Michael Jordan: Legends in Sports by Matt Christopher

Author:Matt Christopher [Christopher, Matt]
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Juvenile Nonfiction, Basketball, Sports & Recreation, United States, Adventure, Biography & Autobiography, People & Places, African American, Biography
ISBN: 9780316094016
Google: pXLIPt1INeYC
Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
Published: 2009-12-19T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER SEVEN

1991–1992

A Couple of Scars

Michael Jordan could at last add “NBA champion” to his list of outstanding accomplishments. But he still wasn’t satisfied. He wanted to win another championship. He knew that to be considered a really great player, a team player like Magic Johnson or Larry Bird, he’d have to win more than one title.

Michael soon learned that winning a second championship would be harder than winning the first one. With a championship ring on his finger, he was under more scrutiny and more pressure than ever. Long before he had a chance to add another ring, Michael Jordan confronted a series of troubles unlike any he had ever faced.

The first problem surfaced in early October, just as the Bulls were ready to begin training camp. Like many other championship teams, the Bulls were invited to the White House to meet the president. Michael, who had already met President Bush, decided to skip the visit and spend the day with his family.

The press was shocked when Michael failed to turn up. Some writers wrote that his decision to spend the day with his family was an example of the way the Bulls gave Michael Jordan special treatment. Teammate Horace Grant made the same charges.

Michael defused the situation before it got out of control. He explained to the media that the Bulls knew he was going to miss the visit to the White House and had given him permission. Then, when training camp opened, he met with Horace Grant. The two players settled their differences. With the season ready to start, Michael wanted to make sure the Bulls focused fully on basketball.

For a while, they did. When the season opened, the Bulls played better than ever. In November, they ran off a franchise-record 14-game winning streak.

Then came the news that shocked and saddened everyone in the NBA, including Michael. In a televised press conference, his friend Laker guard Magic Johnson announced that he was retiring from the NBA. He was infected with the HIV virus, which causes AIDS, and needed to concentrate on his health.

At the same time, Celtic forward Larry Bird was sidelined with a back injury and talking of retirement himself. The torch was being passed to Michael Jordan. He was now without question the best player in the game.

Throughout the 1991–92 season, he proved it was a title he deserved. By midseason, the Bulls were 37–5 and on pace to break the league record of 69 wins set by the Lakers in the 1971–72 season.

But the Bulls slumped in the second half. The pressure of being the defending NBA champs was getting to everyone. In February, at the end of a triple-overtime loss to Utah, a frustrated Michael even got into an argument with a referee and was suspended for a game.

Then Michael found himself in more serious trouble. A newspaper reported that the Bulls’ star player had bet and lost thousands of dollars while playing golf and poker. In most states, gambling is illegal. Technically, Michael Jordan had broken the law.

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