“The Last Dance” has certainly revealed a ton about Michael Jordan and his obsession with winning. The documentary does not only feature his Airness, but also his colleagues who saw first-hand how singular Jordan's competitive fire was. But outside the documentary, Jordan's friends, too, have been forced to recount their memories competing with him either in basketball, golf, or some other game. The latest to chime in is professional golfer Brooks Koepka, who learned not to talk trash to Jordan.
“I was 1 up going to 17 tee,” Koepka said, per Brian Wacker of Golf Digest. “We’d been jawing all day and we have like a 40-yard walk back to the 17th tee and he hasn’t said much the last couple of holes. I said something like, ‘I’ve got you right where I want you.’”
After Koepka uttered those words, Michael Jordan said something — words that some of his basketball foes have probably heard time and time again.
“He just tees the ball up, takes his practice swing and looks at me. ‘It’s the fourth quarter, baby, I don’t lose,’” Koepka recalled.
Always true to his word, Jordan won the game. And Koepka never talked trash to MJ again.
“It’s probably the last time I’ve smack-talked him,” Koepka said. “I have not played him since, but hopefully we’ll tee it up again soon.”
Legendary head coach Phil Jackson once said that Jordan was not just competitive in basketball. He wanted to win at every single thing. Koepka's story is a good proof of this. And maybe this is Jordan's secret.
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