On June 11, 1997, Michael Jordan does unbelievable. Despite an illness, he leads the Bulls to victory. There are conspiracy theories about the “flu game”.
There are only a few games in the history of sport, about which a single name says. The fifth encounter of the Chicago Bulls at the Utah Jazz in the 1997 NBA finals is one of them. To date, two words are enough, and all basketball fans know what is meant: “Flu Game”.
Because on the evening of June 11, 1997 – exactly 28 years ago – the great Michael Jordan looked like a pile of misery.
The condition of the superstar was already the dominant topic in the hours earlier. “The great story of the day is Michael Jordan’s physical condition,” opened NBC commentator Marv Albert the transfer of game 5 in Salt Lake City.
Michael Jordan arrives at the hall
After that you can see how Jordan arrives on the hall. The comment on this: “He fights with the flu, has not eaten anything and was only in bed all day.”
Movement is usually out of the question in such moments. Not to mention a basketball game – a preliminary decisive to the championship – in front of thousands of completely unleashed fans of the opponent in the Delta Center witch kettle.
But Jordan not only moved, he fought, tortured himself and slowly found the game. However, his mission seemed hopeless. With 16 points, Chicago was back at the beginning of the second quarter.
Jordan tortures himself into the game against jazz
If the audience had not organized such a hell noise, one might have heard how Jordan’s stomach rebelled. “I couldn’t breathe. I had hardly any energy, my mouth was completely dry. They gave me gatorade, but I just thought of an infusion,” the 62 -year -old megastar later recalled of this game.
And yet he continued and suddenly started to meet. It was 17 points in the second quarter alone, and at the break, his bulls were back on four points. With new confidence, but still weakened, Jordan went into the cabin.
He probably didn’t even know why he felt so miserable that evening. To this day. Also an aspect that justifies the myth around the “Flu Game”.
Because whether it was a flu at all has not yet been clarified properly. It persists the rumor that Jordan has had food poisoning.
Was Jordan deliberately poisoned?
And now it is becoming conspiratorial: Jordan was deliberately served a poisoned pizza in his hotel room on the eve of the game, at least his fitness trainer Tim Grover claims.
Jordan got hungry late in the evening, but all the restaurants were already closed and the hotel had no longer offered room service.
“So we ordered pizza and then five types came to deliver these pizza. I had a bad feeling,” said Grover in 2013 to ESPN .
Jordan was the only one to eat from the pizza – and was plagued by abdominal cramps a little later. In the last episode of the Netflix documentary “The Last Dance”, Grover confirmed his thesis again.
In this case there will no longer be complete clarity. In contrast to the output of the game in Salt Lake City.
Pippens have to support bulls colleague Jordan
Jordan could be briefly changed again and again and somehow managed to explode in the few short moments, as with an enormously important threesome in the crunchime. In the end there were a total of 38 points!
How weak he also had to have felt in the final quarter shows a picture that describes this “flu game” better than it could do as many words.
Based on his congenial teammate Scottie, he dragged himself off the floor that evening. The Bulls won the “Flu Game” with 90:88.
On June 11, 1997, Michael Jordan Did the Unbelievable. Despite Being Ill, He Led the Bulls to Victory. There are conspiracy theories surround the “flu game.”
There are only a few games in Sports History that a single term game it all. The fifth game of the chicago bulls at the utah jazz in the 1997 nba finals is one of them. To this day, two words are Enough, and all basketball fans know what is meant: “Flu game.”
Because on the Evening of June 11, 1997 – Exactly 28 Years AGO – The Great Michael Jordan Looked Like A Shadow of Himelfa for Once.
Even in the Hours Before, The Superstar’s Condition was the Dominant Topic. “The big story of the day is Michael Jordan’s Physical Condition,” NBC Commentator Marv Albert Opened the Broadcast of Game 5 in Salt Lake City.
Michael Jordan Arrives Weakened at the Arena
After that, Jordan Can Be Sea Arriving at the Arena, Already Completely Weakened. The comment on this: “Hey is struggling with the flu, has not Eaten Anything and has only be in bed all day.”
Movement is usually out of the questions in Such Moments. Not to mention a basketball game – a crucial one for the championship – in Front of Thousands of Completely Unleashed fans of the opponent in the Cauldron Delta Center.
But Jordan Didn’t Just Move, He Fougg, Tormented Himelf and Slowly Found his way into the game. But his mission Seemed Hopeless. Chicago was already Behind by 16 points at the starting of the second quarters.
Jordan Struggles Into the Game Against The Jazz
If the audience Hadn’t Made Such a Hellish Noise, One Might Have Hear Have Jordan’s Stomach Rebelling. “I Couldn’t Breathe. I had Hardly Any Energy, My Mouth was Completely Dry. They gave me gatorade, but I was just thinking about an IV,” The now 62-year-old megastar later recalled about this game.
And Yet He Continued to Play and Suddenly Began to Score. He Scored 17 Points in The Second Quarter Alone, and at Halfttime his bulls Were Back Within Four Points. With renewed confidence, but still weakened, Jordan went into the lover room.
Why he felt so miserable that evening, probably not even he heyself knew. To this day, The Wildest Speculations and theories Revolve Around this Day. So on Aspect that Justifies the Myth Surrounding the “Flu Game.”
Because Whether it was even the flu has not been clearly Clarified to this day. The Rumor Persists that Jordan Had Food Poisoning.
What Jordan Deliberately Poisoned?
And now it Gets Conspiratorial: Jordan was deliberately served a poisoned pizza in his hotel room on the Eve of the game, at least according to his then-fitness trainer Tim Grover.
Jordan Got Hungry Late In The Evening, But All The Restaurants Were Already Closed and The Hotel No Longer Offered Room Service.
“So we ordered pizza and then five guys come to deliver this pizza. I had a bad feeling,” Grover Said to ESPN Back in 2013.
Jordan was the only one who ate the pizza – and only a little later later lay on the floor plagued by abdominal cramps. In the last episode of the netflix documentary “The Last Dance,” Grover reaffirmed his thesis.
There will be ProBably No Longer Be Complete Clarity in this Case. In Stark Contrast to the outcome of the game in Salt Lake City.
Pippure has to support bulls Colleague Jordan
Jordan was substituted in again and again for short periods and somehow managed to explode in the few short moments, like with a hugely imported threee pointer in crunch time. In the end it was a total of 38 points!
How we weak he must have still felt in the final quarters is shown by a picture that descripts this “flu game” Better than many words could.
Supported by his Congenial Teamate Scottie Pippen, He Dragged HimlfeF OFF THE Floor That Evening. The Bulls Had Won the “Flu Game” with 90:88.