In Sunday's final couple of episodes of “The Last Dance,” the series reached its climax when Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls finally claimed their sixth title following what was a grueling 1997-98 campaign.
In the aftermath of that memorable title run, then-head coach Phil Jackson called the team to one final meeting before most of them eventually went their separate ways. Jackson asked the team to write one final message on a piece of paper and to place them inside a can. As the 11-time champion coach recalled, Jordan decided to write a poem for the rest of the team during that last encounter.
“It was a depth of emotion you never thought he had,” Jackson said about Jordan's gesture, via Ali Thanawalla of NBC Sports.
Former Bulls guard Steve Kerr also chimed in, describing how this took them all by surprise, given Jordan's hard-nosed reputation.
“We saw him as this bully sometimes,” Kerr said. “But that day, he showed his compassion, his empathy for all of us. Then everybody put the paper in the can and at the end of the session, Phil turned out the lights and he lit the paper in the can. One of the most powerful things I've ever seen.”
Just hearing or reading about Kerr narrating that moment can already give you goosebumps, so just imagine what they all felt at that time.
Jordan himself opened up about the poem he wrote.
“Phil had the knack, no matter how big you are, no matter how big you think you are, to always draw you in to be part of the process,” Jordan said. “I'm not a poet, but I just spoke what I felt at the time. We're always going to be bonded. Said thanks for the past, enjoy the moment, let's make sure we end it right.”
Unfortunately, we will never be able to hear or read the actual poem MJ wrote, but it is clear that this is something that has left its mark on his teammates to this very day.
Follow Us
Subscribe