Things were pretty rough during the NBA bubble, but an unlikely hero took it upon himself to make the experience a little easier for players. In a story recently told by former NBA guard JJ Redick, he explained how a white, California-based sommelier named Michael Jordan saved the day in Orlando by leading a series of tastings and sessions that have blossomed into something more. He even sent a video to address all the players, where he stood in front of a framed No. 23 Chicago Bulls jersey.
“Jordan began sharing insight about a dry rosé wine from California's central coast made from pinot noir vines planted in the 1970s,” wrote ESPN’s Baxter Holmes. “‘Take it from MJ,’ he closed while raising a glass of wine toward the camera. ‘Rosé all day.’”
It all started during the height of the pandemic, when Jordan first got involved with the NBA by hosting a virtual tasting of his finest drinks during the league’s darkest hour. Now, four years later, they have entered into an official partnership together that looks to be highly lucrative for both sides.
It’s by sheer coincidence that the man happens to share a name with the greatest basketball player ever, but he’s embraced the legacy that comes with the name and admits that the Bulls legend was a personal icon for him growing up.
"It's always hilarious," said Jordan, via ESPN. "Because I'm a short, white Michael Jordan — and an Italian. It's crazy. I loved coming up and Michael was making my name famous, and he was my hero, too. Nobody had done what he had done."
The NBA quarantine was a challenging time for many players, and they often speak about it today. While their struggles were minimal compared to what others went through at the time, many of the players struggled to adjust to “lower” quality living and even went so far as to gripe about the wine selection. Even so, they had plenty of people on the inside to help make the experience a little bit easier for everyone.
As for the “white” Michael himself, only time will tell how his relationship with the league develops over time but with a name like that, he is surely set up for success in the NBA world. And with wine being the hottest hobby for players today, his business is bound to see some level of growth with support from the league and many of its top athletes.
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