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Jeff Van Gundy also responded on twitter: "Michael Jordan doesn't want any piece of me. I once scored 13 points for Nazareth College. Come talk to me when I'm down in Houston. We can have a free throw shooting contest, con man."
Russell to Jordan: Game on
By Marc J. Spears
Bryon Russell has a message for Michael Jordan: Whenever you’re ready, I’ll be waiting in California – in my basketball shorts.
“I’ll play his ass right now,” Russell told Yahoo! Sports. “This is a call-out for him to come play me. He can come out here in his private jet and come play. He’s got millions of dollars. He can pay for the jet. He can meet me at the Recreation Center in Calabasas.
“We can have Mark Jackson do the commentating. We can have Mitch Richmond do the officiating. We can put it on TV and see if Michael’s still got it.”
Jordan spent much of his enshrinement speech at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame singling out players and coaches who had slighted, criticized or motivated him. Russell merited a special mention.
After Jordan’s first retirement from the NBA, he was playing minor-league baseball and stopped by the Chicago Bulls’ practice facility, where the Utah Jazz were working out. Jordan said Russell, then a rookie with the Jazz, introduced himself and challenged him.
More From Marc J. SpearsCeltics optimistic about Garnett's recovery Sep 10, 2009 Grizzly task: Memphis needs A.I. to play role Sep 10, 2009 “…At this time I had no thoughts of coming back and playing the game of basketball,” Jordan said during his speech. “Bryon Russell came over to me and said, ‘Why’d you quit? You know I could guard you. If I ever see you in a pair of shorts…’
“When I did come back in 1995 and we played Utah in ’96, I’m at the center circle and Bryon Russell is standing next to me. I said, ‘You remember the [comments] you made in 1994 about, ‘I think I can guard you, I can shut you down, I would love to play against you? Well, you’re about to get your chance.’ ”
When the teams met in the ’98 Finals, Jordan hit his famous championship-clinching shot after knocking Russell backward. Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and point guard John Stockton, who also were being inducted, both shook their heads as Jordan told the story.
“From this day forward,” Jordan said, “if I ever see him in shorts, I’m coming at him.”
Russell said Jordan’s story was accurate and that he was honored, not offended, by his words.
“It was during my rookie year,” Russell said. “He turned to Karl [Malone] and said, ‘Hey Karl, is that your rookie?’ I really did say that to him. Karl was laughing and [Jordan] was laughing, too. …I guess I motivated him to come back. There had to be other reasons. You know he likes all challenges.
“Out of all the people he came across, he thought about me. I’m happy to be in his Hall of Fame speech.”
Russell said “not a single day passes” in which someone doesn’t ask him about Jordan’s shot over him. While playing for the Denver Nuggets, Russell and then-Nuggets interim coach Michael Cooper got in a heated debate about whether Jordan’s shot over Russell or Julius Erving’s famous acrobatic dunk over Cooper was more embarrassing. Looking back, Russell said he wasn’t humiliated to be part of such a historic play.
“To me, that’s the greatest play in basketball history,” Russell said. “It will stay that way because he will always be the greatest player to play the game. I didn’t mind. But the referees didn’t make the call on the push off.
“It’s long done and gone. It was a call that wasn’t made on a play that was great.”
Russell didn’t watch the Hall of Fame induction ceremony live because he was running errands with his 11-year-old son, Brandon, in Calabasas, Calif., but he did record it. After Jordan mentioned him, Russell received a voice message from his old Long Beach State coach, Seth Greenberg. Several other friends and family members also called and sent him text messages. As soon as Russell got home, he rushed to the television to watch Jordan.
Jordan and Russell were teammates with the Washington Wizards during the 2002-03 season, Jordan’s last in the NBA. Russell said Jordan never brought up the story while they were together and they never played one-on-one, either. Russell, now 38, last played in the NBA during the 2005-06 season, but he works out daily and is eager to “guard [Jordan] again and beat him.”
Russell encouraged Jordan to get his phone number from a mutual friend if he’s up for the challenge. Until then, he wants Jordan to know this:
“I keep my basketball shorts on.”
