Jordan: Flu Game
June 11, 1997.
It’s Game 5 of the NBA Finals. It
comes down to this game; gotta make it count.
I feel awful. Night shivers and
terrors, excessive sweating, hot and cold all the time: the flu? Pippen said I look horrible. Personnel said food poisoning or stomach
virus? Whatever it is, I gotta fight
it……
First
Quarter
My speeds down.
I’m slugging down the court. I
can’t go out like this, can’t let the team down like this. I’m all over the place. Fight it Michael….
Second
Quarter
I got this.
Utah with a 16-point lead?
Nah. My speed’s back,
fellas. Give me the ball (*shoots*). See? I’m fine. I. Am. Fine. I’m strong.
I can do this, 17 shots just like that, I got this! LET’S GO!
Halftime
Blindsided by the nausea again. Where the hell is this coming from? Fluids, cold towels, whatever, as long as it
gets me back on that court where I belong.
Third
Quarter
Michael what the hell are you doing?! Drained of energy. I feel like I can’t breathe. I gotta keep it together though, I will keep
it together……. My speed’s back
down. I feel useless right now. Useless.
Michael get it together……….
Fourth
Quarter
Make it count. Make. It. Count. This is it.
Jazz is up, score is 77-69.
That’s nothing. 12-foot shot.
I’m back, y’all! YES, Kukoc, nice
3-pointer! That’s what I like to
see! That’s what I’m talking about,
baby!......Russell you should duck, don’t want to graze your shiny dome-head
with this 18-footer…………GODDAMNIT! Who
let Stockton hit that 3? 84-81, Jazz in the lead……Hit that runner, 84-83 now,
come on Bulls, we got this!......Damn Stockton, should’ve thought twice about
that foul, now I get free-throws.
Yes, Michael, 85-83 now; hit this next one, hit this
next one…damnit! But Kukoc with that tip, ball’s mine again, 46.5 seconds on
the clock, come on Bulls, LET’S GO!......
Catch this one Pippen, YES! Oooh shouldn’t have left
me open, Stockton, now you can watch me hit this shot…..88-85, Bulls up. 26.5
seconds on the clock.
……90-87, yes Bulls! Let’s work! Don’t get
comfortable. Still 6.2 seconds left,
anything can happen!...........
Nice try, Hornacek, next time bud. 90-87, Bulls win
game 5 – on to game 6.
Victory…..nausea. Victory….exhaustion.
Victory.
