Transcript from The Matt Babcock Show: "I'm Back", Sep 4, 2024
Matt Babcock: "Throughout my life, no individual has been as captivating, impactful, or legendary as Michael Jordan. When I was growing up, he seemed like a mythical figure, almost god-like. So, picture this: it's October 6, 1993. I’m nine years old, and I am in the 4th grade. The Chicago Bulls have just won their third consecutive NBA Championship, defeating Charles Barkley and the Phoenix Suns in a great series. Michael Jordan is at the pinnacle of his career. The world is at his feet.
"But then, seemingly out of nowhere, Michael Jordan holds a press conference and announces his retirement from basketball to pursue a career in baseball. Yes, baseball.
Today, I’ll walk you through one of the most shocking moments in sports history—Michael Jordan’s unexpected retirement. I’ll share how it rocked my world as a young basketball fan, what it meant to me personally, and its ripple effects on the NBA and the entire sports world. Let’s take a trip back to that pivotal moment when Michael Jordan stepped away from the game of basketball.
"I’m Matt Babcock, and this is The Matt Babcock Show.
"Michael Jordan’s decision to retire from the NBA to pursue a baseball career shocked everyone. Arguably, the greatest basketball player of all time—perhaps even the best athlete of all time—stepped away from the game he dominated to chase his childhood dream. Rumors swirled about why he made the move. Some said it was because of the passing of his father, while others speculated about gambling issues. Honestly, I don’t know what’s true. All I knew—or cared about—was that the best player in the world wouldn’t be playing basketball anymore. He would be playing baseball. It was absolutely nuts.
"So, MJ joined the Birmingham Barons, a Double-A minor league team in the Chicago White Sox organization. And he stuck with it for about a year and a half. Of course, it became a total media spectacle. SportsCenter was filled with highlights of MJ struggling on the baseball field—striking out and making errors in small minor league stadiums in obscure towns. Meanwhile, Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets capitalized on MJ’s absence by winning the NBA championship. The whole thing felt like a cheesy, unrealistic, low-budget movie. It almost seemed like a cruel joke.
"Well, fast-forward to March 18, 1995, when MJ shocked the world again with a two-word fax to the media: “I’m back.”
"And just like that, MJ was returning to the NBA. For me, a young, bright-eyed NBA fan, everything in the world finally felt right again.
"But, of course, there was a twist—MJ wouldn’t wear his iconic number 23; he would wear number 45 instead.
"Initially, while wearing number 45, Jordan didn’t play at the same dominant level as before. He was still incredible, but you could tell he was a little rusty. But it wasn’t long before MJ dropped a double-nickel on Patrick Ewing and the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. Shortly after, he switched back to number 23.
"But was Jordan fully back? Not entirely. The Bulls, who seemed invincible before Jordan’s hiatus, fell short in the playoffs that year to the up-and-coming Orlando Magic, led by Shaquille O’Neal and Penny Hardaway.
"However, the Magic ultimately fell short, losing to Hakeem Olajuwon and the Rockets in the NBA Finals, marking Houston’s second consecutive NBA championship.
"Had the league caught up with Jordan and the Bulls? Was their previous three-peat Jordan’s peak, and was it downhill from there?
"The following season, MJ and the Bulls returned with a vengeance. They became the first team ever to win 70 games—actually, they won 72. Michael Jordan earned league MVP, and the Bulls won the championship. And then, as they say, the rest is history. Jordan led the Bulls to two more championships—six in total.
"And from my perspective, MJ's return to the NBA wasn’t just a comeback—it was a dramatic journey that saw him reach an even higher level of greatness, something that didn’t seem possible before. Having closely followed Jordan’s extraordinary career as a young, impressionable kid, Michael Jordan is, without a doubt, my undisputed G.O.A.T.—at least in my book.
"Now, while we’re on the topic of comebacks, I have some exciting news of my own. After a brief hiatus to pursue a career in baseball and coach my son's team, I’m back!
Okay, I did coach my son’s baseball team, but comparing my return to Jordan’s comeback is, of course, just hyperbole. All kidding aside, I’m thrilled to be relaunching Babcock Hoops, The Matt Babcock Show, and my work as an NBA draft analyst and scout. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished in the past at Babcock Hoops, but this time, I’m looking to make even bigger waves and scale things up.
"So buckle up—because I’m kicking this into full gear. And trust me, it’s going to be great!
"Until next time, I’m Matt Babcock, and this is The Matt Babcock Show."