Scottie Pippen tells story of Michael Jordan’s return 20 years ago
Scottie Pippen. AP FILE PHOTO
MANILA, Philippines-A couple of decades the Internet was for the rich, fax machines were the kings, NBA Rookies were toddlers, Hakeem Olajuwon was fresh of his first straight NBA, and the greatest line in sports history was printed.
“I’m back.” As simple as that.
Michael Jordan said it. Everyone printed it.
Fast forward to 2015, Jordan’s greatest teammate recounts how the second coming of the Greatest Of All Time sent the world into a Bulls frenzy for the second time around.
“I see it’s been 20 years since two of the most famous words in sports history: ‘I’m back,'” Pippen posted on Twitter.
Jordan retired from basketball just after the 1992-1993 season to pursue a career in baseball, a dream his father, James, wanted for him.
He cited a loss of desire to play professional basketball, and the murder of his father, led him to retire right after winning his third straight NBA title in his nine seasons in the league.
And every title he had, Pippen was there. Chicago’s Robin to their Batman.
“To be honest, after MJ retired the first time in 1993 I thought he was done. I think a comeback was the farthest thing on his mind,” Pippen said.
Chicago were the undisputed kings of the NBA, three straight titles, destroying the Los Angeles Lakers for their first, embarrassing the Portland Trailblazers for their second and taking the fire out of the Phoenix Suns for their third.
A fourth straight title was inevitable.
“I’ll always remember how shocked we were when MJ walked away from the game like that. We were ready to go for a 4th straight.”
Michael Jordan. AP FILE PHOTO
Jordan with the Barons
Jordan played for the Birmingham Barons, a double-A affiliate of the Chicago White Sox, during his baseball tenure.
He wasn’t exactly the MJ of the NBA, nonetheless, the Barons became the center of the universe when Jordan played with them.
“I kept tabs on him as he played baseball but we didn’t talk all that often. I gave him some space as he needed a break from basketball.”
As people kept saying how Jordan was embarrassing America’s favorite pastime, he was practicing to silence the critiques that made the chip on his shoulder a massive boulder.
“I really didn’t know how much he loved baseball until that point. He was pretty passionate about the game and showed he could hold his own.”
Then Jordan started showing up in their new practice facility at Berto Center in Greenfield, Illinois.
Teammate Steve Kerr asked reserve-forward Jud Buechler if Jordan will start if he comes back.
Buechler simply said, “Steve, as a general rule, when you have your own statue outside the stadium, you don’t come off the bench.”
“When MJ started showing up at Berto spring of 1995 for practices, it didn’t take long to see he was serious about getting back in the game.”
