‘Larry challenges Michael’ – Bird and Jordan had their own secret shooting battle away from NBA hardwood
Sports adverts don’t get more iconic this. Michael Jordan and Larry Bird once delighted fans when they paired up for a 1993 Super Bowl commercial. Jordan became a global cultural icon in the 1990sAFP - Getty Great rivalries make great entertainment and McDonald’s hit the jackpot when they got Jordan and Bird to play a game of H.O.R.S.E. for a Big Mac. Directed by Joe Pytka, the commercial celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Big Mac. The one and a half-minute spot started with Jordan wearing a matching T-shirt and shorts combo and walking into a practice gym with a bag of McDonald’s grub. Bird challenges him to a shooting contest for it, which becomes so intense it sees them take shots from the top of the Hancock Center in Chicago. It would then get even more ridiculous when they began shooting from outer space and later denied Charles Barkley the chance to join in the fun. The commercial was so popular that McDonald’s repeated it several times. The fast-food chain did another spot with Jordan, this time a shooting contest with Marvin the Martian, an ad that inspired the movie “Space Jam. In a more modern version, during Super Bowl XLIV, Dwight Howard and LeBron James rehashed the commercial, competing in a dunk contest. It ended with Howard shattering the backboard and Bird walking off with the McDonald’s bag. While the initial Bird and Jordan commercial was success, there was a possibility that it never happened due to McDonald’s initially seeking Shaquille O’Neal to go up against Bulls legend. Bird battled Jordan at the beginning of the young Bulls star’s careerGetty Jordan enjoyed a highly successful career winning six NBA championshipsGetty “McDonald’s really wanted to see Shaq,” copy writer of the commercial Jim Ferguson recalled. “I remember Bob telling them, ‘The guy can’t even hit a free throw. How’s he going to hit one from mid-court?'” So in the end their concerns about O’Neal’s shooting woes led them to go with the recently retired Bird. Ferguson also shared how competitive Bird was during the commercial, explaining how the Celtics legend wanted a real challenge with Jordan for the shooting contest. “The two took the first two shots (over the backboard and on their knees). After that, it was just editing, though Larry didn’t necessarily want to do it that way,” Ferguson added. “When the two of them are in the stands and Larry challenges Michael, Larry was actually trying to figure out if he could really make it off the scoreboard.” NBA's Greatest Greatest NBA players in the world right now – from Luka Doncic to Spurs phenom Victor Wembanyama Best players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone 10 richest owners in the NBA – family empires, media moguls and investment gurus Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals
Sports adverts don’t get more iconic this.
Michael Jordan and Larry Bird once delighted fans when they paired up for a 1993 Super Bowl commercial.
Great rivalries make great entertainment and McDonald’s hit the jackpot when they got Jordan and Bird to play a game of H.O.R.S.E. for a Big Mac.
Directed by Joe Pytka, the commercial celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Big Mac.
The one and a half-minute spot started with Jordan wearing a matching T-shirt and shorts combo and walking into a practice gym with a bag of McDonald’s grub.
Bird challenges him to a shooting contest for it, which becomes so intense it sees them take shots from the top of the Hancock Center in Chicago.
It would then get even more ridiculous when they began shooting from outer space and later denied Charles Barkley the chance to join in the fun.
The commercial was so popular that McDonald’s repeated it several times.
The fast-food chain did another spot with Jordan, this time a shooting contest with Marvin the Martian, an ad that inspired the movie “Space Jam.
In a more modern version, during Super Bowl XLIV, Dwight Howard and LeBron James rehashed the commercial, competing in a dunk contest.
It ended with Howard shattering the backboard and Bird walking off with the McDonald’s bag.
While the initial Bird and Jordan commercial was success, there was a possibility that it never happened due to McDonald’s initially seeking Shaquille O’Neal to go up against Bulls legend.
“McDonald’s really wanted to see Shaq,” copy writer of the commercial Jim Ferguson recalled.
“I remember Bob telling them, ‘The guy can’t even hit a free throw. How’s he going to hit one from mid-court?'”
So in the end their concerns about O’Neal’s shooting woes led them to go with the recently retired Bird.
Ferguson also shared how competitive Bird was during the commercial, explaining how the Celtics legend wanted a real challenge with Jordan for the shooting contest.
“The two took the first two shots (over the backboard and on their knees). After that, it was just editing, though Larry didn’t necessarily want to do it that way,” Ferguson added.
“When the two of them are in the stands and Larry challenges Michael, Larry was actually trying to figure out if he could really make it off the scoreboard.”
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Best players in NBA history to never win a championship – James Harden and Carmelo Anthony to Allen Iverson and Karl Malone
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Michael Jordan’s top 10 scoring games – counting down MJ’s most extraordinary totals
