When NBC announced in May that Michael Jordan would join its NBA coverage as a “special contributor,” many were skeptical. Just how special would his contribution be?
The doubts were warranted. As enjoyable and nostalgic as “The Last Dance” was, the documentary was seen through Jordan’s eyes, and some of his old teammates questioned his vision.
Would Jordan tell viewers anything they’ve wanted to know? Would he say anything interesting?
Through two segments of “MJ: Insights to Excellence,” the answer is no.
And yet, I found them riveting.
As I worked on the copy desk during the first segment last week, I realized that I had stopped what I was doing, rested my head in my hand and hung on every word Jordan said. It was only 3½ minutes, but it had my undivided attention.
Though NBC isn’t discussing Jordan’s role publicly, seemingly everyone else in sports media is. When the greatest basketball player of all time speaks, people listen – and watch, in this case. It gives the new “NBA on NBC” gravitas.
He said the reason we haven’t heard from him much lately is because he’s trying to make up for lost time with family. “You never really know when you’re in the prime of your career how much time you really do not have for family,” he said. “That’s what I have time to do now.”
Jordan’s words ring louder here, where he won six NBA titles – all of which aired on NBC – and perhaps he’ll delve into his time with the Bulls later in the series, which will air throughout the season. But he’s talking to more than just Bulls fans, as evidenced by all the arenas he used to fill.
The nature of the questions, though, lead you to believe that Jordan will speak in generalities. Since the segments were prerecorded, you can forget about him commenting on anything timely, such as the NBA gambling scandal. Who wouldn’t love to hear Jordan’s thoughts on that, especially considering that the NBA investigated his own gambling habits in the early 1990s?
In the first segment, NBC’s Mike Tirico uncovered a story about Jordan shooting a free throw at the request of the owner of a house he rented at the Ryder Cup last month. The owner wanted his grandchildren to see Jordan make the shot, and Jordan claimed it was “the most nervous I’ve been in years.” Even Tirico didn’t buy it, saying, “Stop it. Come on.”
Then Tirico said, “I hope you swished it.” And in typical Jordan fashion, he replied, “Absolutely.”
Another chapter in his legend.
Maybe I’m being too harsh. Maybe, if you read between the lines – Tirico certainly isn’t going to press him – Jordan is saying something noteworthy. When Tirico asked Jordan why he agreed to be part of NBC’s coverage, he said, “One of the things why I did this is, as professional athletes, we have an obligation to pay it forward. Part of what this is all about is to pay it forward.”
Is he implying other professional athletes don’t?
In the second segment, which focused on the plague of “load management,” Jordan said, “It shouldn’t be needed, first and foremost.” Then he regaled the audience with similar hyperbole from “The Last Dance,” saying he never chose to miss a game because he wanted to impress the guy in the last row who worked hard for the money to buy that ticket.
“You have a duty that, if they’re wanting to see you, as an entertainer, I want to show,” Jordan said.
Is he intimating that players today don’t?
So even though we have Jordan being interviewed on camera, we’re still not getting the full picture. But NBC is banking on even a partial picture drawing attention.
It’s hard to argue. NBC is off to a rousing restart with the NBA. By bringing back dramatic opens – former announcer Bob Costas voiced the open Tuesday – and theme song “Roundball Rock,” NBC is leaning heavily into nostalgia. It’s also living in the present with top-notch production quality and innovative elements.
Of course, it helps to have great games. The opening-night doubleheader last week averaged 5.6 million viewers across NBC and Peacock, the largest audience for a non-Christmas “NBA Tip-Off” doubleheader since 2010. The Rockets-Thunder double-overtime opener peaked at 7.1 million.
Jordan is another alluring part of the show, no matter what comes out of his mouth.
Remote patrol
Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta and Aditi Kinkhabwala will call the Bears-Bengals game at noon Sunday on CBS. Kinkhabwala is the reporter who awkwardly asked Bears coach Ben Johnson if he needed to change anything offensively during the game last month against the Raiders. Johnson misheard her and responded tersely, which he later regretted.
Paul Burmeister, Jason Garrett and reporter Zora Stephenson will call the Rutgers-Illinois game at 11 a.m. Saturday on NBC. Roy Philpott, Brock Osweiler and reporter Stormy Buonantony will call No. 12 Notre Dame’s game at Boston College at 2:30 p.m. on ESPN.
College basketball returns Monday. Here’s where you’ll find area teams’ openers (all games at 7 p.m. unless noted): DePaul, ESPN+; Illinois, BTN, 7:30; Loyola, Marquee; Northwestern, B1G+; UIC, ESPN+.