This Week In History Michael Jordan Retires Again

Bonisiwe Shabane
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this week in history michael jordan retires again

January 13, 1999 -- Michael Jordan announces his second retirement. The announcement came prior to the start of the lockout-shortened 1998-99 NBA season. Jordan had already retired once before in 1993 to pursue a baseball career, but returned to the NBA in 1995 and led the Bulls to three more NBA championships. However, by 1999, Jordan felt that he had “lost the drive and desire” necessary to continue and also expressed a desire to spend more time with his family. Jordan stated that he was “99.9 percent” sure he would not come back to play again. He would return to the NBA in 2001 with the Wizards.

Michael Jordan has returned to television, and for the first time in years, fans are getting a glimpse into the life of the NBA’s most iconic figure. The six-time champion made his long-awaited debut on NBA on NBC during a halftime special titled “MJ: Insights to Excellence,” where he spoke candidly about his priorities since leaving basketball behind, Sporting News reports. “The most valuable asset I have is time,” Jordan told veteran sportscaster Mike Tirico. It was one of several revealing moments during their one-on-one conversation, which centered around how the Chicago Bulls legend now spends his days. After sharing that his focus has shifted away from the game, Jordan explained why fans rarely see him in the public eye. “That’s what I have time to do now,” he said.

“You don’t know how much time you really don’t have for family when you’re in the prime of your career. So that’s probably why you don’t see enough of me, because that time I’m trying to spend with family members that I’ve been missing out on for such a long time.” The discussion also touched on when Jordan last picked up a basketball, his wish for a “magic pill” to play again, and his continued sense of obligation to the game that made him a... A post shared by Celts (@patriotsandhoops) Michael Jordan made his debut as a broadcast contributor for NBC at halftime of the NBA season opener between the Oklahoma City Thunder and Houston Rockets, writing a new stanza in his legacy as... In an effort to "pay it forward" and further the game, Jordan will appear on select broadcasts throughout the 2025-26 season and offer his perspective on basketball, although his official role and the nature...

The first segment was a pre-recorded interview at Jordan's house in which he peeled the curtain back on his relationship with the sport and how and why he aims to be involved moving forward. Jordan's post-retirement life has included a diminishing amount of basketball as he places an emphasis on spending time with family. In fact, he said he has not "picked up a ball in years." The last time the Chicago Bulls legend took a shot was, in true Jordan fashion, at a golf tournament. “We have an obligation to pay it forward. That’s part of what this is all about.”Watch Michael Jordan’s first conversation with Mike Tirico in the first edition of MJ: Insights To Excellence. pic.twitter.com/7tfzGm6SpM

"I was at the Ryder Cup, and I rented a house from the owner," Jordan said. "He came over to do pictures. He had grandkids. I was doing the meet-and-greet, thanked him for allowing me to stay at the house. He had a basketball court. He said, 'I want you to shoot one free throw.' I said, 'Really?' I already paid for the house; it's not like he had to see me.

1926 — Babe Ruth becomes first MLB player to hit 3 home runs in a World Series game as NY Yankees beat St. Louis Cardinals, 10-5 in Game 4. 1928 — Leo Diegel wins the PGA championship, beating Al Espinosa 6 and 5. 1956 — Oklahoma blanks Kansas 66-0 to set a modern college football winning streak of 32 straight. The Sooners had the previous record of 31 set 1948-50. The victory is also a conference record of 54 straight wins.

1963 — Baseball World Series: LA Dodgers edge NY Yankees, 2-1 at Dodger Stadium for 4-0 series sweep; MVP: Dodgers pitcher Sandy Koufax. 1973 — Washington’s Chris Rowland ties an NCAA record with four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter, but still loses to California, 54-49. Editor’s note: This story was originally published on Oct. 6, 2024. A look back at local, national and world events through Deseret News archives. On Oct.

6, 1993, after nine seasons and three NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan announced his retirement from the NBA. Jordan surprised his fans at a news conference in Deerfield, Illinois. The news came less than four months after he helped lead the Bulls to their third consecutive NBA title with a six-game victory over Phoenix in the 1993 NBA Finals. “I have reached the pinnacle of my career. ... I just feel I don’t have anything else to prove,” he said, later acknowledging that the murder of his father a few months earlier weighed heavily on him.

Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Jan. 13, according to the Tribune’s archives. Is an important event missing from this date? Email us. Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago) 1999: “It’s not really 100 percent,” Michael Jordan said, “but it’s close.

