The lights flickered on for the newest high definition TV sets on the market to the Frankenstein monstrosities of yesteryear. The fatback, dial turning TVs with antenna ears were hit on the side to get the scrambled picture to settle. Girls and boys living in the US suburbs ran indoor with the same energy as the children on the island of Madagascar. Millions of TVs were tuned in to catch the live televised sporting event of the decade, possibly the century.
The announcer addressed the global television viewing audience from the sidelines of the court. “Good evening, I’m Hugh Jackson, and it is my pleasure to come to you live from the city of Chicago. The day that people had talked about incisively for years is finally here. Michael Jordan has come out of retirement and will suit up for another season with the team that drafted him back in 1983. No, we’re not living in a fantasy world, and it is still the year 2030, but what a time it is to be alive. This crowd is ready to party likes it’s 1998, the last year that the Bulls won the championship.”
The crowd cheered and hollered to a fever pitch inside the United Center. The Bulls were set to play the Boston Celtics, which is a classic rivalry that hasn’t been much of a rivalry since the late 80s and early 90s. That would all change when basketball’s favorite son made his triumphant return to the hardwood thanks to some significant advances in medical science.
What started as an accident in gene manipulation has led to what amounts to the fountain of youth. Utilizing gene-editing technology, scientists can halt the aging process, and for the wealthiest citizens of our population, can even reverse it. This has complicated no other field more than the world of sports. Athletes that had settled into retirement or transitioned into sports media are now looking like they did in their primes. It wasn’t merely a superficial transformation, many of these players became as explosive as they were during their draft combines.
The NFL was quick to ban any retired players that used the controversial procedure, citing it as a performance-enhancing treatment. The MLB was still mulling over its options following the return of some legendary players to the field. Still, after an explosion in ticket sales and television ratings nearly doubling after years of decline, it’s unlikely that baseball will kill their proverbial golden goose. Ken Griffey Jr, A-Rod, and David “Big Papi” Ortiz all had phenomenal seasons.
The medical community has worked hard to dispel any misconceptions about genetic manipulation. Their service was created to help older citizens suffering from multiple ailments live longer. Yet, they never expected the explosion in wealth from the wealthiest one percent willing to empty their bank accounts for a second chance of life.
LeBron James was the first to return to playing action after a short stint as a minority team owner following retirement. He joined his son, Bronny Jr, on the New York Knicks, and together, they brought a championship to the Garden. After the James gang’s successful season, every team in the league contacted their legendary players. Some NBA front offices even offered to cover the medical cost if they signed a short-term contract with their team.
That brings us to Michael Jordan’s return. He was hesitant to accept the challenge at first, but following LeBron’s triumphant return, the world seemed to yearn for Jordan to get back on the court. Who could ever hope to defeat the King and the Prince but a basketball god? Being uncommitted to the idea of a return, Jordan was intrigued by the idea of feeling younger. He educated himself on the medical procedures and eased into the process. Within a few months, his unnatural agility returned, he was a step faster, and his mind sharpened.
On January 19, 2030, he dunked the ball once again, something he had been unable to do in decades. It was a one-handed dunk that barely made it over the top of the rim, but that was only the beginning. It took time to regain the power and explosiveness that he forgot he ever possessed, but like riding a bicycle, it all came back to him in due time.
Jordan eventually tried to recruit the man that helped him attain six championships. He reached out to Scottie Pippen, a legend in his own right, and told him of his intent to return. Unfortunately, Pippen refused to take part in the treatment, believing gene-editing went against the natural order. It would also be unfair to the younger players that would be denied an opportunity to blossom in the league. He wished Jordan luck on the upcoming season but was content to root for his former teammate from a stadium seat. Jordan would be alone like he was during his failed return to the game during his brief stint with the Washington Wizards.
The league has changed immensely since he played his brand of basketball. The three-point shot is king, but Jordan worked hard to expand his range all summer. Much like everyone else that played the game during his era, Jordan was never a proficient three-point shooter. Skeptics and naysayers boast that Jordan will not be able to play today’s style of basketball, despite his youthful energy. A popular sports pundit stated, “Jordan will be the equivalent to a basketball-playing caveman frozen in time and thawed out in a future where he doesn’t understand the game anymore.”
When asked by a reported about the comment, Jordan brushed it off with a chuckle and said, “This caveman can still play.” He flashed his winning smile, and the reporters in the room laughed. There was still a contingent of the media and the basketball watching community that was worried about Jordan’s legacy. They may not have said it to his face, but Jordan’s legend was on the line. For Jordan to succeed, he would have to bring the lowly Bulls, who finished in last place the previous season, into the postseason.
Jordan was up against a new era of basketball made up of players that were born years after he retired and may have only caught glimpses of his game on YouTube. He would also have to contend against other legends coming out of retirement and entering the league.
“I just want to get out there and play the game I love again,” said Jordan during a press conference before his first game. There was no boasting about winning percentages or promises of bringing home a title. Just a man that could not reject the opportunity to play the game of basketball again.
Back at the United Center, Jordan walked out onto the court with the ball in one hand as he waved to the crowd with the other. The fans went wild when they saw the legend in the flesh. The PA announcer called the names of the other players over the loudspeakers and saved the best for last. “And returning to the home that he built after thirty-two years, at six-foot-six-inches and two hundred- thirty pounds, His Airness, Michael Jordan!” The lights flashed, and the pyrotechnics were triggered, while Jordan calmly slapped the hands of his fellow teammates.
Despite the festivities, Jordan felt calm and at home. It’s just a game. It’s just a game, he thought. So many things had changed, but a lot of things had stayed the same. He lived in the moment and tried to hold on to it for as long as possible. Tears weld up in his eyes as he took the ball and dribbled on the court. He clanked his first few practice shots off the rim. “I guess I’m rusty,” he told a young teammate. He took another shot from the three-point line and swished it. The subsequent four tries also found the bottom of the net.
“Doesn’t look that way, Legend,” said the young teammate.
The clock ticked down to zero, and the buzzer sounded. The players got into their pre-tipoff positions. The Bulls seven-foot center from Latvia prepared to jump at center court. The ref held the ball above his head and tossed it up. The two giant men in the middle jumped for the ball and extended their arms to the heavens. The ball was tipped back and fell right into Jordan’s hands. The crowd cheered as the man, the myth, the legend bounced the ball up the court. It’s just a game, he told himself, but he recognized that it was so much more.
The End