The Michael Jordan Conspiracy.

Yesterday I watched the 2003 NBA All-Star game, broadcast from Atlanta by the TNT network. Now, I'm not the biggest basketball fan in the world…in fact, I fairly suck at the game, but I like watching it and I'm very appreciative of the artistry displayed by the phenomenal athletes of the NBA. I was watching the game with some diehard B-ball boys, and I was quite surprised at the disdain these guys had for Michael Jordan, the undisputed King of Basketball.

My co-watchers were making constant sarcastic comments about Jordan; his age, his diminished abilities, his many "retirements". Most telling, though, was their conviction that the NBA was pulling strings to make sure Jordan achieved three major accomplishments in what was to be his last-ever All Star game: First, he would break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's all-time All Star scoring record. Second, he would score the last basket to win the game in the final seconds. And finally, he would win the MVP title. The hat trick, as it were.

My friends were convinced that the fix was in. And judging by the number of times they ran that "triple Jordan" commercial during the breaks, it seemed that they had a point. But Michael was struggling. He missed his first seven (!) shots, and had to really work to score 20 points. The scoring record was his. But his shot was so off that he missed his final shot in regulation, and the game went into overtime.

The score remained tight throughout the overtime period, and with about 5 seconds left on the clock, Jordan went up for a jumper and scored what should have been the winning two points. But just a second or so later, one of his teammates committed an idiotic foul on Kobe Bryant while he was attempting a 3-pointer. Kobe made two of three free throws to tie the game again. Now, if there REALLY were a conspiracy, Kobe would have missed all of his free throws, right? Well, Kobe told reporters after the game that "he had a job to do" but he did think about just giving it to Michael. Hmmph.

So the game went into DOUBLE overtime, the first time in history that an All-Star game has taken so long to decide. Unfortunately for the Jordan cabal, their man did not come out to play the entire period. At this point, the West All-Stars had seen enough, and decided to put the game away for good. Final score: 155-145.

Jordan did NOT shoot the game winner. Jordan did NOT win the MVP trophy. If there was indeed a "Michael Jordan conspiracy", it failed. But let there be no doubt who left Atlanta last night STILL the richest, most well-known professional basketball player in the world. Need I say his name?

More later…
Paul