Michael Jordan is formal. Of all the prestigious matches in which he participated during his glorious career, including 179 in the playoffs, it is this training behind closed doors in Monte Carlo that is the most memorable!
We are on July 22, 1992. The American basketball team has landed on the Old Continent to prepare for the Barcelona Olympic Games which will mark the return to business of professional players.
In this case, it will be the mythical adventure of the “Dream Team“, the team of the brilliant trident Jordan – Magic – Bird which will revolutionize world basketball at the end of a masterful tournament in Barcelona.
“Ten indisputable Hall of Famers who play against each other”
” It’s the best game I’ve ever played“, assures without hesitation His Airness. ” Because there was no coaching. There was a bit of arbitration… but not really either [sourire] ! There were ten Hall of Famers playing against each other. How many times has this happened? And when I say, ten Hall of Famers, we are talking about indisputable Hall of Famers. There was such competition, with all that is beautiful in basketball including trash talking. All of those were in this game. It’s exactly what you imagine when you think of a match that would bring together all the best players in the Hall of Fame. »
From his position as assistant coach, PJ Carlesimo confirms that this training camp in Monaco had been exceptional. The Jordan–Magic rivalry was then at its height. But it’s the refereeing, FIBA style, that will quickly become a problem.
” I warned Chuck [Daly] before the tournament that the refereeing was definitely going to be pretty bad“, laughs PJ Carlesimo on SiriusXM. ” Because there were referees from all over the world, at different levels. And then, in addition, these referees have never met NBA players, so fast and so strong. So, I had advised to bring some international referees to Monte Carlo for our training so that the players get used to the different whistles. We had found an Italian and a Frenchman but from the second practice, Chuck told me that we had to get rid of them. Mike K laughed at me: ‘Good idea’! »
As Michael Jordan suggested, the intensity of the matches that came to complete the training sessions bordered on madness. PJ Carlesimo recalls that the duel between Jordan and Magic was the driving force behind these epic confrontations.
” We came close to bare-handed combat several times with the international referees. And the matches stretched out in length… Because when you got to the end of the game, it was impossible to take a shot less than five meters from the circle. The guys pushed the attacker with both hands who then found himself violently thrown to the ground. »
And the poor international referees (including Frenchman Philippe Manassero) to be the scapegoat of these NBA superstars with boiling egos.
” Guys were yelling at them and there was such intensity in the games. When we got closer to the end, it was better to take a shot from mid-range. Because every guy who tried to penetrate found himself on the buttocks! The guys were constantly bitching at these referees who didn’t understand them. We let them go on the second or third day. After that, I had to referee the matches myself. Magic called me favoritism because I was playing golf with Michael after practices in Monte Carlo. Rod Thorn, Chuck, Barkley, Michael, we were all golfing in Monte Carlo. Every time I whistled for Michael’s team, it was a scandal. And as Stock[ton] was injured, Michael was playing point guard! Facing Magic! You can imagine what they were saying to each other. And the more the end of the match approached, the more it became tense. These two were tearing each other apart on the field. We were just trying to keep it all under control. Chuck once had to stop all that: enough, everyone out! »
“If we told them something, it was better to be sure of yourself! »
Dismissed after two days, the two European zebras can in any case congratulate themselves on having been part of a piece of basketball history. For his part, PJ Carlesimo also suffered from having to whistle these five against five.
Because, for the rest, the “Dream Team” evolved, so to speak, in autarky. You don’t really need coaching staff when you have the biggest stars of the basketball world!
” I have to say that I haven’t had much of a teaching job to speak of with them. One of the areas entrusted to me was scouting. With an assistant from the Pistons, we went to the NBC studios to use their equipment and make videos (VHS). At the shootaround the next day, we gave that to the players and they looked at them! I remember in Portland, I told Magic that one of the backs of Panama was not a good shooter from a distance. Magic gave him space and he made two 3-pointers in a row. At the time out, Magic came to me: ‘So coach, I thought he couldn’t shoot!’ These guys were listening. If we told them something, it was better to be sure of ourselves! »
Motivated by Magic Johnson, their courageous captain, and sublimated by the rage to win of Michael Jordan, their real boss, the American stars flew over the competition. Not a single team will come close to their level. As for this famous “scrimmage” of Monte Carlo, it is obviously Michael Jordan who emerged as the big winner (with his team). The rear of the Bulls will mark 17 of the 40 points of his team which will have made the game of laggards.
Relegated to -9 at the start of the game, the “whites” of Jordan finally won the match 40-36, behind a fatal 17-4 to the squad led by Magic which will not physically stand against the super predator that was then Jordan.
“If someone could have recorded the soundtrack of this game, not necessarily filming the basketball but just having the sounds, that would have been invaluable”
The images of this match are still extremely rare, which continues to establish the founding myth of the “Dream Team”. In the book Dream Team by Jack McCallum (editions Talent Sports), Coach K. evoked the memory of this legendary match. And more than the images, he wanted the sounds!
” Every once in a while I’m doing something and a line from that game flashes through my mind: ‘They just moved Chicago Stadium to Monaco.’ That makes me smile. A lot of players get angry because there are cameras. But that day, the doors were closed. It was just you and me. ‘I have this and you, what do you have?’ It taught me a lot about accepting personal challenges. You know, if someone could have recorded the soundtrack of this game, not necessarily filming the basketball but just having the sounds, that would have been invaluable. »
Same impressions from Michael Jordan, more than proud to have dominated Magic Johnson, but also to be part of a unique workforce.
” In many ways, it was the best game I’ve ever been in. Because the room was closed and it was only about basketball. Matches like this say a lot about the players’ DNA, about their desire to win. Magic was sick of it for two days. “.
“White” team: Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Larry Bird, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing
“Blue” team: Magic Johnson, Chris Mullin, Christian Laettner, Charles Barkley, David Robinson
Read also
The “play by play” from Jack McCallum’s book (part 1)
The “play by play” from Jack McCallum’s book (part 2)
