Latest news with #HisAirness
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
"One thing led to another" - BJ Armstrong reveals how the breakfast with Michael Jordan led to his return in 1995
Michael Jordan's illustrious career in the NBA is filled with countless iconic moments, but one of the most memorable took place in 1995 when he made a stunning return after his first retirement. This pivotal decision was apparently influenced by one of his Chicago Bulls teammates, BJ Armstrong, who played a crucial role in reigniting Jordan's passion for basketball. Advertisement BJ revealed that everything began with a breakfast invitation, but the seemingly simple gesture turned into a catalyst for change. Following their meal, "The Kid" said Jordan found himself back on the court, joining the Bulls for practice sessions. These scrimmages, though initially friendly and casual, had a profound impact on "His Airness." BJ believed that it was during these games that MJ rediscovered the competitive spirit that had made him the greatest player in the world. "He was in Chicago doing something, and I was like Why don't you come by? ' and one thing led to another, we went to breakfast. And before you know it, it went from 'How are you doing' to trash-talking, to like, 'I can beat you' to 'No you can't,' and as always, he always wins in the end," BJ said on "The Jump" on ESPN in 2020 "I couldn't believe he did it," Armstrong continued. "And I'm so embarrassed to say that I lost to him, but If I did lose to someone, it had to be him. It was great to see him come back. It was great to see him back around the guys; it was great to see him talk trash. And I'm really happy that it turned out that way." BJ just wanted to help a friend Armstrong never intended to convince Jordan to make a comeback in 1995. His primary focus was simply to be a supportive friend to MJ, as he understood the emotional turmoil that he was navigating following the tragic death of his father. Advertisement BJ genuinely recognized the weight of what Jordan was experiencing and wanted to provide a comforting presence rather than pressure him into returning to the court. However, Armstrong later reflected on the situation with a sense of fulfillment. He expressed his happiness about having taken part in bringing back Jordan's passion for the game, something that everybody thought was gone at the time. "I've never thought about it, to be honest with you," the three-time NBA champion with the Bulls told The Associated Press as he reflected on his role in Jordan's epic return in a separate conversation. "I just wanted to be a good friend and I just saw something in him. When you see someone who really loves something, he loved it. He didn't like it. He loved it. That's who he was. And out of respect to the game of basketball, I wanted to be a good friend." "I just got him, he got me, and we got each other and you did what was needed," Armstrong confided. "I didn't need to tell anyone or talk about it or anything. That's just what happened. I was just happy for him because I know what the game of basketball meant to him and meant to his life. He kept basketball in a sacred space and it was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen." Advertisement Related: Scottie Pippen admits he is astounded by how Nikola Jokic plays the game of basketball: "That guy is the best player in basketball" MJ faced some challenges in his return In a matter of weeks, Jordan officially announced his NBA comeback, marking the beginning of a new chapter in his already storied career. He returned to the Bulls' lineup after missing one and a half seasons. While it seemed like a fairytale story, Jordan's return was not without challenges. Contrary to what many had expected, MJ struggled to find his rhythm and his longtime personal trainer, Tim Grover, knew that some work needed to be done. Advertisement "The elevation wasn't quite there; the shot arch was a little bit different," Grover said, describing Jordan's performance when he returned in '95. "He didn't have a whole offseason to prepare." With Jordan back, the Bulls were confident about winning another NBA title. However, they were eliminated by the Orlando Magic in an upset fashion in the Eastern semis. However, the Bulls superstar bounced back the following season. Chicago finished the 1995-96 season with a historic 72-10 record and went on to win its fourth NBA championship. Related: "I never saw one free agent come to the Bulls and say that they wanna play with Michael" - Scottie Pippen reinforces the notion that no other big-name players had interest in playing with MJ
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"Michael Jordan touched the fibre of basketball that no one will ever touch today" - Kenny Smith says nobody in the league today comes close to MJ
