It’s 1989, I’m in 8th grade and having played basketball all my life I was the biggest of fans. My room was wallpapered with posters of the top players of the time including Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Kurt Rambis (a personal favorite), James Worthy, but dominating them all in quantity was my new favorite, Michael Jordan.
Growing up in Orange County, California I was a huge Lakers fan and loved watching the back-and-forth rivalry between them and the hatted ones–the Boston Celtics. A few years earlier I remember being part of a UC Irvine summer basketball camp with then-player Scottie Brooks teaching us the fundamentals. At the end of the camp, we all received a life-sized poster of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson because the camp was sponsored by Converse shoes. After that, I had to have the exact pair of Converse shoes as Magic. Purple and gold of course.
Then it all changed. Michael Jordan was drafted by the Bulls and the dynasty seed was planted. Although it took quite of few years for the Bulls to get the right pieces around Jordan as well as a new coach (Phil Jackson) to get past the Detriot Pistons and make the playoffs; but in the 1990-91 season the team finally overcame the “bad boys” of basketball the Pistons and made it to the NBA finals. It was bittersweet though because the team the Bulls were facing in the playoffs were none other than my Lakers. What I thought was going to be a tough game to watch was not that way at all. Jordan was incredible and it was a moment in time where you really noticed that the torch was being passed. The decade prior was owned by three teams, the Lakers, Celtics, and Pistons, but now it was time for the Bulls and Michael Jordan. Who can’t forget the moment in the game where Jordan drove to the basket and went up with his right hand and then switch to his left hand in mid-air. The look on Magic’s face was priceless. The world had never seen a player like Michael Jordan before. It was truly an amazing time to be a fan.
"Then, out of the clubhouse locker room comes Michael Jordan, the club pro, and two other players, including our family friend. They all pile into separate golf carts and then someone yells, lets roll! "
So, fast forward a couple of years and now I am in my junior year of high school. Still playing basketball, although the talent is always way better I make the team year after year on heart alone. It was at the begging of that Summer that my biggest of basketball dreams would come true.
Luckily for me, a close family friend had befriended a young NBA basketball player named Michael Jordan awhile back while playing golf at his local private course in Fresno, California. Over time, this family friend had become close with Michael and every time he was in California he would swing by and play golf. So, one weekend this family friend told my dad to swing up to Fresno because Michael may be coming to town. Now this family friend had warned my dad that Michael had a crazy schedule and that he never was completely sure of when he would be coming to town.
So, my dad and I drove up to Fresno a day early just in case. The next morning we headed to the golf course early, I still remember the low fog covering the fairways making the possibility of meeting Michael Jordan even more dreamlike. As we waited patiently outside the clubhouse there were just a couple people milling around. Then, out of the fog rolls up a black SUV. The car pulls around in front of the clubhouse and out pops a couple of people that looked like pro basketball players themselves, but no Jordan. I was a little bummed at this point, I must say. Then all of a sudden, walking out from inside the clubhouse was this larger than life figure. It was my childhood hero in person. I could not believe it. It was Micheal Jordan! I kept starring at him in total disbelief that he was actually standing right in front of me. I truly could not comprehend that this amazing player that wowed stadiums on a nightly basis was actually talking to me. The entire time Michael was so gracious. He gladly signed a few autographs as well as my official NBA basketball. I was thrilled that he signed my basketball and was ready to walk back to the car when Michael walked off back to the clubhouse. All of the others that gathered slowly drove away and it was just my dad and I sitting in the car marveling at this chance meeting and sharing our feelings about meeting this icon in-person.
Well, my dad said. Are you ready to drive back into town and get breakfast, he said. I still couldn’t process what he was saying and just nodded my head. Then, just as my dad was starting the car, my dad’s friend comes running out to the car. He says, in a rush, grab your jacket and follow me. We both grab our things and begin running after him, through the parking lot, then through the clubhouse (which was eerily empty) and out to the first tee box. He then turns to my dad and says, you guys ride up in the first cart. At this point, my dad and I are kind of confused. We were still a little celebrity drunk, to be honest. Then, out of the clubhouse locker room comes Michael Jordan, the club pro, and two other players, including our family friend. They all pile into separate golf carts and then someone yells, lets roll!
Amazingly, we ended up spending the entire morning watching the four of them play golf. It was incredible. As we ended the morning and drove our carts back up to the clubhouse I was on a first-name basis with Michael and truly felt like one of the guys.
Although I have not had the luck of running into Micheal Jordan since that day in Fresno, I can truly say that he was just as incredible in person as he was on screen. He treated us like we were family even though it was a “once-in-a-lifetime” experience.
Thank you, Mr. Jordan!
