In a fascinating encounter before Super Bowl XLIX in 2014, former New England Patriots star Julian Edelman shared a memorable interaction with NBA legend Michael Jordan on his Games with Names podcast. Edelman recounted seeing Jordan and Derek Jeter a week before the Patriots faced the Seattle Seahawks in Glendale, Arizona. While Jeter was described as "charming" and "welcoming," Jordan appeared standoffish until he approached Edelman just before the conversation ended.
"We are playing the Super Bowl, 2014, and the week before the Super Bowl I took my folks to dinner and I roll up, and see Derek Jeter. I’m like super star struck, I’m about to play in this Super Bowl and I go up, and you could tell Jeter is a super charming guy, very welcoming."
"I go, ‘Mr. Jeter, I’m Julian Edelman, about to play in the Super Bowl. And I saw Jordan, he was kind of stand-offish, a little bit, and as soon as the conversation is about to end, five minutes and I’m about to leave, Jordan comes up to me and he goes, ‘hey kid, I got a bunch of money on you, don’t f— it up.’"
"And that’s the only thing he said to me, I go, ‘yes sir Mr. Jordan,’ I didn’t know what to say.”
The Super Bowl itself lived up to the hype, with the Patriots, led by Tom Brady and coached by Bill Belichick, orchestrating a remarkable comeback against the Seahawks, winning 28-24. Edelman, a pivotal player in the game, caught nine passes for 109 yards and scored a crucial touchdown in the fourth quarter, contributing to the Patriots' historic victory.
Edelman's NFL career, spanning 11 seasons, included three Super Bowl victories and a Super Bowl MVP title in 2018. Despite being drafted as a seventh-round pick in 2009, Edelman emerged as one of the league's best wide receivers, showcasing his talent and determination on the field.
Jordan's humorous yet direct advice to Edelman adds another layer to the lore of Michael Jordan's competitive spirit and penchant for betting. The story highlights the unique and unpredictable moments that athletes share, transcending the boundaries of their respective sports.
Michael Jordan Used To Play $100,000 Rock, Paper, Scissors
In a revelation that sheds light on Michael Jordan's unparalleled competitive spirit and penchant for high-stakes gambling, former teammate Jay Williams disclosed that the NBA legend once bet an astonishing $100,000 on a game of rock, paper, scissors against his Chicago Bulls teammates. This revelation, shared on "The Brilliant Idiots Podcast," underscores Jordan's relentless pursuit of victory and his willingness to turn even childhood games into intense competitions.
Known for his dominance on the basketball court, Jordan's gambling escapades added a complex layer to his larger-than-life personality. The stakes in these rock, paper, scissors games were far from ordinary, with players wagering as much as $20,000 in a single round. This incident adds a new chapter to Jordan's well-documented history as a gambler, showcasing that, for him, gambling was a means of asserting his supremacy and proving that he was the best, regardless of the game.
While rumors once linked Jordan's gambling habits to his unexpected retirement in 1993, the revelation about the rock, paper, scissors bet reinforces the idea that, for Jordan, it wasn't about the money but the thrill of winning. This staggering wager exemplifies the unfathomable wealth and unbridled competitive spirit of a man universally recognized as the greatest player in NBA history.
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