Once one of his conspirators was killed, Michael Jordan’s obsessive gambling was once made public. In the 1990s, Jordan’s gambling disorder was all the rage.
His Airness lifestyle was no longer private, to say the least, as he had established himself as the NBA’s face for the ensuing decade. Everyone yearned to partake in Michael Jordan’s private extravaganzas.
Even if his basketball skills highlighted his athleticism and scoring power, the media didn’t find them to be sufficient. The media finally stood tall as they always do after doing everything they could to hone in on his personal life.
When they did, they gained a clear understanding of his passion for gambling, something they truly enjoyed and seized upon to paint Jordan in a negative light. The NBA Hall of Famer’s situation deteriorated as the media learned about his gambling issue.
As word of a murder involving a bail bondsman called Eddie Dow emerged, it intensified since the killing suggested a connection between Dow and Jordan because of the latter’s gambling obligations to the former.
Michael Jordan Owed Over $100,000 to A Bail Bondsman Who Was Murdered
The gambling disorder of Michael Jordan was described in a 2014 book by Roland Lazenby titled Michael Jordan: The Life. The six-time NBA champion was really a suspect in a murder-robbery case at one point.
Eddie Dow, a bail bondsman, was killed in a home invasion robbery in February 1992. A metal suitcase that was sitting about the house had an estimated $20000 that was stolen by the robbers. They also discovered numerous checks totaling an astounding $108,000. But, after doing their research, they decided against stealing that as Michael Jordan himself had provided it to Dow.
As mentioned by Lazenby in the book:
Thieves took $20,000 in cash from a metal briefcase on the premises but left three checks worth $108,000 written by Jordan. The lawyer handling Dow s estate confirmed that the checks were for gambling debts owed by Jordan to a North Carolina contractor named Dean Chapman and two other men.
The probe also revealed that Jordan frequently hosted meetings with his golfing and gambling buddies. The gathering would take place at his home on Hilton Island. Dow’s murder reveals he had attended at least three of these gatherings.
Dow had attended at least three of these events, according to his counsel, Lazenby continued. Prior to each season’s training camp, Jordan was renowned for hosting Mike’s Time, a golf and high-stakes poker get-together.
What a scandal for a high-profile star to be a part of. True enough, his name was tarnished and his reputation suffered. Jordan’s extravagant performances on the court, though, were more notable than his antics off it.
Michael Jordan S Gambling Addiction Almost Caused the Chicago Bulls to A Championship
Although the aforementioned incident occurred in February of 1992, Jordan successfully coached the Bulls to their second championship in team history. Let’s just say that the gambling mischief continued. In actuality, it was enlarged.
Jordan became involved in yet another issue the very next year after deciding to make a quick trip to Jersey City’s casinos. The severity of the situation was the main factor in why this turned into a controversy. When the Eastern Conference Finals were in progress.
Jordan received criticism from the media despite his father James Jordan’s defense. He was persuaded to go on the trip by James. Following the incident, MJ was forced to defend himself in front of the city of Chicago.
The five-time NBA MVP nevertheless showed that it had no impact on his performances by allowing the Bulls to easily go to the NBA Finals. whereby they ultimately won their third title and his first triple crown. a historically defining moment.
