Remember 30 Years Ago Today When MJ Wore No. 12? It Was FINALLY Revealed That Someone Stole His No. 23 Jersey By Coming Through The Ceiling, Mission Impossible Style
[Yahoo] - Arena security “got a little worried and began spilling the beans,” Powell tells Yahoo Sports. One of their own concocted “this master plan.”
“In the end it was proven that the jersey was taken by a member of the arena security personnel with the intent to keep,” adds Powell. “The security member tried to come through the ceiling after the gameday shootaround in the morning. They were successful in getting to the jersey and must have planned on leaving the jersey in the ceiling for awhile to come and retrieve at a later date.”
The. Dude. Went. Through. The. Ceiling. “Mission: Impossible” style. And lost his job because of it.
This is just another one of those Jordan stories and 90s NBA stories that I wish happened now with social media. I'm sure 99% of you reading this know all about the night Jordan had to wear No. 12 against the Magic because someone stole his No. 23 jersey before the game. It's one of the biggest mysteries in the NBA - like how is James Dolan still allowed to own the Knicks and just how rigged is the NBA lottery.
The article by Yahoo is actually awesome. It's the first time I've ever this theory. There were rumors of this, but not ever explained as someone associated with the situation saying someone came through the ceiling tiles. This person is Sid Powell, the equipment manager and director of team operations for the Magic.
Remember the jersey was apparently found in the ceiling a few days later and allegedly returned, although the Bulls claim they never got it.
Powell says “the jersey was retrieved and eventually sent back to the Bulls.” Except, Ligmanowski and Bulls senior director of public and media relations Tim Hallam — two of the few holdovers left from the pre-dynasty days — do not recall ever getting the stolen No. 23 jersey returned to them.
It's honestly still one of the greatest, ballsiest moves I can remember. There might not be a more superstitious person in all of sports than MJ. The dude had the same routine. Needed to wear the same shit. It's been talked about at length. To force him to wear a different jersey number, just moments before the game? Brilliant.
I'm just picturing this arena security guy dangling with some cords through the ceiling. There's 100% another mastermind holding on to him like a mix of The Sandlot/Mission Impossible
I need to know what happened with this No. 23 jersey more than anything else. I need to know who has it now and what really went on with this. It's the ultimate whodunit.
