A work in progress, in 72 parts.
A thread.
#TheLastDance
But as we prepare for the final night of #TheLastDance, I want to look back at what I've done so far.
Want to follow my journey from research to book in real time?
Subscribe to my newsletter, "A Shot on Ehlo."
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The Evolution of Michael Jordan's Commercial Character via @redeyechicago:
chicagotribune.com/redeye/redeye-…
"Banned."
Michael's career, from the perspective of @Crayestout.
From my newsletter:
readjack.substack.com/p/a-conversati…
Michael Jordan's 63-point game.
Quoted in this piece by @wontgottlieb: bleacherreport.com/articles/28874…
Larry Bird's quote before The Quote:
The story behind the famed Chicago Times photo shoot, of Michael Jordan, @walterpayton and Andre Dawson in tuxedos.
2013 interview with the late photographer Marc Hauser, for @redeyechicago.
chicagotribune.com/redeye/ct-red-…
The Shot — a mini-thread.
This is a moment that changed history, and epitomized everything I hold dear about sports. This is why I named my Chicago sports IG and my newsletter "A Shot on Ehlo."
The Evolution of Michael Jordan's Commercial Character via @redeyechicago (continued):
chicagotribune.com/redeye/redeye-…
Mike & Mars.
Tex Winter and the Triangle Offense.
Mini-thread:
"Learning the Hard Way: Jordan’s Bulls vs. the Bad Boy Pistons"
My ode to the Bulls-Pistons rivalry, written in 2005.
readjack.wordpress.com/2009/05/25/lea…
(photo by @ADBPhotoInc)
Why the 1991 Bulls were the best of the six championship teams — interview with @CraigHodgesNBA, from 2017.
This was prior to a studio interview with Craig and
@JustinKaufmann on @WGNRadio. s/o @PeterZimm.
The Johnny Bach Impact — a mini-thread.
Salute to one man not getting nearly enough shine in #TheLastDance: assistant coach and defensive wizard John Bach, father of The Three Dobermans.
1991-1998
The history of the @chicagobulls iconic logo. I provided research and quotes for this excellent piece by @lilly_smith48 in @FastCompany.
fastcompany.com/90497539/the-9…
Interview with @SamSmithHoops from 2011, on his groundbreaking classic "The Jordan Rules."
From @ChicagoNow — excerpt on Sam's rejection letters from New York publishers.
chicagonow.com/eye-on-chi/201…
The Evolution of Michael Jordan's Commercial Character via @redeyechicago (continued):
chicagotribune.com/redeye/redeye-…
"Be Like Mike."
Salute to @Gatorade. This truly started a movement.
"The Night the Bench was Best."
My ode to the magical bench-led 4th quarter comeback in Game 6 of the 1992 NBA Finals, from my newsletter:
readjack.substack.com/p/the-night-th…
A big salute to @bjarmstrong @han5hwk @ScottiePippen @Stacey21King @scottwill42
The Dream Team vs. The Redeem Team.
Myself and @B_Craw4D with the breakdown at @redeyechicago.
Guards: 1992
MJ/Kobe: 1992
Perimeter shooting: 2012
Do-it-all players: 2012
Low post: 1992
Depth: 1992
Defense: 1992
chicagotribune.com/redeye/ct-rede…
"Determined to win — the story of the 1993 Chicago Bulls."
My essay from 2005: readjack.wordpress.com/2009/04/30/det…
Video from @SInow, featuring the great @McCallum12.
"The 1993 Bulls and LeBron James: a look back, and a look ahead"
My essay from 2013: readjack.wordpress.com/2013/06/20/the…
My favorite Bulls game ever: Game 6, 1993 Finals.
1991-1994
My ode to John Paxson — a thread.
Miss you Pax.
A celebration of Bulls gear — a thread, a newsletter, and a conversation with @treykerby.
Tees: readjack.substack.com/p/a-celebratio…
Trey: readjack.substack.com/p/taco-trey-ke…
"Inside the 1993 bombshell book that brought the NBA's heat on Michael Jordan"
My complete history of MJ's various gambling controversies, with a focus on Richard Esquinas's book "Michael & Me: Our Gambling Addiction … My Cry For Help!"
readjack.substack.com/p/exclusive-in…
My exclusive interview with Richard Esquinas — his first on MJ and gambling in 27 years.
From my newsletter:
A day-by-day look at the whereabouts of Michael Jordan and David Stern, to see if they were ever in the same city on the same day, where a hypothetical "secret suspension" could take place.
From my newsletter:
readjack.substack.com/p/did-david-st…
For the last time: NO — there was no secret suspension of Michael Jordan.
My comprehensive thread:
"There Could Never Be an 8-Peat: Why Michael Jordan Needed Baseball"
Excerpt from my 2016 book, "How the GOAT Was Built."
Michael.
Retirement.
Baseball.
Reality check.
#TheLastDance
readjack.wordpress.com/2016/05/19/the…
"Moving On — The tale of Scottie Pippen’s 1994 Chicago Bulls"
An ode to my favorite non-championship Bulls season, in an essay from 2005.
readjack.wordpress.com/2009/05/08/mov…
"33-23 = 1.8, but 33+23 = 72"
A tribute to @ScottiePippen.
Excerpt from my 2016 book, "How the GOAT Was Built."
#TheLastDance
readjack.wordpress.com/2016/05/22/sco…
"The Other 10: How Phil Jackson and Jerry Krause rebuilt the totem pole and created a new champion"
Excerpt from my 2016 book, "How the GOAT Was Built."
#TheLastDance
readjack.wordpress.com/2016/05/22/the…
How the 1994 Bulls-Knicks playoff series changed NBA history.
A thread:
The Evolution of Michael Jordan's Commercial Character via @redeyechicago (continued):
chicagotribune.com/redeye/redeye-…
"MJ's retirement — kicking it with Charles Barkley"
When you can star in commercials about your retirement, you are on another level.
How Michael Jordan nearly turned himself into a professional baseball player.
A thread:
The trade that could have changed the NBA. As reported by Sam Smith:
* Clippers get: Scottie Pippen
* Bulls get: 1st round picks in 1995, 1996, 1st round swaps in 1997, 1998.
What do you do?
Here I am discussing it with @LaurenceWHolmes:
The true story of the 45 days that sent Michael Jordan from the AAA Nashville Sounds back to the Bulls.
From @NBCSChicago:
nbcsports.com/chicago/bulls/…
"The Jordan Index — How Michael Jordan's 1995 comeback drove stock prices"
From my newsletter and my @NBCSChicago piece, the true story of how news of MJ's comeback led 5 Jordan-endorsed companies to outperform every major U.S. stock index.
readjack.substack.com/p/the-jordan-i…
"Chris Dudley, Horace Grant, and the strangest 'What If?' of the 1996 Chicago Bulls"
I bet you didn't know Chris Dudley played a huge role in Bulls history.
Excerpt from my 2016 book, "How the GOAT Was Built."
#TheLastDance
The true story of how Jerry Krause and Phil Jackson manipulated the 1995 expansion draft and turned B.J. Armstrong into Dennis Rodman — with Ron Harper becoming a starter and Steve Kerr becoming The Shooter.
A thread:
#TheLastDance
He didn't draft Jordan, but he got everyone else.
Here are the 5 greatest moves Jerry Krause made for the dynasty Bulls.
A thread:
"Phil Jackson and Jerry Krause were a great duo. Dennis Rodman is the proof."
How Phil and Krause brought their skillsets together to make Dennis Rodman a great Chicago Bull. From my newsletter:
readjack.substack.com/p/phil-jackson…
"'My coach is everything' — Phil Jackson’s influence on the 1996 Chicago Bulls"
Excerpt from my 2016 book, "How the GOAT Was Built."
#TheLastDance
readjack.wordpress.com/2016/05/22/phi…
"Dub-Bulls: How the 1996 Bulls led the small-ball revolution by going big"
Excerpt from my 2016 book, "How the GOAT Was Built."
#TheLastDance
Salute to @SteveKerr on this one.
readjack.wordpress.com/2016/05/15/dub…
Interview from 2013 with the late photographer Marc Hauser, whose work includes the Dennis Rodman shoot that stopped traffic on 94 on a Bigsby & Kruthers billboard.
From my newsletter:
readjack.substack.com/p/shooting-sta…
"Tales From a 1990s Bulls Ballboy"
Interview from my newsletter with Bulls ballboy @mottman33. He's got an amazing story!
readjack.substack.com/p/tales-from-a…
#TheLastDance
"How The GOAT Was Built: 6 Life Lessons From the 1996 Chicago Bulls"
My free ebook on the 1996 Bulls. Read it here: readjack.files.wordpress.com/2016/05/how-th…
Interview about the book with @VJVemu at @BullsBlogger:
blogabull.com/2016/7/12/1206…
Cover by the great @bagfry.
One tweet.
Right here.
This is the distillation of why I believe @Jumpman23 and @ScottiePippen are the greatest DUO in NBA history.
The showdown between Gary Payton and Michael Jordan in the 1996 NBA Finals. MJ laughed this off in #TheLastDance. Here is what Glove believed — a mini-thread:
Perhaps the scariest moment of the dynasty.
The 30 minutes in which Michael Jordan came close to joining the New York Knicks.
A thread:
One of my favorite moments of the dynasty: @ScottiePippen's series-winning dunk over the Washington Bullets, where he put his body on the line to knock out a challenger to the throne.
A thread:
One of my favorite STORIES of the dynasty: the true story of when Matt Steigenga asked Jerry Krause for Bulls tickets, and landed on the team instead, winning a championship ring.
A thread:
My interview with Matt Steigenga! A career highlight for me about a career highlight for him.
