Basketball legend Michael Jordan may have been retired for quite some time, but it will be a long time until he’s forgotten. The businessman and owner of the Charlotte Hornets has lived a large portion of his life in the public eye, but there are still some things about him that very few people know. Here, we present our list of 15 things you probably didn’t know about Michael Jordan. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
Number Fifteen: “The Flu Game” May Have Been Inspired by Some Poison Pizza. Game five of the 1997 NBA Finals was played between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz, and it is famously called “The Flu Game” because Jordan appeared visibly sick throughout the entire game. However, it turns out that this game may be less of a “flu” game and more of a “poison pizza” game. Apparently, Jordan had room service ordered to his room the night before the game, and he was the only one who ate the pizza. He became ill during the night.
Number Fourteen: He Played a Cartoon Superhero in an Old Series. Along with Wayne Gretzky and Bo Jackson, Jordan voiced a character for a series called ProStars. The series lasted for two seasons and featured the three stars saving the world from evil villains.
Number Thirteen: There Is a Story Behind Why He Sticks Out His Tongue. Apparently, Jordan’s tongue-wagging behavior stems from something his father would do while he was working. The behavior apparently signifies that someone is busy and is regarded as a way to socially reject someone because you’re busy.
Number Twelve: He Did Not Take His First Year’s Salary. Jordan was paid a sum of $1 million for his first year out of retirement with the Washington Wizards. The events of September 11 had occurred shortly before the NBA season was slated to start, so Jordan donated his entire salary to the recovery efforts.
Number Eleven: His Jersey Was Once Stolen in Orlando. On Valentine’s Day in 1990, Jordan had to wear a jersey with no last name on it because someone stole his actual jersey in Orlando. It is still unknown who actually stole his jersey.
Number Ten: His Nickname Growing Up Was Magic Jordan. Jordan admired Magic Johnson so much growing up that his friends began to call him Magic Jordan. Magic and Jordan eventually became very good friends.
Number Nine: As of November 1990, Michael Jordan and the Bulls Never Lost More Than Two Games in a Row. After November 1990, while Jordan was with the Bulls, they never experienced a three-game losing streak. He lasted eight years this way.