Archives for May 14, 2023

While We’re Young (Ideas) Wishes Happy Mother’s Day to All the Wonderful Mothers and Families Honoring Mom Today

By TERRY LYONS

NEW YORK – “Here, I never want to see this again,” said USA guard Michael Jordan, adorned with a Gold Medal at the USA Basketball locker room door at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. Jordan uttered the words as he handed his “Reebok” branded Olympic Medal Ceremony jacket to the head of the NBA’s Communications Group, Brian McIntyre, who had “drafted” Jordan in a pre-Olympic selection of the entire Dream Team players and coaches just before the Games began.

Actually, with McIntyre hailing from Chicago, Jordan was a territorial pick amongst the “Dream Team PR Team” for the Games by a man who would eventually be recognized with the John Bunn Award at the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, the highest honor a non-player can receive in the world of basketball.

Said the Associated Press’ Tim Reynolds this week: “The jacket that Michael Jordan famously and grudgingly wore while receiving an Olympic Gold Medal has been in (former NBA PR man) Brian McIntyre’s possession for more than three decades now.

He figures the time is right to let someone else enjoy it.

The red, white and blue Reebok jacket that Jordan — a Nike athlete — was forced to wear on the medal stand alongside the other members of USA Basketball’s (first) “Dream Team” at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics is headed to auction.

Sotheby’s, which has the offering that will run through June 28, estimates that the jacket could fetch anywhere from $1 million to $3 million. Other experts in the world of basketball and collective memorabilia think the bidding could go as high as $5 million, citing the fact game-worn Jordan uniforms have been valued north of $10 million and their are dozens of those available. There is only one Jordan-worn Olympic Medal Ceremony jacket and it has a history all of its own.

Many years later, Jordan signed it: “To Brian, Thanks for Everything, Michael Jordan.”

McIntyre kept it the last 29 years, wearing it occasionally. The jacket and Jordan’s reluctance to wear it was a big story in Barcelona and became a talking point again when “The Last Dance” documentary re-told part of the story with sound from Jordan in 1992 revealing his frustration with the situation.”

That said, anything involving that team, and those Olympics, has obvious historical value. It was the first time the NBA sent its players to an Olympics, and the game was forever changed.

“We watched the ‘Dream Team’ in the ’92 Olympics fast-forward the growth of basketball, by a lot,” McIntyre said. “I mean, it really helped develop the game worldwide — not just for the NBA, but in basketball in general.”

Sotheby’s is offering the auction online and will display the jacket in New York from June 24-28.

Sotheby’s went to great lengths to authenticate the Jacket, but they could’ve saved a lot of time and money. All they had to do was ask, because this reporter was posted-up right inside the locker room door – a few feet away from the historic “give and go.”

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: With the NFL Draft in the rearview mirror and the league schedule issued earlier this week, the odds-makers have placed the Kansas City Chiefs as favorites to win the 2024 Super Bowl. Here are the favorites, including the Chiefs and overall Top 5:

1. Kansas City Chiefs (+600)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (+700)
3. Buffalo Bills (+800)
4. San Francisco 59ers (+825)
5. Cincinnati Bengals (+850)

TIDBITS: With all this talk about Debt Limits, don’t we all face a rather daunting debt limit every month of the year? For years? Surely any family that’s been fortunate enough to have children attend some of the best Higher Educational Institutes in the country know a little about Debt Limits. … In 2023, surely there are Debt Limits that come into play when any fan tries to purchase game tickets to any sporting event, especially playoffs, Super Bowls, or major rock shows. So many times, these days, you simply have to take a pass, maybe watch on TV or read about the rock show in a critics’ review. … CNN’s Kaitlan Collins had her hands filled this week, hosting a CNN Town Hall meeting in New Hampshire with convicted sexual abuser and deviant Donald Trump, the presumptive GOP presidential nominee. Collins is used to tough assignments as she’s witnessed The University of Alabama face formidable opponents from the Southeastern Conference when the Crimson Tide play college football every Saturday in the Fall. … Collins needed an Air Horn to nip any and all blatant lies that flowed like active Hawaiian volcano lava during the Town Hall, which devolved into a Trump rally of sorts this past Wednesday evening. … It has been determined that the presumptive GOP presidential candidate is the Navage residue of Politicians.

BUZZWORD BINGO: We’re taking our sports commentary and studio analysis to a new level to create “NBA Bingo,” a new game that can be played in any single night, throughout a seven-game series or a single game of the 2023 NBA Finals. Here’s your very own game board.

FENWAY IS A TREASURE: It’s so wonderful to live in Boston and be a regular media member, covering the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park. Although it’s pushing 111 years, the improvements to the ballpark have come year-by-year to make it a joy to attend.

Major League Baseball’s Oldest Ballparks

Fenway Park (Boston Red Sox): 111 years old

Wrigley Field (Chicago Cubs): 109 years old

Dodger Stadium (LA Dodgers): 61 years old

Oakland Coliseum (Athletics): 57 years old

Angel Stadium (LA Angels): 57 years old

Kauffman Stadium (KC Royals): 50 years old

Rogers Centre (Toronto Blue Jays): 34 years old

Tropicana Field (Tampa Bay Rays): 33 years old

Guaranteed Rate Field (Chicago White Sox): 32 years old

Camden Yards (Baltimore Orioles): 31 years old

Note: It seems “like yesterday” when MLB hosted its annual Mid-Summer Classic at the brand new Camden Yards. This July 13th, it will be 30 years ago. On a deep bucket list of “Being There” and “Looking Live,” that 1993 MLB All-Star Game ranks high. It was also quite a pleasure to be in Baltimore frequently from 2015-2019 with the ability to tuck-in an Orioles game on many of the trips to Johns Hopkins to visit my daughter at school. Each trip brought back memories of that hot summer night in 1993, four years before my daughter was born. Oh, how the time passes. Treasure every minute, every day.