From my newsletter:
readjack.substack.com/p/the-amazing-…
readjack.substack.com
The Evolution of Michael Jordan's Commercial Character via @redeyechicago (continued):
chicagotribune.com/redeye/redeye-…
"Michael Jordan is: CEO Jordan"
They really did commercial storylines on MJ as a:
* Player
* Son
* Fake-retired player
* Real-retired player
* CEO
Bulls vs. Jazz: shot progression.
MJ, Game 1, 1997 ➡️
MJ, Game 5, 1997 ➡️
Kerr, Game 6, 1997 ➡️
MJ, Game 6, 1998
The Flu Game.
(Or, The Pizza Game. Or, The Hangover Game. Or, Whatever, He Scored 38 And The Dagger Three In A Game 5 Finals Road Rubber Match)
A thread:
The Flu Game.
Forget The Flu, or The Pizza, or anything else.
How about just this:
Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals was Michael Jordan's 245th consecutive NBA game since baseball, including preseason.
That's zero games missed since baseball.
readjack.wordpress.com/2018/02/04/a-l…
The Jerry Reinsdorf Mystery.
I've gotten more information on this since I wrote it. Coming soon....
readjack.substack.com/p/the-central-…
The McDonald's Open.
The unofficial start to the 1997-98 season, in a lot of ways.
A mini-thread:
The Passing of the Torch: MJ and Kobe at the 1998 NBA All-Star Game.
A hidden conspiracy theory (at @BarbersChairNet): barberschairdigital.com/blog-posts/201…
And a mini-thread:
The Evolution of Michael Jordan's Commercial Character via @redeyechicago (continued):
chicagotribune.com/redeye/redeye-…
"Be Like Mike Part 2" — starring:
🏀 MJ
🏀 @NBATVAhmad
🏀 Chris Berman
🏀 @LisaLeslie
🏀 @airswoopes22
🏀 @Take6official
🏀 @blues_traveler
🏀 Larry Bird
Michael Jordan's 10 most underappreciated feats.
And like Nigel Tufnel's amp, this list goes to 11.
readjack.substack.com/p/happy-birthd…
NBA Finals, Game 3.
"The Totem's Greatest Night"
A mini-thread:
NBA Finals, Game 5.
"Remembering Michael Jordan's (Almost) Last Shot"
From my newsletter:
readjack.substack.com/p/remembering-…
"The Last Day of the Chicago Bulls Dynasty: NBA Finals Game 6, 1998"
My retroactive oral history, in @ChicagoMag. A must-read companion piece to #TheLastDance.
chicagomag.com/city-life/June…
"My Top 10 Chicago Bulls Finals Moments"
(Also goes to 11.)
A thread:
The 2nd Three-Peat vs. The Avengers
Story at @BarbersChairNet: barberschairdigital.com/blog-posts/201…
Thread below.
The Steve Rogers - Scottie Pippen comp is my favorite.
s/o to @MarvelStudios & YOUR @chicagobulls.
They called it #TheLastDance for a reason.
In January 1999, we found out why.
This is the true story of the 10 days that transformed a 62-win, three-time defending champ into a 13-37 nightmare.
A thread:
The first sign of trouble after #TheLastDance?
Jerry Krause and Tracy McGrady.
A (depressing) thread (again):
"The true story of Jerry Krause and the breakup of the Bulls"
My warts-and-all ode to the Hall of Fame general manager, at @BullsBlogger, after his death in 2017.
(Photo by Frank Polich)
blogabull.com/2017/3/24/1504…
The Evolution of Michael Jordan's Commercial Character via @redeyechicago (continued):
"23 vs. 39"
From his final season in the NBA, this @Gatorade spot is quite possibly the greatest Michael Jordan commercial ever made.
chicagotribune.com/redeye/redeye-…
"The (Nearly) Complete History of Michael Jordan's All-Star Game Introductions"
A thread:
"The Oral History of The Baby Bulls"
By @jakemalooley in @ringer, with quotes from yours truly.
theringer.com/nba/2020/1/2/2…
The team that brought the Bulls franchise back from the dead. One of my favorite seasons of sports ever. So glad Jake wrote this, and invited me in.
"The NBA’s True Mount Rushmore"
🏀Bill Russell as George Washington
🏀Wilt Chamberlain as Thomas Jefferson
🏀Michael Jordan as Abraham Lincoln
🏀LeBron James as Teddy Roosevelt
"Undoing the dynasty: Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and how the Bulls blew a shot to become the Lakers"
Story at @BarbersChairNet: barberschairdigital.com/blog-posts/201…
Thread here:
The Evolution of Michael Jordan's Commercial Character via @redeyechicago (finished):
"Let Your Game Speak"
The final tweet honors MJ's final sports legacy: He lives in every generation of hoopers that has come since.
Chills to this day.
readjack.substack.com/archive
To follow my journey from research to book, subscribe to my newsletter "A Shot on Ehlo" here: readjack.substack.com
1996.
"The Frozen Moment"
chicagotribune.com/redeye/redeye-…
readjack.substack.com/archive