SportsCentury Backstory: MJ's "Food Poisoning" A.K.A The Flu Game In The 1997 NBA Finals. 

Phil Jackson: “it’s a psychological battle I’ve never seen anybody overcome”

Win by any means necessary- sick or not - that’s the greatness of Jordan

MJ played 44 minutes in this game which is one of the finals...thats quite unbelievable...just simply the goat

🐐 Jordan, Ali and Gretzky. They transcended the sport

MJ Will Forever Be My Fav Player #23!!

Michael Jordan is INARGUABLY the MENTALLY STRONGEST ATHLETE EVER!!!!!!!!!! It’s NOT even close. That Man’s will to win is UNMATCHED.

The real man never flops

Remember watching the Flu Game live on whatever network it was on maybe TNT but I can tell you I didn't think he was going to make it much less that they were gonna beat the Jazz & I was and still am a diehard Bulls fan... The man never let Bulls Nation down he was a true sports hero to the end... G.O.A.T. hands down no question...

Greatest athlete of all time

I don’t think there’s anyone with his level of drive and mental toughness to overcome circumstances like these to help his team win.

Will to win. 🐐

I don't know why people are hung up on this being a hangover, flu or food poisoning? What matters is that MJ was put in a situation where it would've taken normal people at least a full day to recover. And yet he went out there, played as phenomenal as usual, and led his team to victory. Yeah maybe he drank too much instead of eating questionable pizza. Does that make what he did any less unbelievable? I was only able to watch MJ for half of his career, but he never took a day off unless he absolutely had to. In 93, he played the Knicks -- the most physical team of the 90s, if not ever -- on a bad wrist. He never missed a game, playoff, regular season, or exhibition, since his return in 95. In 2002, he busted his knee, put off surgery for 7 games before his knee swelled up so bad that Etan Thomas described it as being like "The Elephant Man". Even after surgery, he returned for a last ditch effort to make the playoffs. He played all 82 games the next season while turning 40. The only thing more amazing that Jordan's talent on court was his heart. The guy was relentless.

How fucking awesome is MJs basketball story, Ive seen all the documents regarding Michael, yet I can watch them again later and get pulled right back into the epicness like its my first time watching!

Would LeBron James have performed like that under those circumstances and lead his team to victory? Absolutely not! Michael Jordan is the GOAT!

Marv's voice so iconic in that game.

MJ's willpower was SUPERHUMAN!!! It's like watching Superman perform a heroric act while ravaged by Kryptonite poisoning.

Jordan didn't have a flu, the flu had a Jordan.

His trainer confirmed it was pizza that was delivered to the hotel room.

i don't think queen james can do this...

If ur an athlete playing against utah teams...dont order any food the night before ur game 😂😂😂

MJ is the real man! if you could able to put some shoe on Mj's foot for a win from other players who are great at that time they were battling with flu I think it's gonna be a different story and never could be the same as MJ. that's an epic one which made him as GOAT..

Michael Jordan: 38 points in the NBA Finals while riddled with illness Lebron James: 6 points in the NBA Finals in perfect health There is no debate to be had.

This is only one out of the MANY reasons Lebron James doesn't even belong in the same realm as this man & if you don't like it-TOO DAMN BAD!

That boy was hungover 😂😂😂😂

No body will ever beat that, Bill Russell, Wilt, Kareem, Kobe or the self-promoted goat, LeBron. MJ overcame the illness in a game he made the winning short. He walked out of the arena on his two feet enhanced his greatness then and after winning the second 3 peat cemented his place in history of the sport of basketball. GOAT forever. When in future a guy wins triple 3 peat within 10 or 12 years with a same franchise as MJ won double with Bull within 8 years, then the GOAT status will be passed to the new guy. As it stands now, no body comes close.

And this is why Lebron James will never be the G.O.A.T.

Pippen was damn near useless on the offensive end during their games against Utah...stop lowkey trying to DIMINISH the goat to just a scorer... that last series versus Utah kukoc had just as many points as Pip in the series per game and he did just as much rebounding and assist work (IN LESS MINUTES and shooting higher percentages)... Jordan doesn't win his championships without Pippen...MAYBE ...but in the finals JORDAN unquestionably CARRIED THEM every time...and went a level BEYOND even his normal greatness...which was ALREADY INSANE

Does not matter whether why he was sick he stayed true to his self that's what life is all about. I wish the whole world was like him never give up

Meanwhile someone I know complains about cramps

How amazing it must have been to be part of the bulls management, team assistance and everything surrounding the bulls when Michael Jordan was there. Every game was like a great adventure.

That's why he's the GOAT

G.O.A.T= MICHAEL JEFFREY JORDAN 23

The Greatest of All Time.

There are many that had wanted to see Houston in that final.

Shout out to Pippen for saying "I'll guard my guy and yours, you just do what u do best, score in the 4th." Lol need teammates like that

“If you bought into that you coulda been sold anything in the world” 😂😂😂

Forgets to mention Jordan dropping 38pts and a 3 pointer with seconds to go in the game and also getting the win. Dude needs to be a news anchor instead.

Mjjjj he is a Goat best player ever💪💪👍🤩

Maybe Gatorade can work vs. Covid-19...

Awweeee Daddy knew!! 💜

19:19 didnt expect MJ couldnt hit a three. 🤣🤣🤣

Goat 🐐

whatever the name.. flu poisoined covid etc... 1 thing for sure he is not in a good condition.. simple.. he is sicked.. and he play fenomenal

S/O to Moses Malone from my hometown! R.I.P.

MJ was too competitive to drink before Game Days and Game Times he was so focused

Jerry Sloan with his negative comment. I play when I am sick as hell and still win games. Don't hate there mr. Sloan. Jazz will never win.

Imagine you're close to Mj and someone offers you money to fuck with him in the finals and it back fires this bad

If it had been the stomach flu, known medically as gastroenteritis, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gastroenteritis , that's contagious, and his teammates could very well have gotten it. The pizza theory is correct.

This is crazy! You have to see DJ Roberson video dude literally is INSANE!!!

I don't understand why it is so hard for MJ to quit in the middle of a game and stop playing defense. Should have learned from the pro's of today how to play the game.

It's gotta be the Shoes!

The goat

The guy who made the pizza finally spoke up about it! He said that he was mad because they got the order for the pizza a few minutes before they closed. He didn’t wash his hands and used old pepperoni that had already been thrown away! That’s how MJ got food poisoning! He didn’t know it was for MJ! Not until the delivery guy got to the hotel! Who happened to be with his friends because it was the last delivery. So when they found out it was MJ all 5 of them went to deliver the pizza! Which is why the team thought he was poisoned on purpose!

Wow, not Ostertag's fault that Jordan got that rebound off the miss on the free throw line. It was hornacek and stockton who lined up at the 3 pt line instead. Never noticed that.

🐐

Greg Ostertag did not let the team down at the end. After Jordan's missed free throw, the ball bounced Karl Malone's way and he had a halfassed effort to rebound it! MVP my azz! Karl Malone blew it for the Utah Jazz by making bad shock decisions and not using his weight and muscle to dominate.

And now Pippen trying to throw shades at this Flu game...like at close doors he knew it's fake or something. .yet we see here he's worried and tjat telling MJ.not to worry of defense and just make thr shots so they cam wiin .Hr talk lately like he's the real man not MJ, yet even in times MJ wss sick he can't even take MJrole... If he's the man then just win, don't rely on a sick guy..it's your chance. Take it.. But this proves he cant..MJ has to bail hilm out.

The MVP couldn't out hustle a sick guy!

I remember that gsme

That’s Randy Brown Lmao … the one MJ said Gilbert Arenas remind him of 😂

GOAT

Why in the world did they double tesm Scottie down the stretch of that game….The Jazz’s IQ was not the highest

That box out wasn’t Ostertag’s fault; that was all on Malone!!

If Malone hit both free throws then Jordan would have hit a 3.

Like Mike, If could be like Mike

Most competitive human on the planet.

14:59

The music makes the doctor seem suspicious, all dodgey eyed and shit 🤤

not human

Perfecting the art of something *valuable......will always serve yiu and others in a productive manner. #everytime .There's 3 people in Life, that will forever be privy to what someone is truly capable of. