Two new episodes of The Last Dance are available on Netflix this week. From the emergence of the basketball business to the betting scandal in which Michael Jordan has been implicated, these two new games contrast the legend of the parquet and his superhuman performances. The man is stormed by a merciless press to lead him, little by little, to an inevitable outcome.
Episode IV: Basket Business and Dream Team
In professional sport, it is customary for us to see stars lend their image to various and varied brands. From sports equipment to internet service providers to fast food chains. Sport business is an integral part of the advertising landscape. But all this business is relatively new. And the person who allowed it to flourish is Michael Jordan. Until the mid-80s, only the most prominent tennis players (Jimmy Connors, Arthur Ashe, John McEnroe…) had sponsorship contracts with brands outside their sport of choice. In 1984, and the arrival of Michael Jordan in the league, David Falk did everything to become his agent. Not only did he sniff out the potential of the young player, but he also had the idea of using this potential to make him the biggest advertising star on the planet. First mission, find an equipment manufacturer for shoes. Converse, then the dominant leader in the sneaker market for NBA players, refused to sign Michael Jordan. The brand was already working with the greatest players in the league at the time. So she does not see how to give visibility to a Rookie (beginner) against these superstars. Michael Jordan absolutely wants to sign with… Adidas, his favorite brand. But the firm is experiencing major organizational difficulties and is unable to keep up.
The appearance of the Air Jordan
That's when David Falk got the idea to contact a small brand that's on the rise and was basically making running shoes at the time. This brand is called Nike. The equipment manufacturer brings the young star and his whole family to seduce them and conclude the contract. The family leaves with the assurance that Michael Jordan will be able to play his first professional season with shoes bearing his name: the Air Jordans are born. A social phenomenon, the Air Jordans take to the streets by storm and bring sneakers into Street culture. New models every year, commercials shot by Spike Lee, this is the launch pad that will allow Michael Jordan to win a considerable number of sponsors. He then gains a visibility that makes him the most recognized sportsman on the planet. 
But to maintain this level of popularity, you have to be efficient. Very efficient. In 1992, Michael Jordan was the league's leading scorer, best player and top 5 defensemen. The icing on the cake, a second consecutive championship title. That's when Michael Jordan joined the best basketball team of all time. The Dream Team of the Barcelona Olympics. The top 10 NBA players and the top 2 college players storm Barcelona for a real demonstration that sets the record straight after the defeat of the US university team in 1988 in Seoul. Michael Jordan won his second gold medal after Los Angeles in 1984. Titles and individual distinctions in shambles, juicy advertising contracts… Everything seems to be going well for the most dubbed player on the planet. But this glory comes with a price, that of constant pressure, an invasive and, sometimes, vindictive press. The situation is beginning to escalate and we are already beginning to see a dramatic outcome.
Episode V: Sweat and exhaustion
In the wake of the 1992 championship title, the Bulls set out to conquer a hat-trick that would make them definitively enter the legend of the sport. After a season controlled from start to finish, and a record of wins in franchise history to complete the table, the Bulls face the New York Knicks in the conference finals. A duel with the scent of handover between tired champions and a young intrepid team from New York. The Knicks won the first two games (you need to win 4 to win the series) in New York. The Bulls have their backs against the wall and have never been closer to losing their crown. On the eve of the second defeat at Madison Square Garden, Michael Jordan is spotted in Atlantic City, in a casino with his father. The press made a scandal and overwhelmed the Bulls star, accusing him of no longer wanting to win. The scale of the case is increased tenfold with the release of a book that recounts the basketball player's penchant for the game. He is even summoned to appear as a witness in the trial of one of these golf partners. A notorious swindler, who had relieved him of the sum of $ 57,000. Even if his bets were not illegal, the more than 6-figure amounts of the sums at stake disclosed by the press tarnish the image of the athlete. 
A tired star?
Michael Jordan has his back to the wall, strangled by public opinion, led 0-2 in the conference finals, he decides not to speak to the press anymore and lets them know that he will give his answer on the court. Four high-flying demonstrations followed to win the series against the New Yorkers and win a third NBA Finals in as many years. In the finals, the Bulls met the Phoenix Suns. Phoenix is the best team of the season and they have in their ranks the player who won the title of best player of the season, Charles Barkley. Michael Jordan is upset that he did not win this title for the third time in a row. He is all the more motivated to win this final and to show, once again, that he is the best player in the league. The series is tight and intense. It was the most contested final of the Chicago dynasty. The Bulls defeated the Suns and Jordan lifted his third championship. He averaged plus 40 points per game by torturing Dan Majerle as a bonus. I leave you the pleasure of discovering the details of this story from the mouth of Jordan himself. The victory is at the rendezvous but the joy is measured, the relief takes over. We feel the star tired, both physically and mentally. A point of no return has just been reached. We arrive at a point in the series where we discover the man behind the basketball player and better understand some choices, some decisions whose motives seemed to be incomprehensible until then. The public figure, solicited from all sides, harassed by the press, subjected to the permanent judgment of the public. The competitor, always wanting to win on and off the floor. The businessman, conducting his business with the same rigor that has made his success in the field. We look forward to next week to discover the rest of this captivating and brilliantly realized series.