Kenny Smith has been around basketball for most of his life. After playing at the University of North Carolina, he won two NBA championships with the Houston Rockets during his brief but colorful 10-year career. After playing his final game in the league during the 1996-1997 season, "The Jet" joined seasoned broadcaster Ernie Johnson on "Inside The NBA" giving the TNT show the insider it needed. After covering the league for the last 28 years, the 6'3" guard was recently asked if there was, in his opinion, anyone in the league who's Michael Jordan-like. Kenny confidently stated that there wasn't anyone, not even the player fans and pundits were anointing as the face of the NBA and possibly the game's next megastar, Anthony Edwards. Not even close "Ant-Man," a dynamic and explosive 6'4" guard who took the league by storm in 2020 when the Minnesota Timberwolves selected him with the first pick, has been on a roll in the last two seasons, earning All-Star and All-NBA Team honors and leading his team to consecutive appearances in the Western Conference Finals. Advertisement With his unique blend of breathtaking athleticism, scoring ability, confidence and charisma, many have likened him to the "GOAT." Kenny quickly shot this idea down when asked by Charles Bethea of The New Yorker if there was any player in the NBA who resembles Mike. "Zero," Smith responded. Asked if Ant has a chance, Smith was diplomatic with his explanation, saying, "Ant is a very good, talented player." He reflected that MJ didn't just score points on the court — he touched lives, much like the legendary Michael Jackson did through his music. "It's not even close. Michael Jordan touched the fibre of basketball that no one will ever touch today," Kenny noted. "Larry Bird touched the fibre of basketball that no one's touching today. Maybe LeBron. LeBron is touching the Larry Bird–Magic Johnson fibre. He's not touching the Jordan fibre." Advertisement Related: "I never saw one free agent come to the Bulls and say that they wanna play with Michael" - Scottie Pippen reinforces the notion that no other big-name players had interest in playing with MJ What set MJ apart from other NBA legends The NBA has seen many superstars regale fans with their feats of athletic brilliance on the hard-court. From Magic Johnson to Wilt Chamberlain to Steph Curry and Kevin Durant, every era has seen its fair share of dominant players. Yet, none have been able to truly replicate the impact that "His Airness" had on the game of basketball. Kenny, a former teammate of Mike on Dean Smith's iconic Tar Heels squads and later a competitor in the NBA, explained that what truly set the 6'6" wingman apart was his exceptional and tenacious defense. While many NBA stars excel at putting the ball in the basket, "Mr. Air" did that in spectacular fashion and relished the challenge of shutting down the other team's best perimeter player. Advertisement "The separating point from LeBron to Michael is defense. Michael was just as good defensively as he was offensively,"the two-time champion stressed. "He was like the Deion Sanders or Travis Hunter: you're not throwing to his side. We're not throwing to the Michael Jordan side of the field in a basketball game. That's a separator." The NBA is always keen on discovering the next big thing in the league. At this point, the powers that be have identified a few, such as Ant, Victor Wembanyama and Luka Doncic. However, none of them will hold a candle to Jordan, whose influence on the game transcends generations and whose name will forever be synonymous with excellence. Related: Dwyane Wade reveals why Anthony Edwards is the face of the NBA: "He is not perfect and he don't want to be perfect"
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"The only difference is that gripper" - Craig Hodges said Michael Jordan's hands made him better than Kobe Bryant
Former NBA 3-point king Craig Hodges had the unique privilege of playing with a peak Michael Jordan and working out with a young Kobe Bryant. Hodge won back-to-back titles as a member of the Chicago Bulls in 1991 and 1992. Then, from 2005-11, he was a shooting coach for the Los Angeles Lakers, and during that period, he got to work out with the one-time MVP. So, during Hodges' recent appearance on the "All the Smoke" podcast, co-host Matt Barnes asked him what the difference was between "His Airness" and "The Black Mamba." Craig said there was only one. Advertisement "Right hand," said Hodges. "When Kobe would be going to the line to shoot two, MJ was going to shoot 'And 1.' A lot of them knocks that Kobe had to shoot with two hands when that knock happened to MJ, put that bad boy over here. (actions palming the ball to one side) You know what I'm saying? That, to me, is the only difference. The only difference is that gripper." One of the largest hands in NBA history MJ was known for his 48-inch vertical leap, which is tied with Darrell Griffith as the highest in NBA history. That jump enabled MJ to seemingly float on air and remain airborne longer than ordinary people. It was that vertical that allowed the six-time champ to produce the flashy dunks that made him "Air Jordan." But that wasn't what made Mike unstoppable. Advertisement At 9.75"/11.375" (length/span), Jordan owned one of the largest hands in the history of the NBA. For reference, L.A. Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, who is taller than MJ by at least an inch, has a hand size slightly smaller at 9.75"/11.25" (length/span). We call Kawhi "The Klaw" because of his hands. That hand not only allowed "His Airness" to palm the ball and score easily or get steals on defense, but also gave him elite handles. "Man, I'm telling you. I done seen this brother make like he gonna do a crossover. And you know ( actions pulling the ball back)...Come on, man. Him and Dr. J, them hands…Come on, man. You know what I'm saying. The creator know who should have what. This is what you need to do, what's on your mind that you gonna do, and there it is," added the three-time 3-point shootout winner. Related: "If I get a day off and come get 40 like I used to, they don't have a problem with it" - Shaq on why he has issues when people say he didn't work hard Kobe tried to offset that difference As smart as Kobe was, he knew that Mike's large hands were the key to his game. Because of that, he worked hard to offset that disadvantage. Former Lakers guard Brian Shaw talked about how Kobe would strengthen his hands to palm the basketball. Advertisement "He could palm the ball off the dribble and do stuff that Kobe couldn't do," said Shaw on Podcast P. "But even when he said that, then after that came out, Kobe, every time in the locker room, had vice grips, and he was strengthening his hands so that he could try to get to the point where he could palm the ball." It's not hard to understand why MJ ended up as the GOAT. Not only was he a hard worker, but he was also physically endowed like no other. But perhaps more impressive than that is how Kobe rose from the ranks of mortals to gods with sheer determination and hard work. Related: "His ability to push everyone around him to the next level" - Dominique Wilkins on why he considers only Kobe Bryant in the same category as Michael Jordan
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Avoid 'Jordan's revenge' and find slam-dunk savings for athletes
For financial advisors and tax professionals, Michael Jordan's first championship took meaning beyond the beginning of the Chicago Bulls' legendary dynasty. Hoops fans recall the team's 1991 National Basketball Association title over the Los Angeles Lakers as the first of the Bulls' six championships under His Airness and company, a changing of the guard from the dominance of Magic Johnson and his "Showtime" squad. Among advisors and tax pros working with a coveted client base of professional athletes and entertainers, though, the hardwood history came with dueling state-level duties that California and Illinois levied against each other. California hit the Bulls players and employees with a tax on income they earned in the state, but Illinois came back with its own levies. At the time, the duties earned the monikers, "The Jordan tax" or "Michael Jordan's revenge." But today all 50 states charge what has come to be known as a "jock tax." Those tax complications, and the significant differences between high- and low-tax states, often require athletes and performers' certified public accountants to fill out dozens of returns. However, there are many strategies that provide opportunities for savings. These approaches include tax planning around the clients' home residencies, charitable deductions or credits, and business entities such as an S corporation. Focusing on these available strategies means that an athlete could live in a high-tax state like California — which has a top rate of 14.4% on income — if they'd rather be there than a place with a rate of zero, said Nisiar Smith, founder of Elkins Park, Pennsylvania-based Courtside Wealth Partners. "While our goal is to mitigate your tax liability, as your advisor, I'm not going to push you to live in those states, especially if you're not going to have a quality of life," Smith said in an interview. "If that's where you want to live, then by all means, we just have to figure out other ways to mitigate your tax liability. … I don't really advise them on where to live. I start backwards and ask, 'Where do you see yourself?'" Questions about residency are "very important" to athletes and entertainers, as is the fact that their tenures at the pro level or ability to fill large venues is often limited to "a relatively short period of time, when you compare it to different industries, to optimize their wealth," said Frederick Blue, the head of new business development with Wells Fargo Wealth and Investment Management. A pass-through entity or trust planning could bring savings to, say, college athletes benefitting from "name, image and likeness" deals. In light of federal, state and local taxes, a paycheck of $10 million may begin to look much different, Blue noted. "Net-net, that could potentially be cut in half, all associated with those three taxes," he said. "So it's important to look for strategies and work with a tax advisor." READ MORE: Shohei Ohtani's deferred $680M drives home tax and planning lessons The so-called jock tax assesses either a pro rata amount tied to the number of games in a given jurisdiction compared to an athletes' salary or the state's duty on a performer's one-time earnings. Living in a zero-income-tax state can be "a huge win," but the residency "must be intentional and well-documented," said Ron Pac, the co-founder and managing partner of Westport, Connecticut-based RIA firm Trivium Point Advisory. "Residency planning is about more than where you sleep, it's about where your life appears to be anchored. This will require more than just a Florida license," Pac said in an email. "Most income will be taxed where it's earned, so tracking by source is critical. This is where you will see many athletes or entertainers use planning tools such as personal service entities, deferred compensation arrangements or image-right structuring to help address messy tax footprints into a well-managed strategy." For athletes and entertainers who may not be acquainted with the challenges of sudden wealth, the budgeting and tax planning should start when they begin collecting the large paychecks, Blue said. Their residency, or domicile, could come up in contract negotiations, as well. "With some contracts in the tens and possibly hundreds of millions of dollars, seven-figure taxation savings can be realized through the right selection of a domicile," according to a white paper released last month by Wells Fargo. "While the money you earn day-to-day playing for a team is likely to be taxed as income in the state in which you play, other payments may not. For example, signing bonuses for athletes are generally taxed by the state of the athlete's residence at the time the bonus is received. So even if you are to play for a team located in a high-tax state, by domiciling in a no- or low-tax state you could save significantly on taxes for the signing bonuses. The language of your contract and the specific state in which you are to play weigh heavily on this analysis and should be overseen by a tax professional." READ MORE: Student-athletes need an assist with NIL taxes International events may add further complexity to the equation, noted a guide to tax strategies for athletes and entertainers released earlier this year by professional services firm Armanino. On the other hand, a high-grossing performer like Taylor Swift traveling worldwide could deduct business expenses abroad, and athletes' teams usually pick up other countries' income tax tabs on their games, the guide notes. Of course, the athletes must still pay the IRS, and they could earn other income during their time overseas. Back home in the U.S., the state and local tax deduction, incentives for energy efficiency and research and development, rules for equipment depreciation and credits for education or film, television and other entertainment could apply. "The massive success of Taylor Swift's Eras Tour didn't just shatter records for attendance and ticket sales — it showcased the unique tax challenges entertainers and athletes face when working across multiple states and countries," the Armanino guide said. "With most cities and states on her tour demanding their slice of the pie, savvy tax planning, including the strategic use of tax credits, becomes essential for maximizing profitability." Tax considerations deliver a lot of challenges and openings for sophisticated planning around events like the Olympics or legendary feats that result in a contractual performance bonus, Smith noted. To address these highly specific circumstances that affect his clients who are NBA and WNBA players, Courtside is — like many other wealth management companies — building its tax-related services. An upcoming merger will create a new unit of the registered investment advisory firm called Courtside CPA & Associates. READ MORE: 12 tips for advisors on working with athletes, actors and entertainers Compared to some of the biggest wealth management firms, Smith saw a "need to be competitive, in terms of what in-house offerings am I giving them" and a way "to be able to offer those tailor-made services," he said. Those include ensuring that they "plan ahead before signing contracts or booking appearances" for the tax impact and simply keeping track of where the athletes are earning money in the course of their hectic schedules, according to Smith. "You gotta pay your taxes, period," Smith said. "Second, you have to keep detailed records of where you work and perform, because that can be an Achilles' heel for a lot of athletes." Advisors seeking to break into work on behalf of athletes or entertainers could consider pursuing the Sports and Entertainment Accredited Wealth Management Advisor, or "SE-AWMA," designation through the College for Financial Planning, a Kaplan Company, Blue noted. That, "in itself, establishes a level of credibility when you are looking to build relationships in that space," he said. Then they could follow that up with outreach to agents, business managers, sports attorneys, trainers and, subsequently, to the athletes themselves. "Network as best you can. Build and cultivate relationships with what we call 'centers of influence,'" Blue said. "Tell your story. What's your value proposition to these prospective clients?"
