When Michael Jordan retired from the NBA in 1988 as a six-time NBA champion and Finals MVP, it seemed highly unlikely that he would ever return to the league, particularly given his stern stance of never playing under any other head coach than Phil Jackson. So when His Airness joined the Washington Wizards in January 2000 as a minority owner and President of Basketball Operations, no one expected him to suit up as a player.
That was until Washington Post NBA reporter Steve Wyche sent shockwaves through the sports world by breaking the story that the five-time MVP was coming out of retirement for the second time to play for a different franchise other than the Chicago Bulls.
How Steve Wyche broke the story?
During a sit-down with other reporters, Wyche explained how he shook up the sports world by being the first to report on Jordan’s return to the NBA. He emphasized how he relentlessly reported on a story that he wholeheartedly believed in that changed his life forever.
Wyche first caught wind of the story when a Wizards source mentioned that he was in the room while the paperwork for Mike’s return as a player was being finalized. Despite asking around, most people within the organization denied the rumors or stayed silent. However, when Steve noticed that MJ’s right-hand man, Rod Higgins, was coming to Washington, he knew he had to run for the story…