1. Welcome to SportsJournalists.com, a friendly forum for discussing all things sports and journalism.

    Your voice is missing! You will need to register for a free account to get access to the following site features:
    • Reply to discussions and create your own threads.
    • Access to private conversations with other members.
    • Fewer ads.

    We hope to see you as a part of our community soon!

Wright Thompson, you magnificent bastard

Discussion in 'Journalism topics only' started by Uncle.Ruckus, Feb 15, 2013.

  1. Tremendous stuff. Just outstanding.

    Great point above about MJ giving him that kind of access and being so open with a reporter that he really didn't know before (to our knowledge anyway). That in itself gives a little glimpse into whatever type of progress Jordan might be making.
     
  2. Versatile

    Versatile Active Member

    Phil Taylor came right out and said Michael Jordan doesn't talk to Sports Illustrated. I wish Thomas Lake had done the same last year.
     
  3. Small Town Guy

    Small Town Guy Well-Known Member

    http://www.businessinsider.com/michael-jordan-points-out-flaw-lebron-game-2013-2?0=sportspage

    And just with the eye test it makes sense (and the numbers apparently show it too). Kobe and Jordan had pretty similar releases on their jumpers, so it looks the same going left or right. They were a bit smoother. LeBron sort of has that cocked elbow and does look a bit more awkward on a jumper when dribbling to his right. Of course, teams can know they need to stop him going to the basket on his right; doing it is another thing.

    Mizzou, I think there was something last year, or maybe in McCallum's Dream Team book, that Jordan still has the ban on talking to SI because of the baseball cover.
     
  4. I don't think it's the best thing he's ever written. I don't even think it's close. But I don't mean that as insult. I admire Thompson's writing and intensely dislike Jordan.
    As Mizzou noted he got access a lot of others didn't. He took full advantage of that access and wrote a compelling piece.

    Thompson's masterpiece in this story was his understanding of Jordan's HOF speech. I think he was brilliant in explaining it.


    I also fell in love with "breathtaking asshole."
     
  5. Mizzougrad96

    Mizzougrad96 Active Member

    I'm pretty sure he's talked to SI since the "Bag it Michael" cover... I thought Reilly was the one who finally broke through... Maybe he hasn't talked again since Reilly went to ESPN. Wasn't it Reilly who went on the road with the Bulls during Jordan's final championship run? It would have been the cover when they're playing dice on the plane...
     
  6. Versatile

    Versatile Active Member

    Well, you're calling Phil Taylor a liar. His story, and the one I've heard over and over again, is Michael Jordan hasn't talked to Sports Illustrated since the baseball cover.
     
  7. Mizzougrad96

    Mizzougrad96 Active Member

    I'm not calling anybody a liar... Jesus Christ...
     
  8. Boom_70

    Boom_70 Well-Known Member

    I wonder if he ever wrote back to Thomas Lake.

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2012/writers/thomas_lake/08/13/letter-to-michael-jordan/index.html
     
  9. As The Crow Flies

    As The Crow Flies Active Member

    I've always thought Thompson can be a little hit and miss, but this was a definite hit. Really good stuff. Enjoyed it from beginning to end. Loved the level of detail in the conversations.
     
  10. Mizzougrad96

    Mizzougrad96 Active Member

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/features/1998/weekly/980511/reilly.html
     
  11. LongTimeListener

    LongTimeListener Well-Known Member

    That doesn't say whether he talked to Jordan, only that he observed him.

    I thought Jordan was also mega pissed that Reilly broke his Wizards comeback before Jordan wanted it out there.
     
  12. Versatile

    Versatile Active Member

    Here's the story, which features quotes from Michael Jordan that sound pretty directly stated to Reilly: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1012804/index.htm

    Either Reilly got his Jordan quotes in some strange way, or the Sports Illustrated editors have forgotten all about that story. I do think it's disingenuous to say, "MJ hasn't talked to us since ..." if he has. It's a lie. And you were right to call them on it.

    Edit: Actually, on closer reading, it's not as clear. Jordan is quoted four times, but two seem to be sort of overheard quotes. The other two, well, perhaps someone else asked him about Gus Lett, or maybe Jordan agreed to answer two or three questions about Lett even for SI because the guy deserves the credit.
     
Draft saved Draft deleted

Share This Page