Not with the same magnitude as in Chicago, but from a teaching standpoint. Have you been to a cigar factory anywhere else?Jordan: Never have. Michael is passionate about his cigars. Whether he's playing or spectating, rarely will you see Michael Jordan in a golf setting without a cigar in hand. What changed between that time frame to now? Is it playing in a certain city? Jordan, the third overall pick in 1984, disapproved of the trend when he spoke with Cigar Aficionado in 2005. Find out more about how we use your personal data in our privacy policy and cookie policy. The Monte No. Shanken: Yes. I felt honored to have the opportunity. Black guys, Afro-Americans, all the minorities played the game. You'll probably be surprised by the answer, but I didn't feel any change. He said, "Let's do it. Dont be afraid to fail. Those interviewsas well as the videos that accompanied the second storyare essential Jordan literature. As he noted, the conversation is a public relations game. No athlete in history has ever captivated audiences like Michael Jordan. [Ed. If I play from the backs I can have fun. He wants to play for more money than you can afford to lose. Shanken: You obviously listened to your father, because in the very beginning you spoke about being humble, not shouting about who you are and what youve done and just being within yourself. Youre starting to see a little bit of it now, where the stars are starting to gang up and go on one team. Obviously he was murdered and rarely do I get the chance to talk about him. In any case, sixthat's a pretty decent number of cigars for a day. Because we played in different eras. Let's put it this way: It's like averaging 45 points a game. Where do you see him today in terms of his life?Jordan: Hes in a transitional period. He played his first NBA game at 21 years old and turned 22 midway through his rookie season. 3, and No. Right now were just going through the permit stage. Marvin Shanken: You can put that cigar down. My mother calls me practically every day, reiterating keep your nose clean. Thats her constant reminder that people are watching, people are learning, people are paying attention. Also the audiences who watch basketball are decliningI think it peaked when you were playing. It is a double corona that has to be enjoyed over time. He even installed a walk-in humidor and special ventilation system in hisHighland Park estate. Its a work in progress with the Hornets. And I want to be able to control what I do and what I dont want to do. This is one of Cuba's best-selling and best-known smokes. THE MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, TRANSMITTED, CACHED OR OTHERWISE USED, EXCEPT WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. 2023 DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Michael Jordan talks golf -- and smoking SIX cigars per day -- in Cigar Aficionado interview, something he made clear in a 2005 interview with, Check out his thoughts on Rickie, JT and Spieth in the rest of this awesome interview here. A lot of people, it does hit them in a certain way. I never played against Wilt Chamberlain, I never played against Jerry West. After I went to Cuba I decided I didnt want to die without having a cigar magazine.Jordan: Thats my dream trip. Those. Now does that constitute him being the greatest or does that mean that he's any less than Jack I think is unfair. So what are the cigars Jordan named as his go-to? I dont want to sit here and constantly reiterate things that Ive said a countless number of times. That aint hay.Jordan: [laughs] But it was a process with that as well. note: Jack Nicklauss private golf club in Jupiter, Florida], and I was playing at the Bear's Club one day. Notice any parallels there? We had to be to the stadium at 6 o'clock for home games, and traffic was so bad it would take us an hour and 15 or an hour and 30 minutes to drive. Get Access to the rest of this exclusive post, ad-free browsing and much much more by signing up as a Premium Member, learn more here So many podcasts, so little time. When it comes to being the greatest basketball player AND cigar smoker, its hard to beat Michael Jordan. And Jordanhas enough zealots in his corner that he doesn't have to campaign for himself. How did that come together? Jordan talks about his family, his favorite smokes (pre . Michael Jordan Videos Exceed Seven Million Views The series of videos shot during the interview between basketball legend Michael Jordan and Marvin R. Shanken has hit a combined total of 7.3 million views on the magazine's August 5, 2022 Channels Cuba Cuba's Small Rafael Gonzalez Brand Gets New Size February 16, 2023 Cigar News And I think if you can regulate thatwhich is very toughto where that athletes going to be educated so that he can make sound decisions for himself and his family, thats the correct agenda. Michael Jordan revealed who introduced him to cigars for the very first time While doing an interview with Cigar Aficionado in 2005, Michael Jordan would go on to reveal that it was Chicago Bulls owner, Jerry Reinsdorf, who actually handed him his first ever cigar to smoke. What do you like to smoke?Jordan: Partags Lusitanias are my favorite. Now, the former Chicago Bulls star watches the game from the Charlotte Hornets owner's office. Shanken: Ive heard that you are creating a private golf course in Florida. He said, "I'm in New York. Seeing good talent. I like variety. I've had a cigar here and there, but I don't know much. Michael, however, keeps a low profile. Joe Rivera is a senior content producer at The Sporting News and teaches Multimedia Sports Reporting at