Michael Jordan is one of the greatest players in NBA history, maybe even the goat. He had some of most legendary games in the playoffs. Like the 1997 game five NBA Finals against the Jazz.
The 1997 NBA Finals was one of the most talked finals in Jordan’s career as he would have one of the most iconic games ever, the “Flu Game.” Our perspective always been he was dealing with the flu, but is that accurate?
The truth about the “Flu Game!”
The trainer of Jordan, Tim Grover, says that the “Flu Game” should of actually been the “Food Poisoning Game.” How so? He was showing signs of flu-like symptoms; but what really happened before Game Five against Utah?
“One hundred percent it was food poisoning, 100 percent,” Grover said. “But obviously it just sounds better to be the ‘Flu Game’ than the ‘Food Poisoning Game.’ ”
Tim Grover on Michael Jordan’s “Flu Game”
To be honest, he isn’t wrong. Fans wouldn’t have been so excited if it was the “Food Poisoning Game.” By making it sound like Jordan had the flu, it made everything so much more epic by winning the game against the Jazz.
Truth is that Jordan order tons of pizza, because he was hungry, and nobody else touched the food. According to Grover, no one else ate the food besides Jordan before going to bed.
Next thing you know everybody is rushing into Jordan’s room, seeing him on the ground puking left and right. Grover didn’t buy the fact that it was the flu, why? Because the flu can’t hit that fast as food poisoning could.
“Then, about 3 o’clock in the morning, I get a call to my room that just says, ‘Hey, man, come to MJ’s room’ and he’s literally curled up in the fetal position,” Grover said. “I’ve not known any flu that can hit you that fast, but I know how quick food poisoning can hit you.”
What happened to Jordan in that game?
Jordan didn’t care if he had food poisoning or not as he played 44 minutes and scored 38 points. This would lead to Jordan leading the Bulls to a 3-2 lead over the Jazz.
What did Jordan have to say about the “Flu Game?”
Jordan came out on The Last Dance Documentary by saying it wasn’t the flu but food poisoning. This is what Jordan said:
“I ate the pizza,” Jordan said. “All by myself. Nobody else ate the pizza. I wake up about 2:30 throwing up left and right.” Jordan continues. “It really wasn’t the flu game,” Jordan said. “It was food poisoning.”
No one else ate the pizza besides Jordan, even his trainer said it was a bad idea of eating that pizza. The Jazz couldn’t stop Jordan even when he was dealing with illness. That is pretty interesting to think that the Jazz couldn’t stop Jordan even when dealing with sickness, that’s why people call him the goat. The man won’t go down for anything.
Thank you for reading the truth about the “Flu Game!”
If you want to read about another Goat, LeBron James, then click here: https://courtsideheat.com/the-five-greatest-moments-in-lebron-james-career/
If you want to check out this DVD about Michael Jordan, then click here: https://www.facebook.com/commerce/products/3214195541944362/
