Michael Jordan And Magic Johnson: The Proposed One-On-One Pay-Per-View Game
Everyone knows this: SI’s The Vault is pretty radical. It’s a portal to another time before the Internet came along and shaped sports media into a terrible, mundane cycle of gossip and bile — one bereft of real writing and real reporters and full of gossip and dirty, filthy bloggers. (Sorry, Bill Conlin got a hold of my keyboard for a second there.)
It’s also chalk full of blog fodder. And Jones on the NBA has unearthed a fun one today: Magic Johnson tried lining up a one-on-one game against Michael Jordan on cable.
Despite all this, Magic is not always selfless, not entirely without vanity. A proposed one-on-one with Michael Jordan on cable TV, eventually nixed by the NBA last January, was only partly inspired by Magic’s desire to throw $2 million or $3 million from the pay-per-view to charity; the two players would have made some Sugar Ray Leonard money as well. And Magic may have wanted to prove he could beat Jordan at his own game. “When we had it all but signed,” remembers Rosen, “I finally said, ‘Look, do you really think you can beat this guy? I mean, it’s not too late [to back out].’ ” By then, Magic had developed some strategies. He was certain of victory.
I understand why the NBA would nix this — it probably wanted a piece of the pot too, the risk of injury, etc. — but I’m wrestling with who would win this. Sure, it’s Michael Jordan and all, but I’d give an ever so slight slight edge to Magic here. He’s got the length and size on Jordan; I don’t see MJ being able to guard his hook shot very well. (Though, upon further review, Jordan’s skill set is better suited for a one-one-one game than Magic’s.) I guess it depends on a lot of things, though. What are the parameters? Best of three up to 11 by ones? How do fouls work? Is it make it take it? Where is the game being played at?
This concludes hypothetical hour on MPS for today.
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I just see him being able to use his finesse and height against Jordan. I don't see MJ "killing" him. I think it would be close.
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