his alma mater, Rutgers University. Because I can let my hair downwhat little hair I haveand be able to do the things I want to do. [T]hese are so strong. In 2017, Marvin R. Shanken, editor and publisher of Cigar Aficionado, had a rare, one-on-one interview with Michael Jordan. Shanken: I dont open these that often. I wanted that feeling of success and relaxation. You see a lot of players who, when they retire, they have no money. Ad Choices, And more gems from Marvin Shanken, the editor-in-chief of, The Real-Life Diet of Andrew Huberman, Who Switches to Red Party Lights After Dark, The 17 Best New Menswear Items to Buy This Week, Watch Deion Sanders's Interview Live at the GQ Sports Style Hall of Fame, Watch Allen Iverson's Interview Live at the GQ Sports Style Hall of Fame, Watch Derek Jeter's Interview Live at the GQ Sports Style Hall of Fame, Michael B. Jordan Hits the Press Junket in Percival's Best-Selling Polo Shirt. There is barely any feeling like lighting up a stogie after a major trophy win, and Jordan is not a stranger to that lifestyle. Shanken: What about internationally?Jordan: Ive played in Scotland. The Cornerstone guys, who I partner up with, manage the restaurants. You see in The Last Dance that, by a certain point, it had become very hard for Michael to live a normal life. Shanken: I have this burning question that I think youre in a very unique position to answer. In a 2017 interview with Cigar Aficionado magazine, Jordan confirmed a camera crew had followed the 1997-98 Chicago Bulls around the entire season "to capture the last dance." He also seemed. Shanken: And whats your handicap these days?Jordan: Four. It could alter them. ]Jordan: Correct. Legendary NBA player Michael Jordan is undisputedly one of the greatest athletes ever. I love baseball. I know he smokes on the golf course; I play with him. Where you dont have the privacy that you would want, and what seems to be very innocent can always be misinterpreted. Usually we text. Charlotte led the league in attendance for 10 years, which was a huge economic boon for that city, and the talent pool followed. When he plays golf, and he plays 36 holes a few days a week, he is smoking cigars. Jordan's Philosophy in Best Cigar Prices. Shanken: Well, you can go now. Everybody says it was a failed opportunity for me to play baseball. He came over, and we spent three or four hours just sitting around talking and having a cigar. At age 19, when youre still a very young man, you give up your education, you give up the college experience and so forth. It's understandable though, considering the amount of golf he plays. And the cigar just relaxes you. I mean, one timeI'm in New York in my office. Ive had enough. For me to ask an individual to focus on the game the way I played would, in some ways, be unfair. Throughout his interviews on ESPNsThe Last Dance,Jordan can be seen with a cigar in his mouth. Director Jason Hehirexplained that in one episode, a cigar rests on the table next to MJ, untouched. So theres more for me. They had potential, and it got lost. During one episode of this weekend's"The Last Dance," viewers noticed something curious: In just one interview that Jordan did with the production team, he had a cigar resting beside him. Im not giving this up. My wife is Cuban. Can you tell me what youre doing?Jordan: Once I got involved in golf, I always wanted to own my own golf course. It is who I am. At the same time I was able to understand the love that these minor league baseball players have making $1,500 a month. Upon reflection, what do you think is really the correct waythe right wayfor the NBA to handle this?Jordan: Ive been on both sides. Obviously Jack won more during the time he played. And you play it at a level to where it generated so much interest financially that it grew the game from a financial standpoint. Its an education. But hes not stopping there. Since the release of ESPN's very popular Last Dance documentary series chronicling the '97-'98 Chicago Bulls Michael Jordan has been a pretty hot topic. As an athlete, all you ever want to do is be the best athlete that you can. And this is a Hoyo Double CoronaJordan: From 1993? I left school at the age of 20, 21, in my junior season. Because everybody felt the team was going to be dismantled. You realize that this is a very special man. Partagas is one of the oldest, most well-regarded brands of Cuban cigars, according to Top Cubans. Then you had an owner come in who was not from North Carolinaand were good friends, Bob Johnson and Ithatdisconnected itself from the community, angered the community, to where they would not support it. One of the biggest reasons I bought the team is that initially I thought the team was under-operated because they were not connected to the community. Many times. Jack and Tiger never played against each other, they never played in the same tournament, they never played with the same equipment, they never played the same length of golf course. Let it happen, let it be you, it is who you are, don'thidefrom it. Now that he is no longer on the courts, he admits to smoking as many as six cigars a day. Do you spend more time in one business than another? Coach Smith, my parents, taught me right from wrong, taught me to understand and listen and learn, and then I got with an agent who educated me. Somewhere down the road hopefully we can do some cottages if we choose to do that. Real talented. The Hornets are a product of the personnel that I assemble. As it is no news that Michael Jordan is a basketball all-time great, it also isnt news that he is one of the wealthiest athletes of the game.