Was Space Jam or Gambling to Blame for Jordan's First Retirement?

05/08/23 • 34 min

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Picture it: a 30 year old Michael Jordan has just won his third championship in as many years with the Chicago Bulls. He doesn't look to be stopping--and yet, he retires on October 6th, 1993 to the shock of so many. Why would the greatest athlete at that time retire? His father was murdered that summer, he had taken a physical beating in those playoff games, and emotionally he wasn't in it. All of that adds up. But...what if it had to do with the gambling stories that came out during the NBA Finals in 1993? Or maybe it was all a ruse for him to try out baseball so it could all be included in the critically acclaimed and life changing movie Space Jam.
In this week's conspiracy theory episode, Matt and I tackle how Black Jesus, per Reggie Miller, retired and did it really have something to do with a NBA suspension for gambling? He had a brush with federal authorities in 1992 that made his gambling known, and then the May 24th Atlantic City visit during the Knicks game series, and then Esquinas' book. So...I mean...maybe?
For more information on Michael Jordan's father's death.

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Previous Episode

The Origins of Creepy Dolls

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On this week's episode we are taking a little detour from fun, gripping, or little known history to dive into something a bit more...creepy? We are talking about the history of haunted and creepy dolls. What makes so many of us shiver in fear of raggedy Anne and Andy? How long have creepy dolls been...a thing? And not just dolls being creepy...but things in general being creepy.
Dolls have been around for AGES, and mean a lot to many people. Whether they taught young girls skills like sewing, or how to act in certain societal situations--dolls have been there. And dolls can be made of anything and for anyone--cue husk dolls and GI Joe.
If you ask a group of 15 people what they’re scared of...at least one person will say dolls. And probably one other person in that group will collect dolls. Thanks to psychologists, we have some answers to this idea of what is creepy and why are we so alert to things we deem as creepy.
But the creepiest thing? Cursed or haunted dolls. We talk briefly about Annabelle, Robert, Lily, Letta, and Okiku in this week's episode--in case you need to go see if you are indeed creeped out by plastic, real hair, and pitter pattering in the night.
Check out this week's episode and let me know your thoughts about dolls and creepy things.

Next Episode

Don't Mess with Beer

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But have you heard about the Lager Beer Riot that occurred on April 21, 1855 in Chicago? Maybe not, unless you're really into Chicago beer or politics. On this week's episode, we are talking about an interesting combo–politics and beer in Chicago.
With rising immigrants settling in developing Midwest cities like Chicago and bringing much of their home country culture and past times with them. Germans brought with them their love of brewing beer and journalism, with many setting up taverns that many locals and immigrants frequented. Many of these immigrants had participated in the 1848 revolutions across Europe and were accustomed to demonstrations for political reasons. At the same time, all over the country there was a wide spread of distrust when it came to Catholics and immigrants. Many newspapers and politicians depicted immigrants as drunks, and part of a ploy for the Pope to take over the US if they were Catholic. Because of the drunken portrayal, many nativists gravitated towards anti alcoholism, or the Temperance Movement. In the city election of 1855, the Know Nothing Party Candidate Levi Boone won and almost immediately went to work on ways to punish immigrants for just living in the city--increasing the price for liquor license and suspending the sale of alcohol on Sundays. Take a listen and see how messing with German's beer can lead to a revolution.