The Tribune

JUST what I needed right before Christmas ... the flu!

My bag was packed, I was ready to catch my flight to Miami to watch my boy Dwayne Harris and the NY Giants take on the Dolphins.

Hey my Cowboys are done, thank God (top five pick in the draft and a fourth place schedule - just what I wanted). So now I live vicariously through my ‘homie’.

Sadly it was not to be: that stinking flu that’s going around sacked me for a huge loss!

I’m sure Mr Dorsett and Mr Wells are having a laugh at what ‘Karma’ has done to me (as if my Cowboys’ lousy season wasn’t enough).

And do I now regret not taking either of them on my previous jaunts to watch live NFL action? Um ... No!

While taking the disappointment in along with my flu meds, my mind ran on a particular game that took place 18 years ago in the NBA Finals. Yes, it’s the anniversary of Michael Jordan’s legendary ‘Flu Game’. For those of you who missed it or whose minds it’s slipped here’s a little reminder of how it went down.

Whenever some one has the flu and it’s obvious they should be in bed rather than doing whatever it is they are doing, family, friends and co-workers will often drop a ‘Jordan’ reference regarding the flu and the state it has said relative in, and the attempt of said relative to fight through it. Both in the positive and negative, but always in good fun.

On June 11, 1997, Michael Jordan was grabbing ownership like he’d done with so many moments and situations before. The Chicago Bulls were tied with the Utah Jazz 2-2 in the NBA Finals after both teams defended their home turf.

The Jazz had one more game at home before heading back to Chicago for the rest of the series. Utah needed to win a third straight game in order to have a minimal chance back in ChiTown.

Also in their favour that day were the reports that Jordan was experiencing flu-like symptoms. Rumours swirled as to the cause of Jordan’s condition, which was visibly not good. Was he up all night gambling? Was he sick? Was it a classic Jordan mind game?

One will never know the real answer, but along with some help from Scottie Pippen (17 points, 10 rebounds and five steals), Jordan shot 13-of-27 from the field and 10-of-12 from the free throw line, scoring 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and a block while collapsing to the bench and chugging Gatorade to stay hydrated.

One really can’t challenge the score and individual performance of his ‘Airness’; from that day to this, no one has mustered the intestinal fortitude and will to achieve what Jordan did flu-ridden.

Nor am I about to try, so back to bed I go.

Until next week, remember life is like a jump shot: always follow through, you might land one!

• Naughty presents ‘Mischief and Mayhem in da AM’ from 6am to 10am, Monday to Friday and ‘The Press Box’ sports talk show on Sunday from 10am to 1pm, on KISS FM 96.1. Comments and questions to naughty@tribunemedia.net