With no actual live sports to talk about, this is the hottest topic among sports fans right now. The Last Dance — the highly anticipated 10-part documentary on Michael Jordan’s Chicago Bulls teams of the 1980s and (moreso) ’90s — was released today in Canada. The first two episodes are available now to everyone on Netflix, and two more will come out every Monday for the next month.
I’ve seen the first five, so (without spoiling too much) here’s an idea of what to expect and some things that stood out:
1. A lot of people are calling it “The Michael Jordan documentary” but it’s not really that.
“The Jordan Bulls documentary” would be more accurate. Basically, the series tells the story of the rise and fall of one of the greatest sports dynasties of all time — from Jordan’s arrival as an NBA rookie in 1984 through the team’s disintegration during the tumultuous 1997-98 season, when the Bulls nevertheless won their sixth championship in eight years.
Obviously, Jordan is the main character, and the first five episodes are all largely about his personal rise. But the series also takes detours into someone or something else in his orbit. In episode two, it’s aggrieved right-hand man Scottie Pippen. In three, it’s rebounding/partying machine Dennis Rodman. In four, it’s coach Phil Jackson. Episode five covers the ’92 Olympics (including the legendary Dream Team scrimmage in Monte Carlo) and Jordan’s “other” career as an endorsement giant (including his infamous “Republicans buy sneakers too” comment). Each of these chapters could be its own documentary, so at times they feel a bit rushed. But you still get a pretty good survey of the forces that drove the Bulls dynasty.
2. That final ’97-98 season anchors the story.
Each episode flips back and forth in time between those detours and the fateful last season (with the late Chicago GM Jerry Krause immediately cast as the villain). Obviously, we know how it will end, but one of the striking things is that everyone at the time seemed to know it too. The title of the documentary is actually what Jackson named the season before it started. He even printed it on the little handbooks he gave to players on the first day of training camp. So it’s clear to everyone involved that the dynasty is crumbling, brick by brick, in slow motion. And no one seems able — or willing — to do much about it.
3. The behind-the-scenes footage is good.
This was one of the big “gets” for director Jason Hehir and his filmmakers — a trove of never-released tape from an NBA film crew that was granted generous access to the Bulls for the entire Last Dance season. So we get to see stuff like Jordan and his teammates having heated talks on the bench, and talking and joking (and swearing) in the dressing room or on the bus.
It’s interesting seeing them in their natural habitat. Today’s NBA players give us the illusion of access with the idealized snapshots of their “real” lives they post on social media (actually, this is how everyone uses social media). But most of the behind-the-scenes footage in the doc feels truly unfiltered, even though at times the Bulls seem aware of the camera.
Jordan with Pippen and U.S. teammate Clyde Drexler on the medal stand at the ’92 Olympics in Barcelona. (Susan Ragan/Associated Press)
4. The other big get was Jordan himself.
No one was sure how this would go. Like a lot of rich and famous people, he’s always been pretty careful about what he says in public. But whether the timing was right, or the subjects (himself, basketball), or the questions, Jordan is pretty revealing and engaging over the first five episodes. Sitting in his waterfront home in Florida, in his puffy middleagedness, with a whiskey and a cigar at his side, there are times when it feels like Jordan is just telling stories to an old friend. He says funny things. He rehashes old grievances. He tells us how he feels about former teammates and rivals (loved Rodman, hated Isiah Thomas). He drops f-bombs.
It’ll be interesting to see whether Jordan remains this open when we get to the tough stuff — particularly his father’s murder, which led to his retiring from basketball for a year and a half to try baseball. But so far it’s working.
5. It’s great to just watch Jordan play basketball again.
His persona was so heavily — and carefully — marketed back in the day that it’s fair for younger basketball fans to wonder what percentage of his greatness is actually real. But the old game footage in the doc is a great reminder that Jordan’s celebrity was built on a solid foundation: he was an electrifying basketball player. In an era when low-post big men still roamed the earth, Jordan was knifing through them, soaring above the rim, throwing down huge dunks… his game was ahead of its time, so it still holds up.
The highlights from his first few seasons are especially fun to watch — like the time he led his overmatched Bulls into Boston Garden for a playoff matchup with the famed ’86 Celtics and dropped 49 and 63 (!) points in back-to-back losses. Or when he torched Cleveland and nailed “The Shot” to win another famous series in ’89.
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6. Bottom line: the doc is worth watching.
Because of its length, its iconic main subject and the hype surrounding it, the natural comparison for The Last Dance is 2016’s O.J.: Made in America. But it’s not on that level. Ezra Edelman’s O.J. brilliantly answers the questions “Who is O.J. Simpson and how did he become O.J. Simpson?” by turning over every rock in his life and his environment. By the end, you’re left with a rich portrait of not only the man himself but also the many things that shaped him — weighty stuff like the legacy of racism and police brutality in Los Angeles. Whatever your assumptions about Simpson going into the doc, it challenges them. The Last Dance does not do that (at least not in the first five episodes). It mostly accepts the Jordan mythology and presents it in fresh, attractive packaging. It leans pretty heavily on nostalgia. But it’s a fun watch, and an entertaining reminder of a simpler, better time in sports and in the world. Maybe that’s the documentary we need right now.
