“We saw him as this bully sometimes. But that day he showed his compassion and empathy for all of us”.
Steve Kerr’s closing remark at the end of The Last Dance is emblematic of the enigmatic picture of Jordan painted in Jason Hehir’s engrossing documentary.
I finished it after five weeks of Monday nights that did their best to paper over the frustration of the absence of the NBA. I left thinking, how do I see Michael Jordan, his airness?
This documentary is something basketball fans have been waiting eons for. Why Jordan finally agreed to it – LeBron James’ case for being the GOAT, the stagnation of his Hornets, boredom – is irrelevant. But clearly there were many scores to settle for the 57-year-old icon.
Don’t think MJ can be petty? Have a watch of his Hall of Fame acceptance speech. This isn’t a man who lets things go. The first shots are fired within the opening moments, with a cut from a Jordan presser post-championship in 1997.
“Have a sense of respect for the people who laid the groundwork so that you can be a profitable organisation,” he said.
(Image: Flickr/Jason H Smith CC-BY-2.0)
This brings me to the villain of this documentary, because every Netflix series needs that binge-watchable drama.
Jerry Krause died in 2017, months before the Hehir began his work. The former general manager of the Bulls is lampooned within the first 20 minutes, chiefly for his supposedly outrageous quote: “organisations win championships, not players”.
We have Mark Vancil, a ghostwriter for MJ and hardly an unbiased source, hypothesising that Krause had a “little-man problem” and he needed credit. Did Krause tell Vancil this?
No episode goes by without a dig somewhere at Krause, and how he broke up a team destined to win more championships.
In true MJ fashion, the shots continue to the final buzzer. The buzzer beater on this occasion was how maddening it is that the Bulls couldn’t just sign everyone to one-year deals for a chance at a seventh title.
What he conveniently doesn’t mention is slicing a tendon in his finger on a cigar cutter in Cuba during the 1999 NBA lockout meant he would have been hard pressed to play any role in the season at all.
But enough about Krause, because of course there is more to this documentary than him (and more scores to settle for MJ). Wow, the man really is petty… did I already say that?
We have a 57-year-old man still visibly angry at Isiah Thomas and company for walking off the court early in 1991. Or BJ Armstrong enjoying his moment in the sun by simply shouting in celebration in the general direction of the Bulls bench. Or mocking Gary Payton for saying he could guard him.
Slightly cringe-worthy? Maybe.
But that makes the documentary and MJ’s persona real. He was petty. He did hold grudges, and as said many times in The Last Dance used them to fuel his competitive fire.
(AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
On the surface this is in some ways a puff piece for Jordan, to solidify his case as the greatest basketball player to have played the game. There is ample opportunity, though, for the viewer to also see the other side to his character, and how it didn’t necessarily gel with all of his teammates.
Predictably, the gambling controversy of 1994-95 is addressed but in a nice, glossy way. We see MJ playing golf, playing cards, having fun with it – nothing sinister. Whether he was actually more out of control than revealed is a moot point. We’re here for the basketball.
The same goes for stories of Jordan’s childhood and later fatherhood. While more coverage would have been nice, if we are limited to ten episodes, it has to be basketball with touches of his humanity.
Hehir uses those touches brilliantly, bringing to the fore previously unheard-of members of Jordan’s inner circle. Gus the security guard and father figure is an overwhelming highlight. When you see the footage of MJ being mobbed at every public turn, it becomes apparent how he become so close to his security team.
All in all, this is a quality blueprint if the sports documentary made for streaming platforms is to become a fad. There is a principle focus on sport with a generous helping of in-game and post-game footage, and humanising interactions are the icing on top.
My only recommendation? Please don’t bow to the boffins at the likes of Netflix and have the need to ham up a villain, because there isn’t always one in sport.
Vijendran Jayaveerasingam
Roar Rookie
"thru" "IMHO"- sounds like you're becoming a millennial yourself be careful!
Ad-O
Guest
Seriously, cringe worthy? Petty? I dont know what your main take is from the doco as a whole. But for the purposes of this article that's absolutely a judgement made thru a generational lens IMHO. You see none of this documentary is anything particularly new. People were aware of this stuff back in the 90s. Its just nobody expected anybody to be perfect back then. You were allowed a few flaws without being defined by them. After all, everybody has them. But dont take it so hard, it's not really millenials fault. Its helicopter parenting, IG, twitter, convenience, affluence, the death of journalism and all that Jonothan Haidt stuff. They never really had a chance.
Vijendran Jayaveerasingam
Roar Rookie
It's a bit of a stretch to make link criticism of MJ into an attack on generations isn't it? Note that my issue with the Jordan portrayed here isn't things like punching Kerr, bullying Scott Burrell etc, but not being able to let go of small slights, and simply be happy with his success (more than 20 years on from said slights).
max power
Guest
wrong. Jordan was not typical of his generation, he was way different to everyone else in his generation. does that make the rest of his generation snowflakes? Jordans ruthless attributes made him a success on the court but have made him a terrible owner and administrator. compare him to Magic Johnson in off court success "feminised" society? - i know a lot of tough women, a lot tougher than you, who seems to be threatened by women. as for self entitled, how about the boomers that have gotten wealthy through tax breaks which will be paid for by future generations? enjoy your life as a fake alpha male blaming everyone else for your lack of success
Ad-O
Guest
Wrong. It showed why us older generations call millennials snowflakes. MJ was only as hard on his team mates as he was on himself. He dragged them kicking and screaming into the halls of history and made them better than they ever could be by themselves. Even if he had to crack a few delicate egg shells along the way. To criticise him for it is nothing less than what I would expect from a product of today's feminised society. He was a man, a winner, he took personal responsibility, he didn't whine, and he made no apologies for his success. It's a trait today's self-entitled generation could learn a lot from.
