SALT LAKE CITY — Right behind Christian Laettner’s Final Four-clinching turnaround, and two spots behind Hank Aaron’s steroid-free 715th home run, resides the 1998 Utah Jazz, R.I.P.
Sports Illustrated’s website recently ranked the 100 Greatest Moments in Sports History, and the Jazz made the cut. Sort of. Rated No. 12 was Michael Jordan’s historic pull-up jumper over Bryon Russell.
Don Larsen’s perfect game, Roger Bannister’s four-minute mile, Wilt’s 100-point outburst, Texas Western’s integrated basketball title and Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak all rated lower than Game 6 of the ‘98 Finals.
Not that the Jazz had much to do with it.
They were just the setup men.
Yet the image of Russell slip-sliding away is the most famous moment the Jazz ever produced. It occurred because Russell was in the frame of the last shot Jordan would take as a Bull. The basket earned a sixth NBA championship for Chicago, but also sealed the Jazz’s fate. Not since have they challenged for a title.
There they are, posterized for eternity.
But is it truly the 12th-greatest moment in American sports history? In one sense, yes. The Sports Illustrated rankings, in some cases, included summary moments, such as John Wooden’s career and Mark Spitz’s seven gold medals. The ’98 NBA Finals essentially marked the end of Jordan’s run.
Yet the moment itself — Jordan’s basket — was among the most overcooked plays in history. That often happened to Jordan. For instance, his highlight shot against the Lakers — when he switched hands midair and kissed it off the glass with his left — was narcissistic. He was wide open for a layup, with no need to change hands.
He was merely adding frosting to the cookie.
Likewise, Jordan’s move against the Jazz was no Mona Lisa. He simply dribbled to the top of the key, brushing away an off-balance Russell, and pulled up for a straight-on jumper. A high school kid makes that shot.
Furthermore, it wasn’t even the game’s final attempt. John Stockton still had time to get off a try that skipped off the rim at the buzzer.
In terms of actual moments, Jordan besting Russell shouldn’t even rank as the 100th best of moment of all time. (That honor belongs to Boise State for its Fiesta Bowl Statue-of-Liberty play.) He didn’t drive through a gauntlet of opponents. The steal on Karl Malone moments earlier actually deserves more credit. But compared to Gehrig’s farewell speech (which didn’t make the cut), Namath guaranteeing a Super Bowl win, or Mays making “The Catch,” it’s not even close.
The Jordan moment illustrated an immortal career. But had it not been for a pair of blown calls earlier in the game, the drama never would have arisen. Howard Eisley buried a 3-pointer that was waved off, and Ron Harper’s 2-point shot was ruled a 3-pointer for the Bulls, both of which have since been discredited.
Curiously, Jerry Sloan has long since forgiven referee Dick Bavetta.
“I think everybody has a chance of missing calls; nobody bats a thousand in this league, in coaching as well. But I think his interest was in doing the best he could for the league and everyone involved,” Sloan told me in 2014. “I never felt anything malicious about the calls. After the game was over and you see what’s going on, they do a pretty darn good job.”
Speaking of good jobs, Jordan does a lot of things well. He certainly played well. He also speaks, dresses and smiles well. Most of all, he sells well. The TV networks got the chance to dramatize the moment, and they did. Thus, a poorly positioned Russell, an average shot, and plenty of time left on the clock became a magical moment nonetheless.
But what actually was the greatest sports moment of all time? What event tilted the earth, never to be forgot? Sports Illustrated says it was the “Miracle on Ice” in the 1980 Olympics. For my money, it’s competitive eater Kobayashi downing 15 pounds of cow brains in one sitting.
Unlike Jordan’s shot, not everyone can do that.
Email: rock@desnews.com; Twitter: @therockmonster; Blog: Rockmonster Unplugged