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Michael Jordan gave ruthless response after putting ‘terrified’ MLB reporter in hospital from intense pickup game
Many basketball fanatics could only dream about playing against Michael Jordan. However, for MLB reporter Steve Gilbert, his dream matchup against the NBA legend ended in disaster and an unfortunate trip to the hospital. Michael Jordan is not used to causing hospital accidents through basketballGetty Jordan’s name is synonymous with the sport of basketball after he enjoyed an iconic career spent largely with the Chicago Bulls. Along with his six NBA championships, Jordan also picked up six Finals MVPs, five MVPs, 14 All-Star selections, 10 All-NBA First Team selections, and 9 All-Defensive First Team selections. But his basketball career abruptly ended in 1993 when he retired to spend a season in Minor League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox. Jordan still couldn’t resist playing basketball, though, and found himself on the court with Gilbert. Bulls superfan Gilbert worked for the Arizona Fall League during Jordan’s stint with the Scottsdale Scorpions, and was invited to play pickup with His Airness by Scorpions manager Terry Francona. But things took a turn for the worse when the reporter realized he was way of his depth and ended the night in hospital as a result of how intense the game was. “That was an experience,” Gilbert later claimed. “But I wasn’t in the best shape because I was so busy with the Jordan stuff. Throw in the fact that I was terrified to be out there with Jordan.” “I don’t even remember if I breathed the whole time we played.” After the game, Gilbert couldn’t catch his breath and was taken to a Scottsdale Hospital as a precaution where, luckily, he was just winded. Jordan had a short stint in the MLB with the Chicago White SoxGetty Steve Gilbert (left) was sent to the hospital by Jordan@SteveGilbertMLB Air Jordan wasn’t about to let the ordeal pass without comment, though, and the following day, called Gilbert over to his locker where he delivered a characteristically ruthless line. “Listen, you can’t play basketball with us ever again,” Jordan told Gilbert. “Because I can’t have a good time if I’m worrying about you keeling over and dying.” Jordan’s baseball career was a short but eventful one. His Airness decided to take a hiatus from basketball as a result of his exhaustion and lack of desire to play basketball. His first deal came with the White Sox in February 1994 on a minor league baseball contract. The team also happened to be owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, who also owned the Bulls, and he honoured Jordan’s basketball contract while he was away. Jordan would play for the Birmingham Barons, a Double-A minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox. He would bat .202 with three home runs, 51 runs batted in, 30 stolen bases, 114 strikeouts, 51 bases on balls, and 11 errors. Jordan’s stint in baseball was short-lived lived though, as he returned to the Bulls in March 1995. It took Jordan no time to get back to his best. He made the game-winning jump shot against the Atlanta Hawks in his fourth game back and scored 55 points in his next game against the New York Knicks. The Bulls went 55-27 in the season without Jordan and were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs. Following that, MJ led the Bulls to a second three-peat between 1996-1998, capturing his sixth and final championship.
Many basketball fanatics could only dream about playing against Michael Jordan.
However, for MLB reporter Steve Gilbert, his dream matchup against the NBA legend ended in disaster and an unfortunate trip to the hospital.
Jordan’s name is synonymous with the sport of basketball after he enjoyed an iconic career spent largely with the Chicago Bulls.
Along with his six NBA championships, Jordan also picked up six Finals MVPs, five MVPs, 14 All-Star selections, 10 All-NBA First Team selections, and 9 All-Defensive First Team selections.
But his basketball career abruptly ended in 1993 when he retired to spend a season in Minor League Baseball with the Chicago White Sox.
Jordan still couldn’t resist playing basketball, though, and found himself on the court with Gilbert.
Bulls superfan Gilbert worked for the Arizona Fall League during Jordan’s stint with the Scottsdale Scorpions, and was invited to play pickup with His Airness by Scorpions manager Terry Francona.
But things took a turn for the worse when the reporter realized he was way of his depth and ended the night in hospital as a result of how intense the game was.
“That was an experience,” Gilbert later claimed.
“But I wasn’t in the best shape because I was so busy with the Jordan stuff. Throw in the fact that I was terrified to be out there with Jordan.”
“I don’t even remember if I breathed the whole time we played.”
After the game, Gilbert couldn’t catch his breath and was taken to a Scottsdale Hospital as a precaution where, luckily, he was just winded.
Air Jordan wasn’t about to let the ordeal pass without comment, though, and the following day, called Gilbert over to his locker where he delivered a characteristically ruthless line.
“Listen, you can’t play basketball with us ever again,” Jordan told Gilbert.
“Because I can’t have a good time if I’m worrying about you keeling over and dying.”
Jordan’s baseball career was a short but eventful one.
His Airness decided to take a hiatus from basketball as a result of his exhaustion and lack of desire to play basketball.
His first deal came with the White Sox in February 1994 on a minor league baseball contract. The team also happened to be owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, who also owned the Bulls, and he honoured Jordan’s basketball contract while he was away.
Jordan would play for the Birmingham Barons, a Double-A minor league affiliate of the Chicago White Sox.
He would bat .202 with three home runs, 51 runs batted in, 30 stolen bases, 114 strikeouts, 51 bases on balls, and 11 errors.
Jordan’s stint in baseball was short-lived lived though, as he returned to the Bulls in March 1995.
It took Jordan no time to get back to his best. He made the game-winning jump shot against the Atlanta Hawks in his fourth game back and scored 55 points in his next game against the New York Knicks.
The Bulls went 55-27 in the season without Jordan and were eliminated in the second round of the playoffs.
Following that, MJ led the Bulls to a second three-peat between 1996-1998, capturing his sixth and final championship.
