It is undoubtedly the Frenchman who best knows the icon Michael Jordan, former star of the Bulls. George Eddy, the voice of basketball on Canal +, has spoken to the greatest basketball player of all time several times. He often accompanied him when "His Majesty" came to Paris.
What does Michael Jordan represent for you?
GEORGE EDDY. One of the greatest icons of world sport in the same way as Pelé and Mohamed Ali. At the Pantheon, he is with these two even if to be a little more modern, we could also put Messi, Zidane, LeBron James there. These are all players who have reached the "Jordanesque" level.
Is Jordan an inspiration for many champions?
Almost all of them have Jordan as their idol. Jordan himself enjoys all sports. He is a big fan of Tiger Woods and has developed a good friendship with Roger Federer via Nike, their joint partner. The last time he came to Paris, he was accompanied by a big baseball star. He likes to rub shoulders with those who have the same level of performance and notoriety as him.
PODCAST. Michael Jordan, basketball legend
How is he when we meet him?
You can't say it's affordable. I have experienced its evolution over the decades. When he came to Paris in 1990, he was not an NBA champion and he said to me "it's good, I can walk in the street, apart from American tourists, nobody recognizes me. I feel more free. When he returned in 1997, it was no longer the same story.
That is to say ?
He was obliged to have bodyguards, lawyers, press officers. He already had an important entourage.
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Did you receive it at the time on the program "Nowhere Else"?
We had it exclusively for us for an hour. It is one of the highlights of my career as a journalist. This is the program that had the most audience that season for Canal +. It was not a historic moment for Jordan but for us, yes.
VIDEO. He received Jordan in 1997 at "Nulle Part Ailleurs"
Does he recognize you when he meets you?
When he made his second comeback in 2001, he never spoke to anyone, never to the press. I had met him in a corridor and said to him: "Do you know me, I come from France? He said to me, "Yes, I know you, but I don't speak to you either!" (Laughs).
Coming back to 1990, did you share a funny moment together?
An incredible thing. He was to make an appearance in a room in Paris, the Géo-André room. 1500 people were expected to attend the event and finally, 10 000 people came. I had to get on a bus to tell 8,000 people that they couldn't get in. It was unpleasant and Jordan did not want to do the event. He was afraid that someone would jump on him. I managed to convince him and everything went well.
It is said that Jordan does not gain from being known, that he is hardly sympathetic…
I wouldn’t say that. At first, it was easier to be close to him, but the more he became an icon, the more complicated it became. He overprotected himself. The murder of his father in 1993 traumatized him. However when he came in 2006, we had done an interview in the basement of Coubertin. He told me that it was thanks to me that the NBA was popular in France. I have never been given a more beautiful compliment.
He is a billionaire: does this surprise you?
His money is in the billions. Tony Parker also has more than 100 million dollars (90 million euros) in wealth: everything they touch becomes gold. Their families did not run on gold when they were young and they have always been careful with their money by being pragmatic.
Is he the greatest basketball player of all time?
Over the past 40 years, yes. It represents performance in elegance with an unrivaled desire to win. Himself says the best of all time is Bill Russell because Russell has won 11 NBA titles with Boston in 13 seasons as a player-coach in the last two seasons. For him, only performance and result count.
Does he take political positions?
Not when he was a player because he said that the Republicans also bought his shoes. Now he is committed. He is so rich that he can afford it. He took a stand for Hillary Clinton against Trump in 2016, against police violence. He supports good causes; For these reasons, I appreciate him even more today than when he was a player.
"My story with the NBA", by George Eddy. Ed. Talents Sports; € 19.90
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