Jordan's Flu Game with Scoop Jackson

First Ballot: The Hall of Fame Podcast

The Flu Game. Game 5 of the tied 1997 NBA Finals and Michael Jordan, despite being ravaged by the flu… drops 38 points to secure a miraculous win. Joining the pod is ESPN sports journalist, author, and cultural critic Scoop Jackson, who breaks down the moment, talks about almost quitting SLAM, and discovering NSYNC.

Timecodes:

(5:56) Scoop almost quitting SLAM magazine

(10:04) Kobe's Philly Homecoming

(15:47) Scoop getting his flowers

(24:14) Why 38 points matter

(27:07) Michael's "reserve" defense

(29:40) MJ looked like doo-doo brown

(31:02) Auctioning the Flu Game Jordans

(32:30) Scoop's take on Jordan's sickness

(35:06) The beauty of the lunacy of this moment

(38:01) Jordan spit on the pizza

(40:10) Seeing MJ sick in person

(43:11) The mythicality of Michael Jordan

(45:00) What Rodman said about Mormons

(48:39) Jordan's performance when he's sick or injured

(55:02) Growing up with Tim Hardaway

(57:17) MTV Rock N' Jock and discovering NSYNC

(01:00:42) Isiah Thomas and the bad ankle

(01:14:56) MJ vs Lebron

(01:20:33) Annie Sarnblad's analysis of MJ's face

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