NBA — On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Michael Jordan’s second NBA title and Olympic title, but also the 40th anniversary of his NCAA title, Basket USA takes you exceptionally in the footsteps of “His Airness”…
For nearly two weeks, in the company of our partner “Hardwork Association”, a group of French people passionate about Michael Jordan travels to the United States, to survey Durham, Chapel Hill, Wilmington, Charlotte, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Objective of this journey, over 20,000 kilometers long: to retrace the route and unearth some (very) well-kept secrets of the one that many consider to be the ” GOAT (Greatest of All-Time) ».
After an unforgettable first part of the trip, on the side of North Carolina, the time has come to fly to Chicago, an obviously unmissable destination when you want to achieve the most perfect “Jordan Tour” possible. And in this city steeped in history, the climate is as welcoming as the local metro. So you understand that we are close to nothingness, because the temperatures there are negative and the feeling is close to -10 degrees…
Also to be read: the first recap of this “Jordan Tour”
Also to be read: the second recap of this “Jordan Tour”
Not enough to discourage our Frenchies, excited at the idea of finally setting foot in “Windy City” (which is quite aptly named). Where the legend of Michael Jordan was born, in the 1980s and 1990s, and where the shadow of “His Airness” still hangs, even if he spends much less time than before in “Chi-Town”.
The day after his (late) arrival in Illinois, the group splits into two for a morning tour of Chicago, against a historical background. It is masterfully led by Aude, tourist guide for ” Chicago in French “, branch of the agency “Bon Plan Voyage New-York”, one of the partners of this stay.
This famous visit lasts about an hour and a half for each group, which has the possibility of discovering more about the city, apart from the Bulls or Michael Jordan, and it occupies all the morning of Sunday.
« NCAA time ! »
Hardly time to recover from these kilometers (or rather miles) of walking in the cold chicagoan that you have to get straight into one of the key events of the day. Either the NCAA, for a game of ” March Madness within the United Center, between the Kansas Jayhawks and the Miami Hurricanes. At stake: a place for the “Final Four”, just that!
Very quickly, the ten members of the “Jordan Family” who came to attend this meeting of the “Elite Eight” understood that the enthusiasm for university basketball was light years away from that for the NBA, in the middle of the month of March…
« It’s crazy, everyone encourages their team all the time, when it’s only kids playing. The atmosphere is huge, I have rarely seen this in my life “, concedes for example Floris, captivated by the fervor that emerges from the stands of the usual room of the Bulls (and the Blackhawks, in ice hockey).
The songs follow one another and the smiles are more and more visible, as Kansas takes the measure (with authority) of Miami. Finally, the Jayhawks – almost at home, as they are supported – win and get their ticket to New Orleans, where the “Final Four” will take place the following weekend.
The opportunity for this small troop of French people to experience a university trophy ceremony from the inside, because Kansas becomes at the same time champion of the Midwest region, with its success. ” We did well to come, because it’s not every day that we can see this “Adds Floris, visibly seduced by this first NCAA experience, like the majority of his (lucky) compatriots.
New “Jordan-esque” pilgrimage
At the same time, several kilometers « miles from there, another group of diehards Gallic French fans of Michael Jordan strike a pose in front of the famous portal decorated with N°23which sits in front of the old house, not to say the old mansion of “His Airness”.
Today for sale for several million dollars, without ever finding a buyer since 2012, the residence is located half an hour from the city center and the man with six NBA titles lived there for nearly two decades. Inside, there are notably a basketball court, a tennis court, a golf course, an infinity pool, a gym, a wine cellar, a cigar lounge, 9 bedrooms, 19 bathrooms and a pond and shower room. games.
Inhabited or not, the house remains monitored by cameras and, if one dwells on it a little too much for the taste of security, she does not hesitate to notify passers-by, or even call the police, if necessary. And this is precisely what happened to our French, eager to take full advantage of this kind of obligatory pilgrimage, by immortalizing the moment with shots, by the dozens.
« Frankly it was crazy, to be in front of Michael Jordan’s gate! “, savors Greg, as in a dream. ” Honestly, it did something to me, I had to sit down for a little while, because my legs were almost falling off. With my father, we said we would come here when I was 9-10 years old. Today, he is no longer there, but I came anyway, so I necessarily have a big thought for him. “, is moved from his side David.
« Eat like Mike »
And what better way to end this day full of twists and turns than going to “Michael Jordan’s Steakhouse”? Where the legend of the Bulls still goes from time to time.
« His mother comes to eat here about once a week, and he sometimes comes by, yes. He calls us and we reserve his usual table for him, near a television. We privatize part of the restaurant, his bodyguards create a security perimeter for him so that no one comes to disturb him explains one of the restaurant’s waitresses, with a disconcerting naturalness to say the least, as if “MJ” were a customer like any other.
On the walls: countless photos tracing the career of Michael Jordan. On the menu: burgers, cuts of meat of all kinds, platters to share, soups, salads and above all an iconic cake, made up of 23 layers of chocolate and sold for 23 dollars, it can’t be invented…
The prices are not necessarily affordable, the bill climbs quickly depending on the dishes, but the experience is worth the detour, especially since it is also possible to come and have a simple drink. On the other hand, it is impossible to know if there is a poker corner in the establishment…
And it is therefore on this atypical culinary escapade that the third chapter (already) of our summary of the “Jordan Tour” closes, while the day of Monday 28 is devoted to shopping for some and to the visit of Chicago for others. others. While an ice hockey game, and the Blackhawks, allows some to soak up more of American sports culture.
While waiting for a Bulls game, we meet for a one-day stopover in Los Angeles, the city in which Michael Jordan won his first NBA title in 1991, in addition to having won a gold medal there. at the 1984 Olympic Games…
From Chicago.
— More photos on our Instagram account: @basketusa !