That’s where I stand. I’m not going to say never. But I will say 99.9.” Jordan retired from the Chicago Bulls for the second time. Jordan, who first retired in 1993 after the Bulls won the third of their six championships, said this was as good a time as any to hang up the Air Jordans. Over a storybook career he won six championship rings and 10 scoring titles while earning five Most Valuable Player awards and six NBA Finals MVP trophies. The NBA on NBC is set to make a highly-anticipated return after a 23-year hiatus.

With NBA basketball back in the network's hands, they've already announced that former players such as Reggie Miller, Carmelo Anthony and Jamal Crawford will lead a star-studded cast of analysts for the 2025-26 season. On Monday, NBC continued this trend by sharing that the arguable greatest player in the history of the sport will become a contributor, as former Chicago Bulls legend and 6-time NBA champion Michael Jordan... "A legendary addition to our team!" NBA on NBC and Peacock shared via Twitter/X on Monday morning. "We’re thrilled to welcome Michael Jordan as a special contributor to the NBA on NBC and Peacock." This was during the 1993 NBA Finals. The Chicago Bulls and New York Knicks had just finished their knock-down, drag-out fight for supremacy in the Eastern Conference.

Chicago had what New York wanted, and the Knicks swarmed the Bulls. But the Bulls bit back. And like the fight scene in that great campy movie “They Live,” it went on for hours. But the Bulls eliminated the Knicks in six games. NBC covered the finals — covered Michael Jordan, really, who are we kidding? — as Chicago matched up with the Phoenix Suns in the championship series.

And Magic Johnson was there, doing a gap year with the network as a game analyst after opting not to play in the 1992-93 season. He had a star turn at the Olympics in Barcelona in the summer of 1992 after disclosing months earlier that he’d contracted HIV, but after getting cut on his arm during an exhibition game... He had time on his hands. We were in Chicago. More accurately, Deerfield, Ill., a suburb about 30 miles north of the city. That’s where the Bulls practiced back then, at The Berto Center.

And, no, it likely was not a coincidence that Jordan lived about 10 minutes from there. It was an off day, and Magic was there as part of his prep work. He knew Jordan well, as a competitor and as an Olympic teammate on the Dream Team. We needed a Jordan translator at the time because Jordan wasn’t talking to the media. Jordan was angry because of coverage of a tell-all book by a businessman who had golfed with him, allegedly won $1 million from him and then wrote about their supposed joint gambling “addiction.” He...

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January 13, 1999 -- Michael Jordan Announces His Second Retirement.

January 13, 1999 -- Michael Jordan announces his second retirement. The announcement came prior to the start of the lockout-shortened 1998-99 NBA season. Jordan had already retired once before in 1993 to pursue a baseball career, but returned to the NBA in 1995 and led the Bulls to three more NBA championships. However, by 1999, Jordan felt that he had “lost the drive and desire” necessary to cont...

Michael Jordan Has Returned To Television, And For The First

Michael Jordan has returned to television, and for the first time in years, fans are getting a glimpse into the life of the NBA’s most iconic figure. The six-time champion made his long-awaited debut on NBA on NBC during a halftime special titled “MJ: Insights to Excellence,” where he spoke candidly about his priorities since leaving basketball behind, Sporting News reports. “The most valuable ass...

“You Don’t Know How Much Time You Really Don’t Have

“You don’t know how much time you really don’t have for family when you’re in the prime of your career. So that’s probably why you don’t see enough of me, because that time I’m trying to spend with family members that I’ve been missing out on for such a long time.” The discussion also touched on when Jordan last picked up a basketball, his wish for a “magic pill” to play again, and his continued s...

The First Segment Was A Pre-recorded Interview At Jordan's House

The first segment was a pre-recorded interview at Jordan's house in which he peeled the curtain back on his relationship with the sport and how and why he aims to be involved moving forward. Jordan's post-retirement life has included a diminishing amount of basketball as he places an emphasis on spending time with family. In fact, he said he has not "picked up a ball in years." The last time the C...

"I Was At The Ryder Cup, And I Rented A

"I was at the Ryder Cup, and I rented a house from the owner," Jordan said. "He came over to do pictures. He had grandkids. I was doing the meet-and-greet, thanked him for allowing me to stay at the house. He had a basketball court. He said, 'I want you to shoot one free throw.' I said, 'Really?' I already paid for the house; it's not like he had to see me.