Comments on: MJ’s strange HOF speech

By: Anthony Stalter

Anthony Stalter — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:35:29 +0000

Growing up in Chicago, I heard that theory as well, although nobody ever said he was betting on basketball. (More that he was betting card games in casinos.)

If you believe in conspiracy theories (or even if you don’t), the under-the-table suspension makes sense. The NBA didn’t want to suspend its biggest and most marketable star, so they ask him to “retire” until he gets his gambling situation in check. Then when he comes back, that’s a huge story in itself.

By: Chris Glotfelty

Chris Glotfelty — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 06:36:34 +0000

Thanks, John.

I had never heard of that. I assume it was betting on basketball games, though I could be wrong. If so, that’s grounds for banishment from the baseball Hall of Fame a la Pete Rose.

But maybe he bettering on something else.

By: John Paulsen

John Paulsen — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 04:19:42 +0000

Chris, I don’t want to speak for D-Man, but I think he’s referring to the theory that Jordan’s first retirement was actually an under-the-table suspension for his gambling habit. Stern didn’t want the bad PR so he convinced Michael to play baseball instead and then come back to play in the NBA.

By: Chris

Chris — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 01:59:14 +0000

Yo D-Man,

What are you implying with his first retirement. What farce? I’m not attacking you or anything, just curious.

This was a really weird, antagonistic speech, though.

By: D-Man

D-Man — Tue, 15 Sep 2009 00:10:37 +0000

This is a great article. After living in Chicago for the Jordan years this shows just a tiny spec of how nasty this guy was. Did he mention Pipin at all? A guy who took his crap all those years and played second banana for him.

I’m still waiting for somebody to get the balls to look into his first retirement…The one were he decided to play baseball with the White Sox?

What a farse that was..

The NBA has a secret