young, developing piece at almost every position on the court. No one on this roster has a job locked down, but drafting a player in the same position regardless of whether its via best player available or potential fit could mean this young talent is most likely to lose their place on the totem pole. Lets not kid ourselves, whomever Karnisovas and Eversley select, theyre going to work a tiny bit harder to find them an important role. Anyway, I wrote about what a draft selection at each position could mean/tell us about the Bulls future, so check it out (if you want to I cant make you do anything you do you, bruh):

Bleacher Report said the Bulls should trade Thaddeus Young and Otto Porter for Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin. Before you jump out of your seat and scream DO IT, YOU COWARDS, let me remind you of Griffins current contract situation. The big man is owed $36.5 million next season and has a player option for 38.9 million in 2021-22. Additionally, there are some concerns about his long-term health after appearing in only 18 games this season due to a knee injury. So while there is a chance Griffin can return to All-Star level, the Bulls get rid of the great flexibility theyre in line to have for the LOADED 2021 free agency. I know adding Rose while getting rid of Porters $28.5 million contract feels nice but Im not about this.

Im going to share Deni Avdija content whether you like it or not

A good way to familiarize yourself with the class of 2020:

The Knicks coaching search is in full effect and Im jealous.

An important watch!

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Jordan's Draft Anniversary, No Best Player Available, Trading for Rose and Griffin?! And Other Bulls Bullets - bleachernation.com

Hear stories from the Bulls doctor who helped treat Michael Jordans injuries. – WGN Radio – Chicago

WGN Radio's Pete McMurray talks to Marquee Sports Network's Cole Wright. Cole talks to Pete about meeting his favorite Cub, an update on when baseball will return and his movie knowledge.

[audio https://serve.castfire.com/audio/3768656/3768656_2020-06-21-215056.64kmono.mp3%5D

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Hear stories from the Bulls doctor who helped treat Michael Jordans injuries. - WGN Radio - Chicago

Jordan Spieth comes back from a rocky start in round four of the RBC Heritage – pgatour.com

Jordan Spieth hit 14 of 18 greens in regulation during his final round at the RBC Heritage, and rebounded from a poor front to deliver a strong finish. Spieth finished his round tied for 71st at 4 under; Tyrrell Hatton, Abraham Ancer, Ryan Palmer, and Webb Simpson are tied for 1st at 15 under; Carlos Ortiz, Daniel Berger, and Joel Dahmen are tied for 5th at 14 under; and Matthew Fitzpatrick, Erik van Rooyen, Joaquin Niemann, Ian Poulter, Sergio Garcia, Michael Thompson, Corey Conners, and Chris Stroud are tied for 8th at 13 under.

On the 502-yard par-5 second, Jordan Spieth had a bogey after hitting the green in 5 and one putting. This moved Jordan Spieth to 1 over for the round.

On the 549-yard par-5 fifth hole, Spieth reached the green in 3 and sunk a 7-foot putt for birdie. This moved Spieth to even for the round.

On the 473-yard par-4 eighth, Spieth had a bogey after hitting the green in 3 and two putting, moving Spieth to 1 over for the round.

After a drive to the right side of the fairway on the 430-yard par-4 12th hole, Spieth had a 125 yard approach shot, setting himself up for the birdie. This moved Spieth to even-par for the round.

After a 287 yard drive on the 588-yard par-5 15th, Spieth chipped his third shot to 1 foot, which he rolled for one-putt birdie on the hole. This moved Spieth to 1 under for the round.

On the par-4 16th, Spieth's 92 yard approach to 6 feet set himself up for the birdie on the hole. This moved Spieth to 2 under for the round.

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Jordan Spieth comes back from a rocky start in round four of the RBC Heritage - pgatour.com

Baltimore Native Brian Jordan On Whether PED-Connected Players Should Be Hall Of Famers – Press Box

Former two-sport athlete and Baltimore native Brian Jordan believes baseball players who used performance-enhancing drugs prior to drug testing should still be allowed in the Baseball Hall of Fame.

Mandatory drug testing in MLB began in 2004, with first-time offenders receiving suspensions beginning in 2005. There were many notable players suspected of using PEDs before mandatory testing kicked in, including Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Sammy Sosa and Jordans former teammate, Mark McGwire.

McGwire was traded from the Oakland Athletics to the St. Louis Cardinals during the 1997 season. Jordan played with McGwire in St. Louis from 1997-1998, with McGwire hitting 70 homers in the latter season. McGwires race for the single-season home run record with Sosa was recently documented in ESPNs 30 for 30 film Long Gone Summer.

If you want to put asterisks by peoples names you can go far back as you want to see illegal stuff being done, so thats why I say those guys who used steroids before drug testing was implemented, you cant continue to penalize those guys, Jordan said on Glenn Clark Radio June 16. They were good ballplayers either way you look at it. Youve got to have great hand-eye coordination regardless of how many steroids you used.

Jordan spent three seasons in the NFL with the Atlanta Falcons as a defensive back (1989-1991), then was an outfielder in the big leagues from 1992-2006. He was caught off guard when he arrived at Cardinals spring training in 1992 and saw the competition. He didnt realize there was no testing program in baseball and said everyone had a choice whether to use or not. Some decided it was their way to stay on the field.

Jordan said an asterisk is necessary for players who used performance-enhancing drugs after testing was implemented, but what about players in the 90s?

They left it up to the players to have choices and when it comes to drugs, Im totally against it, but if you dont have rules and regulations stopping players from using it, especially in the game of baseball, theyre not at fault, said Jordan, a graduate of Milford Mill Academy. When I came to the league from the NFL, we played the Texas Rangers. I saw Jose Canseco, Juan Gonzalez, Julio Franco, and I thought we were playing against the Dallas Cowboys.

McGwire wasnt the only one who played well with the Cardinals in 1998. Jordan and Ray Lankford had strong seasons, too. Jordan hit .316/.368/.534 with 25 home runs and 91 RBIs, while Lankford hit .293/.391/.540 with 31 homers and a career-best 105 RBIs.

St. Louis finished 83-79 and missed the playoffs, but the real story was the competition between McGwire and Sosa for the home run crown. Sosa hit 66 that season and briefly held the lead late in the season with that 66th homer. Jordan remembers the moment when the scoreboard showed that Sosa had taken the lead.

We were constantly looking up, and when we saw that 66, everyone was like, Aw man, here we go, come on Mark, Jordan said. Everyone was putting out pom-poms and we were becoming cheerleaders hoping Mark would come through and get it done.

Jordan said that early in the season pitchers would pitch around McGwire, but because Jordan and Lankford were also playing well, opposing managers eventually decided to take their chances with McGwire.

It was pick your poison, and I think after a while pitchers took it as a challenge to get Mark McGwire out, Jordan said. That was the fun part about it no one was pitching around Mark McGwire anymore. They were going right at him and saying, Hit me if you can, and of course we saw the results of that.

For more from Jordan, listen to the full interview here:

Photo Credit: Courtesy of St. Louis Cardinals Archive

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Baltimore Native Brian Jordan On Whether PED-Connected Players Should Be Hall Of Famers - Press Box