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‘Like Beyonce on stage’ – Bill Simmons claims Michael Jordan had refs in pocket as he enters GOAT debate
Michael Jordan often appeared to be capable of absolutely anything on a basketball court. And outspoken podcaster Bill Simmons thinks that extended as far as controlling referees. GettyJordan used every weapon in his arsenal in the pursuit of victory[/caption] Any time the NBA GOAT debate comes up, MJ’s apparent easy ride from the men in black and gray is usually thrown up. Interestingly, Simmons believes that this only strengthens his case. “The best I ever saw when it came to dealing with the refs at games over the years was Jordan,” he said on his podcast. “But I think there was so much star power with Jordan that it almost helps his GOAT case if you’re talking GOATs. “The way the refs were just in his pocket — I’m not even talking about him getting calls, I’m talking about those dead spots when people were shooting free throws or before the game. “These guys treated him like Beyonce walking on stage, like they were in the Beyhive. “Especially in the last three years after he came back, he just had a command of the fans, the refs, the entire room. He got every call he wanted. If he was upset at a call, he could say whatever he wanted. “If he was yelling at a ref, the ref would actually look bummed out, like, ‘Oh, Michael Jordan doesn’t like how I’m reffing today.’ You could actually see them lose it a little bit. He was the best.” Simmons thinks Jordan’s gift was shared to an extent by Kobe Bryant, another gifted and potentially spiky hooper. “Kobe had a little of that too. I’m still thinking about part of what made Kobe special—that was another one who had it,” he added. GettySimmons thinks referees may have been star struck[/caption] GettyBlack Mamba also had a knack of getting what he wanted[/caption] Jordan always had an aura about him — NFL icon Shannon Sharpe is one of many fellow athletes to describe His Airness as appearing to levitate when they first crossed paths. That was when he only had two of six rings. Sharpe is a huge basketball fan and when a fan of his Nightcap podcast asked when he first felt starstruck, he recalled his first encounter with MJ. “In 93, the Super Bowl was in Atlanta, I got on the elevator… the door open up, (it’s) Michael Jordan and his first wife on the elevator,” Sharpe told co-host Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson. “I get on the elevator and all of a sudden it’s bright. It’s like he’s glowing.” Jordan told Sharpe that he had met his mother at a casino and the brief meeting was over. “I met Denzel (Washington), his son John David used to train with my trainer when he was in Morehouse,” Sharpe continued. “Met Samuel Jackson met Oprah in the Four Seasons. David Beckham, Victoria Beckham… Ocho this man doesn’t seem real. “He’s the only man that I’ve ever met, he seems mythical. I know that’s Michael Jordan, I’m looking at him, that’s a man. “Man, he levitates and anybody that has ever met him, from Shaquille O’Neal to everybody say the exact same thing, ‘He doesn’t seem real.'” MJ was an oversized guard — listed at 6ft 6in — but his silky smooth style often drew calls when opponents tried to stop him in his tracks. By contrast, fellow great LeBron James seems to have to work much harder to be sent to the line due to his brute strength. Some would argue that makes King James the better player, others say the opposite. Enjoy him while you can as soon his career will join MJ’s in the past tense.
Michael Jordan often appeared to be capable of absolutely anything on a basketball court.
And outspoken podcaster Bill Simmons thinks that extended as far as controlling referees.
Any time the NBA GOAT debate comes up, MJ’s apparent easy ride from the men in black and gray is usually thrown up.
Interestingly, Simmons believes that this only strengthens his case.
“The best I ever saw when it came to dealing with the refs at games over the years was Jordan,” he said on his podcast.
“But I think there was so much star power with Jordan that it almost helps his GOAT case if you’re talking GOATs.
“The way the refs were just in his pocket — I’m not even talking about him getting calls, I’m talking about those dead spots when people were shooting free throws or before the game.
“These guys treated him like Beyonce walking on stage, like they were in the Beyhive.
“Especially in the last three years after he came back, he just had a command of the fans, the refs, the entire room. He got every call he wanted. If he was upset at a call, he could say whatever he wanted.
“If he was yelling at a ref, the ref would actually look bummed out, like, ‘Oh, Michael Jordan doesn’t like how I’m reffing today.’ You could actually see them lose it a little bit. He was the best.”
Simmons thinks Jordan’s gift was shared to an extent by Kobe Bryant, another gifted and potentially spiky hooper.
“Kobe had a little of that too. I’m still thinking about part of what made Kobe special—that was another one who had it,” he added.
Jordan always had an aura about him — NFL icon Shannon Sharpe is one of many fellow athletes to describe His Airness as appearing to levitate when they first crossed paths. That was when he only had two of six rings.
Sharpe is a huge basketball fan and when a fan of his Nightcap podcast asked when he first felt starstruck, he recalled his first encounter with MJ.
“In 93, the Super Bowl was in Atlanta, I got on the elevator… the door open up, (it’s) Michael Jordan and his first wife on the elevator,” Sharpe told co-host Chad ‘Ochocinco’ Johnson.
“I get on the elevator and all of a sudden it’s bright. It’s like he’s glowing.”
Jordan told Sharpe that he had met his mother at a casino and the brief meeting was over.
“I met Denzel (Washington), his son John David used to train with my trainer when he was in Morehouse,” Sharpe continued.
“Met Samuel Jackson met Oprah in the Four Seasons. David Beckham, Victoria Beckham… Ocho this man doesn’t seem real.
“He’s the only man that I’ve ever met, he seems mythical. I know that’s Michael Jordan, I’m looking at him, that’s a man.
“Man, he levitates and anybody that has ever met him, from Shaquille O’Neal to everybody say the exact same thing, ‘He doesn’t seem real.'”
MJ was an oversized guard — listed at 6ft 6in — but his silky smooth style often drew calls when opponents tried to stop him in his tracks.
By contrast, fellow great LeBron James seems to have to work much harder to be sent to the line due to his brute strength.
Some would argue that makes King James the better player, others say the opposite. Enjoy him while you can as soon his career will join MJ’s in the past tense.
