Thread by @MythNix

MJ AND HIS SCOREKEEPER 🧵

Michael Jordan won DPOY in 1988 with fishy defensive metrics at home, after a season where he was “ticked off” he didn’t get All Defense.

Did he get scorekeeper help? 🤔

If so…who WAS that guy?

And did MJ ever PAY that scorekeeper? (Hint: YES)

First, here’s the context of the 1988 season.

MJ was PISSED he didn’t get All Defensive team in 1987.

Blamed it on reputations.

Said to “check the stats” of Michael Cooper.

So MJ was:
1) PISSED
2) Focused on stats (steals, blocks)

Did he try to HELP himself in 1988? 🤔

Here are 1988 steals and blocks at home for MJ.

The difference between his home and away stats in 88 are as much as 4 standard deviations above his OWN career averages.

He’s getting WAY more defensive stats at home vs the rest of the league.

It’s CLEARLY suspicious.

For those arguing he was “at his peak”…his road stats are DOWN from 87 to 88, and his road steals in 88 are his lowest from 85-90.

For those who argue players are better at home…not 2X.

Find me ANY other player who has this seasonal spike, and only at home.

Good luck.

So who IS the scorekeeper?

It’s Bob Rosenberg.

Bob was an employee for the Bulls for 58 years, starting with the team’s 1st year in 1966, until LAST YEAR.

He was a scorekeeper for the Bulls, White Sox, Cubs and Blackhawks.

Didn’t miss a Bulls home game for 34 years.

There’s a big Chicago bias.

He grew up Chicago.

He had season tickets with the White Sox, Bears and Blackhawks.

His sporting event “bitter disappointments” are Bulls and Sox games.

He saved every program from every game.

This guy is a SUPERFAN. As a statistician in the NBA.

OK, you’ll say. It doesn’t mean stats are wrong.

Except…he was accused of counting bogus Rodman rebounds.

And he admitted helping Bulls players. When he was threatened with being reported to the league…he defended his bias WITH bias. “You never complained when you were here.”

Then you’ll say…nah, the league checked that stuff.

Except…in the 80’s…no.

Their “method” for checking? Comparing home and away stats.

Just like I’ve done here.

You think they’re going to challenge the meal ticket? The savior? The guy they’re TRYING to sell?

OK, you’ll say.

Prove he had a relationship with Jordan.

Well…Rosenberg said Michael “rewarded him well” for the scrapbook he kept for MJ.

A scrapbook that—

Wait, WHAT?!?

MJ PAID his scorekeeper to keep a SCRAPBOOK? Of game articles?!?

Something MJ could get for FREE?

😳

To summarize really clearly:

Jordan PAID HIS SCOREKEEPER
And paid him “well”
To maintain a scrapbook
Of free articles
After EVERY game
Per the scorekeeper’s OWN words

Who else is PAYING their scorekeeper?

For anything?

EVER?

STILL want to argue those 1988 stats are legit?

You got a Chicago fan, a Bulls fan, an MJ fan, who’s getting PAID by MJ to maintain a free “scrapbook,” generating stats that spike wildly ONLY at home a year after Jordan was pissed he didn’t get All Defense.

This is your GOAT?!?

So congrats to MJ for winning DPOY while paying his scorekeeper, in a league that didn’t police scorekeeping, and a league that had no desire to police the stats of its savior, Michael Jordan.

It IS sad, by the way, that Bob had to sell his 6 rings.

He did so much.

By the way…here are the highlights of MJ’s “10 steal game” in 1988…which shows only 6 steals.

Where are the other four?
Wasn’t the PURPOSE of the video to show 10 steals?
Why omit 40% of them?
Why wouldn’t they WANT to show 10 steals?

Does ANYONE have a possible answer?