MJ was highly impressed by Steve Wyche finding a way to break his news of returning to the Wizards as a player.
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.
Eventually, he took it to Washington Post sports editor George Solomon, and soon it was splashed on Page 1.
Despite not receiving any direct information from Mike’s agent, David Falk, or any other personnel from the player’s inner circle, Wyche was able to garner information from varied sources all by himself. This was arguably the greatest moment of his career, as his hard work was valiantly acknowledged by the 14-time All-Star as well.
Jordan acknowledged Wyche’s hard-fought efforts
Getting a nod of approval from His Airness is a big deal for anyone, but for a reporter like Wyche, who was still trying to make a name for himself at the time, it was huge. And he got to experience that firsthand.
"I went up and introduced myself. And he was like, 'You're good,'" Wyche said. "That was really, really, good."
Breaking the story of the NBA’s greatest ever coming out of retirement didn’t just grab attention; it cemented Wyche’s credibility in the sports journalism world. Certainly, Steve is reaping the benefits of his hard work as he is now among the best reporters in the NFL world.
