Posted by Gayle Simone, Sun Staff
If you haven't figured it out yet, I am a die hard hockey fan. You should also know by now that I'd rather watch hockey every day of the week and twice on Sunday than any other sport; in fact I'm watching Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals as I write this. But what you may not know is I am one of the biggest Michael Jordan fans ever!
Yes, I just wrote that. I do watch other sports besides hockey (even NASCAR and Formula 1 Racing)- I love all sports; I just prefer hockey over the others.
Although, I grew up a Celtics fan (because of my dad) I loved Jordan from the moment he hit the game-winning shot for UNC in the 1982 NCAA Championship game over Georgetown. I followed his entire career and have nearly every single article, magazine, book - basically anything and everything ever written about him. One of my all-time favorite presents I received is a framed black and white pic of Jordan guarding Larry Bird at the old Boston Garden (courtesy of my brother; thank you Ralph). I still think he is the best basketball player to lace up the sneakers (sorry to all the Bird fans out there).
The reason why I'm writing a blog about Jordan is because I recently found out my father's best friend Frank is attending Michael Jordan Flight School this August in Las Vegas - it was either a Christmas or birthday present from his wife Beth, I can't remember which one.
What I do know is that as a youngster I used to sit between my father, Frank and the rest of their friends watching basketball on most Saturdays and Sundays (which was my favorite sport at the time). I remember we were at Frank's old house in Methuen when Jordan scored 63-points in the double-overtime loss to the Boston Celtics in the 1986 NBA Playoffs, among many other games.
When Frank confirmed that he was going to attend Flight School, I told him "That's even better than me being in the Bruins locker room for the first time." Needless to say he didn't believe me, but he did however remember how much I love Jordan and the smile on his face showed how much he was looking forward to playing one-on-one against Jordan on the last day of the "camp."
I asked him and Beth to make sure they sent me pictures of Frank's experience. Beth said she'd do better - she's going to make sure I get a copy of the DVD!
I wish I had the opportunity to attend Flight School myself. Would you if you could? Is there another athlete out there you wish would do something similar, or does do something similar you wish you could attend? Did I shock any of you with the knowledge that at one point in my life I actually lived for the NBA?
Comments (5)
I used to get "schooled" enough on the basketball court by amateurs that I wouldn't want to get "posterized" or "You-tubed" by a professional! :-) I would love to be a fly on the wall and watch something like that though.
The one thing I'd love to do is the Richard Petty Experience at Daytona International Speedway. I've been to the 500 in 2005 and 2006 and after being there for those I'd love the opportunity to take to the track someday and experience it for myself.
I think it's great that some of these athletes and former athletes do these fantasy camps/experience ventures as it is a great way for big fans to be able to experience something that they otherwise would not.
And, yes, Gayle I am shocked to hear you were once quite the NBA fan!
Posted by dboisver | May 29, 2007 3:59 PM
Posted on May 29, 2007 15:59
HAHA db, I used to get "schooled" on the court as well. Even still I would love the opportunity to meet and play ball with MJ - that would be completely amazing - JMHO.
I agree with you about the Richard Petty Experience; although I have never been to Daytona for an actual race (I have visited the track though - to literally see how steep those embankments are is unreal). I have been to Louden for a few magic-mile races and loved every minute of it.
Glad I had the opportunity to "shock" you with me being a fan of the NBA back in the day LOL!
Posted by Gayle | May 29, 2007 11:47 PM
Posted on May 29, 2007 23:47
If you enjoy the Loudon races you need to make it to Daytona or Bristol for a race as both are simply amazing venues when they're full of fans.
Loudon tends to be a little too much of "follow the leader" when the Cup cars race there although the Craftsman trucks and the Whelen Modifieds put on fantastic shows at NHIS just about every time out- lots of passing and good, close racing.
They also have a program where you can learn to race a modified style car at several of the tracks in Connecticut. Failing the Petty Experience at Daytona I'd settle for something like that. They're so low to the ground that the sensation of speed is quite remarkable. Actually even the karts at F1 Boston feel pretty fast since they are also very low to the ground.
I used to be a huge NBA fan too- once the Celts hit their swoon of the 90's I always followed Clyde Drexler and the TrailBlazers - they had some good battles with MJ's Bulls over the years...
Posted by dboisver | May 30, 2007 9:45 AM
Posted on May 30, 2007 09:45
If I could attend any two races it would have to be Daytona and Talladega - I've heard that track is amazing to see the races live.
I wish I could have seen Michael Schumacher before he retired from F1 - especially since they have one race in the United States. But then again I would love to see any F1 race live - to me F1 is the best racing venue.
How could you not love Clyde "the Glide" Drexler did you see him on Dancing with the Stars LOL. I have to say watching MJ in the playoff game sinking three after three and then looking over at Magic at the scorers table and shrugging his shoulders was priceless. The Bulls/Blazers definitely had some serious battles on the court back then.
Posted by Gayle | May 30, 2007 3:58 PM
Posted on May 30, 2007 15:58
Talladega would be great too. Just stay out of the infield if you ever go- I've heard it's like a whole other dimension there...
F1 is great to watch but I've been turned off on it ever since that US Grand Prix fiasco a couple of years ago. The sport needs to be regulated better as far as the money that can be dumped into the sport by the makers and sponsors in order to have more than 2 or 3 cars that can win. If you had 6 or 8 cars that had a realistic shot I think it would make for some fantastic racing. In Schumaker's hayday not only was he far and away the best driver but he had far and away the best equipment. Had someone else had a superior car (or a car close to the Ferrari) at that time it would have been much more interesting to watch. I have heard that the Montreal track is a great venue for watching F1 in person...
My wife watches shows like "Dancing with..." religiously. When I heard Clyde would be on I kept telling her how much like Emmitt Smith he'd be because he was so smooth on the basketball court. Well- I about got laughed out of the living room starting at episode 1 of the show...
The MJ "shrug" was definitely priceless. A lot like the gesture Larry Bird made in the last 3 point contest he won on his very last shot to win the contest...
Posted by dboisver | May 30, 2007 5:24 PM
Posted on May 30, 2007 17:24