30 young Chicago basketball players get to tour Michael Jordan's former mansion
It was a first-of-its-kind event the new owner held.
Middle and high school boys from the Chicago area, like Aydan Price went beyond the iconic No. 23 gates at Jordan's former home.
"I'm stepping on the same concrete that Michael Jeffrey Jordan stepped on," Prince said.
The young men also got to go inside the basketball legend's former mansion, and play on the indoor basketball court.
Owner John Cooper, who bought the home last year for $9.5 million, allowed 30 young basketball players exclusive access inside.
It's the place Jordan built and lived in the with his family when he played for the Bulls in the 1990s.
"I was like, 'Is it kind of real?' because who is going to Michael Jordan's house?" Price said.
Price was skeptical this opportunity was too good to be true.
He and the other boys each were gifted a free pair of Air Jordans, and got to play on the court of dreams Jordan practiced on himself.
"This is what this facility probably should have been made to be. I think it's a basketball history museum," said Marcus Spencer, a leader with the nonprofit ChiCook Officers In Motion, which organized the tour with Cooper.
"Even when we pulled up to the gate, and I saw the 23, I just fell out. I still couldn't believe it," said ChiCook Officers in Motion founder Claudia Martin.
The nonprofit connects law enforcement and kids to show them violence is not the answer. Some officers got the special access to the Jordan mansion, too.
"I thought, 'What if we could go to Michael Jordan's house?'" Martin said. "And I started talking with the owner."
Not only did the boys get to play on Jordan's personal basketball court, but they got a rare exclusive tour of his entire mansion.
The boys got to see Jordan's infinity pool, hair salon, gym, movie theater, trophy room, and more inside the 9-bedroom, 20-bathroom home.
"If he asked me to spend the night here, I will. I'd live here," Price said.
"This makes me want to work harder so I can live like this, and so I'll be able to provide for my future family," Charles Barron said.
The event was meant to instill in the players the power of dreaming big and believe in their potential to see how great the good life can be.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
New Phillies closer Jhoan Durán caps home shutout of Tigers with fastest pitch in park history
Baseball fans in Philadelphia have never seen anything quite like this. Jhoan Durán made his second appearance for the Phillies Sunday night since arriving via trade from the Minnesota Twins. He secured his second save in those two games. And he closed the 2-0 shutout over the Detroit Tigers with the fastest pitch in Citizen's Bank Park history. Durán's 103.3 mph fastball on a 2-2 count against All-Star Riley Greene set the new stadium record. And it got Greene swinging and missing at the top of the zone to end the game. It also got Phillies fans on their feet. And it wasn't the only record Durán set Sunday night. [Join or create a Yahoo Fantasy Football league for the 2025 NFL season] Durán threw five pitches in the top of the ninth of 102.4 mph or faster. Each of them was faster than any pitch previously thrown by a Phillies pitcher in the 22-year history of the ballpark. The save capped a standout weekend for the Phillies in the aftermath of acquiring Durán as their bonafide new closer. They end the weekend with a half-game lead over the New York Mets atop the NL East thanks to winning two out of three against the fellow first-place Tigers. Durán closed out both wins. For the second time in three nights, Phillies fans were treated to the electric Durán entrance that followed him from Minnesota, complete with daunting bell chimes, flames and creepy digital spider that's a nod to his nickname, the Durantula. On Friday, Durán secured a 5-4 win with a 1-2-3 effort in the ninth. On Sunday he entered the game in charge of a shutout after eight sensational innings from Cristopher Sanchez. He did not let Sanchez or Phillies fans down. Durán started the inning with a six-pitch groundout of pinch hitter Kerry Carpenter. He induced another groundout on his first pitch to Spencer Torkelson. He then threw five straight fastballs of 101-plus mph to Greene before his 103.3 mph laser ended the game. It was the exact kind of performance the Phillies envisioned when they acquired Durán. And it lowered his season-long ERA to a pristine 1.93. In a baseball postseason where the margins are slim, a strong, reliable closer is often the difference between advancing and not. The Phillies are hoping that Durán turns out to be a difference maker when the stakes are at their highest.
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Grumpy's Gauntlet part of reimagined back nine at Disney's Magnolia golf course
The back nine at Disney's Magnolia golf course has been completely reimagined as part of a multi-year renovation plan from Arnold Palmer Golf Management. Holes 14-17 are affectionately named 'Grumpy's Gauntlet.' No. 14 is a par 4 with a green sloping away from the center, making approach shots tricky. No. 15, a par 5, measures 597 yards from the back tees. No. 16 is a 456-yard par 4 with water on the left of the green. No. 17 is a par 3 with water on both sides and a multi-sloped green. This stretch has brand new bunkers and brand new greens. This is a facelift for a course, that for over forty years, hosted a season ending stop on the PGA Tour. Jack Nicklaus won the event three times, Tiger Woods won twice in the late nineties, so playing this course means you get to walk in the footsteps of some of the all time greats. Florida residents can save as much as 25% on their tee times, and 20% on golf instruction, and everyone can play year-round on courses that have crowned major winners. Magnolia is rich in history and this revamped back nine stretch is a welcome change. The renovations also include their new 18-hole putting course known as 'The Greatest Green Ever Played.'' The 18-hole putting course features a scorecard and pin locations that change almost daily. It features plenty of undulation, challenging putts, and fast greens that provide a good warm-up before hitting the course, as well as a fun option for kids. The green's new name pays homage to the biographical Walt Disney Pictures sports film, 'The Greatest Game Ever Played,' which is based on the early life of amateur golf champion Francis Ouimet and his surprise victory at the 1913 U.S. Open. Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.
Yahoo
10 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Messi has a 'minor' muscle injury, Inter Miami says timeline for return is unknown
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) — Inter Miami star Lionel Messi is dealing with a minor muscle injury in his right leg after being hurt in the opening minutes of Saturday's Leagues Cup match against Necaxa, the club said Sunday. Messi underwent tests on his right leg after experiencing discomfort following a play in which he fell while being challenged by a pair of Necaxa defenders, in a game Inter Miami won on penalty kicks. His timeline for return isn't yet known, though it seems unlikely that he will be available for Miami's next Leagues Cup match against UNAM Pumas on Wednesday. Inter Miami said in a release that Messi's medical clearance will depend on how he responds to treatment. Messi slapped his hand against the ground in frustration after the fall, which happened in the first 10 minutes of Saturday's match. He walked slowly toward the Inter Miami bench before sitting down on the pitch. Trainers came out and worked on his right upper thigh area for a couple of minutes before he subbed out for Federico Redondo in the 11th. He then immediately walked to the locker room. Miami coach Javier Mascherano said after the game that Messi wasn't in any pain. ___ AP soccer:
