Jordan and the Flu game

I don't know if any of you remember this game? I watched it live (tv) but this was an iconic game for him. Jordan was and always will be the best basketball player to play in the NBA. What do you guys think about this story?





Basketball - NBA
Jordan 'was poisoned' before iconic 'Flu Game'
Michael Jordan was poisoned before one of the most famous performances of his career, according to his trainer Tim Grover.

Back in 1997 Jordan took to the floor in Game Five of the NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz despite being violently ill and with the Series tied 2-2.

Jordan played the match with extreme nausea and in front of a hostile crowd, but still managed to dominate and scored 38 points in a 90-88 victory.

The performance helped cement his reputation as one of the most competitive sporting legends of all-time.

The game is sometimes referred to as the 'The Flu Game' but his trainer Grover is convinced that Jordan was in fact poisoned by a local Utah pizza restaurant intent on making him unable to compete in the match.

"We were in Park City, Utah, up in a hotel. Room service stopped at like nine o'clock. He got hungry and we really couldn't find any other place to eat. So we said eh, the only thing I can find is a pizza place. So we says all right, order pizza," Grover told the TrueHoop website.

"We had been there for a while. Everybody knew what hotel. Park City was not many hotels back then. So everyone kind of knew where we were staying. So we order pizza.

"Five guys came to deliver this pizza. I take the pizza and I tell them: 'I've got a bad feeling about this. ... I've just got a bad feeling about this.'

"Out of everybody in the room, (MJ) was the only one who ate. Nobody else had it. And then 2 o'clock in the morning I get a call to my room. Come to the room. He's curled up in the foetal position. We're looking at him, finding the team physician at that time.

"Immediately I told him it's food poisoning. Not the flu."


In the final moments of 'The Flu Game', Jordan famously collapsed into Scottie Pippen's arms creating one of the most iconic images of his career. Commentator Marv Albert said: "A courageous, classic performance by the flu-ridden Michael Jordan."
After Game Five, the Series returned to Chicago where the Bulls clinched a 4-2 Series victory with a 90-86 win. Jordan scored 39 points in that game and was named MVP of the Series.

It was the fifth of his six NBA titles. Jordan was named NBA Finals MVP in all six of those triumphs.

Eurosport - 4/18/13 6:38 AM

Yeah, read this, I dont remember, but I do remember Harper saying he felt it was food poisioning and im inclined to go with that.

Either way, how he played I dont know, he was really close to passing out at the end there. Just another notch on his legacy in terms of being able to do reach a level, you just cant match.

The guy is the best and when people make comparisons with him and you know who, its really is insulting.

I know Jordan deep down is so mad at it, rightly so too. In his playing days he was compared to Wilkins and Drexler and he went out his way to prove himself better. Whenever someone challanged Jordan, he made a point of showing everyone who is the king here. He took care of it all.

Now, the same questions are being put out there and this time he cant go and prove it.

Who you talking about Dani?

I don't think it matters whether he had the flu or was 'poisoned'.. He was pretty beat up non the less, won't change the games legacy IMO

Why is this story coming out now though?

He wasn't poisoned lol. Alcohol poisoning maybe.

There's 2 options depends on what/who you believe:

- He legitimately had the flu
- He was hungover

Dont think it was hangover...I played with hangover before, symptoms arent the same..flu perhaps, but why not food poisioning?

Swagg wrote:Who you talking about Dani?


Why is this story coming out now though?

Kobe of course

And no idea, I wondered myself lol

The Franchise wrote:Dont think it was hangover...I played with hangover before, symptoms arent the same..flu perhaps, but why not food poisioning?

I can't say for sure obviously but it's been talked about in NBA circles since it happened. I believe Rodman insinuated it in a interview at one point.

Plus as most know Jordan was a notorious partier, and he had been known to drink heavily before games, even playoff games. Most notably against the Knicks in 1993 when he was spotted at about 3:30AM on the casino floor playing baccarat and drinking.

I've never had food poisoning but from what I've seen people have trouble getting away from the toilet and out of the fetal position, let alone play ball.

It's also a pretty bold claim to say 5 guys poisoned a basketball player. Why was none of this brought up, or suspected around then, 15 years ago? Coming out with it now is a bit odd. Long enough time to where the place probably isn't even open anymore, and no one can confirm or deny the guys story.

Fair points, honestly I dont know.

Doesn't matter what it was he still balled and beat Utah to get a another trophy. Even if it was a hungover then it's pretty amazing how he beats Somone like that on a hangover. No matter what Jordan the best basketball player to ever live. Kobe and Lebron will never come close!

True it really doesn't. Flu, hangover, or poisoned; those are all ridiculous to play with, and even more ridiculous to put up 38 like he did.

I can't imagine anyone doing any real physical activity with food poisoning let alone a sport at the highest level, and even more so playing the way he did.

I'm siding more with dmize here.

Of course it still is ridiculous and legendary, but I doubt food poisoning was the problem here.