Samuel Laffy
Roar Guru
Bad Boy Pistons were amazing. It's only recently I actually read up about them (and seeing the footage and interviews with players in The Last Dance certainly helped my education!) I agree that if they shook hands it wouldn't have mattered. After all, they refer to the LaBradford Smith 'incident' in Episode 8 - if you didn't give MJ fuel, he'd just make fuel up for himself.
Samuel Laffy
Roar Guru
The end goal of sport is winning - because winning brings acclaim, support, publicity, and a number of other elements, which brings money to an organisation, which keeps a sporting competition going. Jordan was very very very very good at winning. Other stuff? Not so much.
peterj
Roar Rookie
Malone/Stockton combo is one of the greatest in NBA history. I genuinely felt for both of them during this. Even knowing the result I still got nervous and thought maybe they were gonna do it!
Davico
Roar Pro
Like all of us he is flawed and I think the doco exposed that. Both in what he did back then, and the way the doco portrayed his ex teammates and opponents. The guy was obviously built different and had a single focus on winning. To be admired, but also shows that you don't make friends being that single minded. By far the best sports doco I have seen and loved it having been engrossed in the NBA during those years. Great memories. Can't stand Man U but would be great to see something similar about their glory years especially Keane, Cantona and Fergie. Doubt there would be footage but I imagine that the bloody mindedness and will to win from those guys would be on par.
Davico
Roar Pro
Except the Celtics did shake hands! Maybe not all of them but certainly McHale made an effort to go up to Isiah. The Pistons made it a point to make sure they walked off not shaking hands!
Vijendran Jayaveerasingam
Roar Rookie
Very true- it was inspiring but also eye-opening, do we value success (ie number of rings over everything else) in sport too much?
Vijendran Jayaveerasingam
Roar Rookie
Cheers Peter- yes I loved it, hopefully we get more great sport docos from this...Warnie? I agree, from the facts we have it does look like Phil Jackson was treaty badly, especially given all the success he had provided for the franchise. But I'm a little uncomfortable with there being no one to speak for Jerry's side of the story- surely there was more to it than ego making him need to part with Phil? As we saw with his time with the Knicks, Phil isn't always the easiest to work with... True on the Isiah aspect, I like how Hehir gave him good screentime to explain his side during that episode to balance things. Also I'm curious as to why Malone refused to speak in the doco, his perspective of that series would've made great viewing.
josh
Roar Rookie
You're right. And I liked the Bad Boy Pistons, this added to the reputation and also created the Jordan that finally got to the finals. In alternate history they shake hands; does it change things? Probably not, because as is my main point, Jordan would have used the loss a factor or some other slight to "rise to the challenge". There's point in the hero's journey where he conquered the beast. Jordan has this thing where there is always another beast.
peterj
Roar Rookie
Exactly, but 2 wrongs don't make a right. I think it's poor form from both of them.
Rellum
Roar Guru
The no hand shaking thing goes back to when the Celtics walked off not shaking the Pistons hands, but they were peeved mightily about the tactics used by the Pistons, I guessing they thought them unsportsmanlike. Seemed the Pistons for some reason think the Celtics walking off gave them justification for doing the same to the Bulls without understanding the differences in the circumstances.
peterj
Roar Rookie
If you honestly think that across any sports , that teammates haven't had disagreements, be they physical or verbal then I think you need to open your eyes. Taking money playing poker with friends is an example of a poor teammate? Did MJ force them to play with him? Giving a bit of banter when you do something at training that's impressive, is against the rules too? Australians are the king of sledgining, there are books written about it! Steve Waugh is lauded over his "mental disintegration" I'm not sure what sports you follow Josh but I'm sure that in any of those sports there are people doing all of these things and then some in addition.
XI
Roar Guru
What I found really interesting in the last episode was that when MJ said he felt like the entire team would come back for another crack at the championship, it didn't cut to any one else agreeing with him.
josh
Roar Rookie
MJ taking a stance on sportsman is really something. “I’m annoyed they didn't shake hands”, but is also happy to punch team mates, take their money playing poker, and laud it over them in a shooting contest? I was astounded that, here’s a guy who is clearly the best layer in the league at the time, needs motivations, imagined or real, to play at his best. It’s a different psyche. Does he have a therapist?
josh
Roar Rookie
MJ taking a stance on sportsman is really something else. Being annoyed they didn’t shake hands, but is also happy to punch team mates, take their money playing poker, and laud it over them in a shooting contest? I was astounded that, here’s a guy who is clearly the best layer in the league at the time, needs motivations, imagined or real, to play at his best. It’s a different psyche.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
It was an enjoyable and well-made doco with a lot of insights, but has a cloud over it given it was made by Jordan’s company. Nevertheless his pettiness and extraordinarily competitiveness are well depicted, one complementing the other - but you could say he was honest in the way he admitted that players like Drexler or Malone being spoken of in the same breath as him in one season really spurred him on. Not as an appealing personality as Magic or even LeBron, but not a complete monster and arguably the greatest athlete of all time.