Quickly…
Someone just paid $216,000 US for an autographed jersey Michael Jordan wore at the 1992 Olympics. Even more staggeringly, that’s not a record for a Jordan jersey. Reportedly, one from the ’84 L.A. Olympics — right after he got drafted by the Bulls — once fetched $274K. The bidding for the ’92 jersey started at $25K, according to the auction house that sold it. Surely, the release of the documentary didn’t hurt the sale price.
Novak Djokovic would prefer not to get vaccinated against COVID-19. The world’s No. 1 tennis player was asked what he would do if vaccination (once available) was made mandatory for travelling and/or playing on tour. He said: “Personally I am opposed to vaccination and I wouldn’t want to be forced by someone to take a vaccine in order to be able to travel,” before adding that he might change his mind down the road. That might be awhile. All pro tennis tournaments have been suspended until at least mid-July, but most experts say a vaccine likely won’t be ready until at least 2021. So if tennis is able to return this year, it will (like other sports) probably have to take other measures. Read more about Djokovic’s comments here.
Alphonso Davies got a contract extension. The rising Canadian soccer star added two more years to his deal with top German club Bayern Munich, which now controls him through June 2025. Davies, 19, has played in 31 games for Bayern this season, and he impressed a lot of people with a strong performance in a Champions League match vs. Chelsea back in February. Davies will also be a key part of the Canadian national team’s campaign to qualify for the 2026 World Cup, which Canada is co-hosting with the U.S. and Mexico. Read more about Davies’ new deal here.
TORONTO – Reigning PWHL MVP and scoring champ Natalie Spooner will miss the start of the regular season for the Toronto Sceptres, general manager Gina Kingsbury announced Tuesday on the first day of training camp.
The 33-year-old Spooner had knee surgery on her left anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) after she was checked into the boards by Minnesota’s Grace Zumwinkle in Game 3 of their best-of-five semifinal series on May 13.
She had a goal and an assist in three playoff games but did not finish the series. Toronto was up 2-1 in the semifinal at that time and eventually fell 3-2 in the series.
Spooner led the PWHL with 27 points in 24 games. Her 20 goals, including five game-winners, were nine more than the closest skater.
Kingsbury said there is no timeline, as the team wants the Toronto native at 100 per cent, but added that “she is doing really well” in her recovery.
The Sceptres open the PWHL season on Nov. 30 when they host the Boston Fleet.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 12, 2024.
LAHORE, Pakistan (AP) — A top official of the Pakistan Cricket Board declined Friday to confirm media reports that India has decided against playing any games in host Pakistan during next year’s Champions Trophy.
“My view is if there’s any problems, they (India) should tell us in writing,” PCB chairman Mohsin Naqvi told reporters in Lahore. “I’ll share that with the media as well as with the government as soon as I get such a letter.”
Indian media reported Friday that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has communicated its concerns to all the Champions Trophy stakeholders, including the PCB, over the Feb. 19-March 9 tournament and would not play in arch-rival Pakistan.
The Times of India said that “Dubai is a strong candidate to host the fixtures involving the Men in Blue” for the 50-over tournament.
Such a solution would see Pakistan having to travel to a neutral venue to play India in a group match, with another potential meeting later in the tournament if both teams advanced from their group. The final is scheduled for March 9 in Pakistan with the specific venue not yet decided.
“Our stance is clear,” Naqvi said. “They need to give us in writing any objections they may have. Until now, no discussion of the hybrid model has happened, nor are we prepared to accept one.”
Political tensions have stopped bilateral cricket between the two nations since 2008 and they have competed in only multi-nation tournaments, including ICC World Cups.
“Cricket should be free of politics,” Naqvi said. “Any sport should not be entangled with politics. Our preparations for the Champions Trophy will continue unabated, and this will be a successful event.”
The PCB has already spent millions of dollars on the upgrade of stadiums in Karachi, Lahore and Rawalpindi which are due to host 15 Champions Trophy games. Naqvi hoped all the three stadiums will be ready over the next two months.
“Almost every country wants the Champions Trophy to be played here (in Pakistan),” Naqvi said. “I don’t think anyone should make this a political matter, and I don’t expect they will. I expect the tournament will be held at the home of the official hosts.”
Eight countries – Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Afghanistan – are due to compete in the tournament, the schedule of which is yet to be announced by the International Cricket Council.
“Normally the ICC announces the schedule of any major tournament 100 days before the event, and I hope they will announce it very soon,” Naqvi said.
RIYADH, Saudi Arabia – Ottawa‘s Gabriela Dabrowski and Erin Routliffe of New Zealand are through to the doubles final at the WTA Finals after a 7-6 (7), 6-1 victory over Nicole Melichar-Martinez of the United States and Australia’s Ellen Perez in semifinal action Friday.
Dabrowski and Routliffe won a hard-fought first set against serve when Routliffe’s quick reaction at the net to defend a Perez shot gave the duo set point, causing Perez to throw down her racket in frustration.
The second seeds then cruised through the second set, winning match point on serve when Melichar-Martinez couldn’t handle Routliffe’s shot.
The showdown was a rematch of last year’s semifinal, which Melichar-Martinez and Perez won in a super tiebreak.
Dabrowski and Routliffe will face the winner of a match between Katerina Siniakova and Taylor Townsend, and Hao-Ching Chan and Veronika Kudermetova in the final on Saturday.
Dabrowski is aiming to become the first Canadian to win a WTA Finals title.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 8, 2024.
