Hall of Famer Michael Jordan tends to leave almost everyone he meets starstruck, but has there been anyone who has had that effect on him? Well, Jordan’s longtime friend and former Charlotte Hornets president, Fred Whitfield, was asked if anyone could turn the Chicago Bulls icon into a little kid on The JustIn Time Podcast.
“The only person that I can think of is Muhammad Ali,” Whitfield said. “We went to, I think, four or five, maybe four Kentucky Derbies together. But Muhammad Ali is the only one that I think could really make Michael turn into a kid. He obviously idolized David Thompson as well, but Muhammad Ali was a big deal to all of us.”
It just had to be another legendary figure like the late great Muhammad Ali. Ali went down as arguably the greatest heavyweight boxer of all time, but it wasn’t just his actions in the ring that made him so special.
Ali was a pivotal figure in the civil rights movement. He used his massive platform to speak on injustices and famously refused to serve in the U.S. Army in the war against Vietnam.
Ali was a huge inspiration for any Black individual growing up in that time, and Jordan, born in 1963, was no different. It would be a while before these two would cross paths, though, as their first meeting was before Game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals between the Bulls and the Utah Jazz.
“It was the first time I actually met him,” Jordan said, via J.A. Adande. “He’s a legend, not only in the ring but for his international stance for a lot of different things. He’s passed on a lot of legacy, a lot of opportunities to myself and other players in professional ranks that we have decided to extend on. We are fingers, and he certainly is a hand. It’s always great to meet those type of people.” …
Here is Ali at that game, and just listen to that ovation.
As mentioned in that clip, Ali was arguably the only sports figure at the time who was more famous than Jordan. He had really transcended sports.
The whole world then suffered a devastating blow when Ali died on June 2, 2016, and Jordan sent out a statement on his passing, via Estee Portnoy.
“This is a sad day for me – and for the world. Muhammad Ali was bigger than sports and larger than life. He said he was ‘The Greatest’ and he was right. He was the greatest of his era in the ring and a global icon in sports. I was a kid during his prime, but I remember some of his epic fights and his incredible style. My sincerest condolences go out to his wife, Lonnie, his kids and family.”
When Jordan thinks someone was indeed “The Greatest,” you know they were pretty damn special.
While Jordan looked up to Ali, he didn’t follow his example when he was at the peak of his powers. He opted against speaking on political and social issues, something he continues to get criticized for even today. Jordan has started speaking up in recent years, at least. Better late than never, I guess.
