During his days as a basketball player -- well, not just any player, but the greatest player ever to play his sport -- Michael Jordan excelled at captivating spectators and making opponents look downright silly.
In retirement, Jordan still can captivate an arena. Now, though, he makes some spectators look silly.
Early in the Bucks' game against Charlotte Friday night at the Bradley Center, word began to circulate around the building that Jordan -- who is listed as part owner and "Managing Member of Basketball Operations" for the Bobcats -- was sitting a few rows behind the visitor's bench.
Needless to say, it created a buzz.
Throughout the game, a steady stream of Bucks fans holding cell phone cameras filed past section 227 in hopes of landing a picture. Some gawked. Some stopped and tried to snap their shots. Security shooed them away. Others tried to be sneaky and take pictures or videos while walking. Security shooed them away, too.
As the fourth quarter was about to begin, the Bucks flashed Jordan on the scoreboard and welcomed him to the game. The result was a shy smile and wave, a thunderous ovation -- and a stream of more persistent photographers.
Jordan, who maintains a home in Highland Park, Ill., couldn't have been happy with the result of the game. The Bucks won, 103-75, dropping the Bobcats' record to 11-22.
For many of the fans on hand, though, the memory of seeing MJ will outlast the memory of the game.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