Jeff Van Gundy also responded on twitter: "Michael Jordan doesn't want any piece of me. I once scored 13 points for Nazareth College. Come talk to me when I'm down in Houston. We can have a free throw shooting contest, con man."
Make that two bitter guys.
lmao...Jordan would destroy him...as usual...let's see it.
Who's bitter? Jordan and Russell? Or JVG and Russell?Make that two bitter guys.
Anyways, the guys responded after being publicly called out for petty, insignificant events that took place decades ago. That's not bitterness, it's standing up for oneself.
The only person who's bitter spent his hall of fame induction ceremony ing and moaning about every and anyone out that he thinks didn't give him enough respect along the way. GMAFB. MJ.
Pushing Russell out of the way as Jordan did had a price...for everybody.
Both MJ and Russell.
C'mon man.If that ain't bitterness, I don't know what is.
I'm trying to figure out exactly what colburnmyanus means by this?
Well, for starters, it was Stockton/Malone/Jazz bestest chance at a ring and because of Jordan's act they came up barren.
Also, Jordan ain't deaf, he's heard the indictments, the hue and the cry from not only Utahites, but, from across this great nation,,,condemning his act. It's grated on him no doubt. Was it worth it to him (Jordan) to escort Russell out of the way like that? Yes, most definitely, but, he's paid a price.
And he has looked back.
LoL well said actually.
See, you don't have to hate me full-time, Jazzy.
if it's bitterness that kept him coming back again and again and eventually becoming the GOAT, then more power to him, because of his selfishness, pettyness, we got to witness the ugliness and beauty of pure determination, even if his reasoning for being determined are flawed.
LOL Jazz fans are still mad. Jordan's trolling the world right now.
Damn i would watch that show...haha
Sounds like neither Russell nor Van Gundy were upset about MJ's comments unlike many in this forum would want you to believe. It was a great speech and MJ is awesome.
What was that?? 121-63??
Red, don't go there; not worth it whatsoever.
Jazzy, don't live through the nuggets. The Jazz own the Hornets! Fact! You have enough good arguement for that to avoid living through another team(Ghazi, Red Cawk).
LoL... you sir speak quality... best hornets fan on this forum.
I don't get the point here, it sounds like he hasn't gotten over the shot on him to win the 1998 NBA le. I also find this challange to be totally disrespectful, Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. So he feels like he can win a game 1-on-1 now vs him, so he's like saying "I'll show you MJ".
Sure, Chill, he's bitter. People been tellin' him over ten years now that he got hosed. He's seen the replay. Jordan "cheated" in an instant and received instant gratification.
For instance: the Horry shot Vs the King. That play was clean...surreal, but clean. One can argue the "cheat" before with the officiating, but, that play was pure...so the cheatee can live with it better. Conversely, everything was taken from the Jazz in one single play. The bitterness grows in the silent aftermath (ordered by Sloan & Miller) thru the decade and erupts when Jordan throws a turd into the pool on HOF nite. Jordan never hesistated to cheat in order to win, but, thru the years he's had to face his actions. He's got a conscience just like everyone else. And I betcha he'd like to go back, not to give it up to the Jazz, but, to attempt it straight up over Russell instead of pushing him away so he could make sure. Regret is a cruel master.
Sounds like he was just responding to MJ's throw down challenge.I don't get the point here, it sounds like he hasn't gotten over the shot on him to win the 1998 NBA le. I also find this challange to be totally disrespectful, Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. So he feels like he can win a game 1-on-1 now vs him, so he's like saying "I'll show you MJ".
There's a few things that never change
1 Jordan owning Russell no matter the age
2 You posting on here with a bottle of tabasco up your ass
If Russell is in any kind of shape today, he'd on Jordan. Did you see how big his suit was, and how fat his face has become? I'm pretty sure MJ is a puff-ball under that thing. I don't care whether he's the GOAT, fatties don't win ball games.
Jeff Hornacek actually did a better defensive job on MJ than Bryon.
Kevin Johnson did an excellent job on MJ in the '93 Finals. He was very effective.
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