June 11, 1997. It was Game 5 of the NBA Finals between the Bulls and the Jazz. Series was tied at 2-2 and back then the finals home/away order went 2-3-2. So far in the series each team held on their home court until that night.
In games 3 and 4 the Jazz won and held MJ in check. Jordan woke up in the middle of the night before Game 5 vomiting and experiencing other digestive turbulence. Jordan’s long time trainer, Tim Grover, insisted he was ill with food poisoning.
This is heavily disputed and adds to the lure of the “Flu Game”. The competing theories:
- Jordan flew to Vegas, partied all night and was hungover
- Jordan ate pizza that night and it was mysteriously delivered by 5 people and POISONED to help the hometown Jazz win Game 5
- It was just a random stomach bug, could’ve happened for any reason
Theory 3 is the most likely but 1 and 2 are obviously much more fun. MJ details the party antics of the Bulls players during the late 90s with Dennis Rodman taking much of the spotlight/blame for benders in Vegas (as if MJ was dragged to these types of boondoggles against his will).
Could people in Utah be sick enough to poison the GOAT before Game 5? Possibly but you’d have to imagine that would be difficult to cover up for nearly 30 years.
Pizza, hangover, viral gastroenteritis, it didn’t matter. Jordan exploded for 38 points in Game 5. Jordan had 15 fourth quarter points including a massive 3 with 25 ticks left to give the Bulls a 3 point lead they would not relinquish.
One of those reminders that even at 50%, MJ was in another stratosphere than the other players in that era.
Love hearing Bill Walton on the call on this NBC production.
Who Cares Sports 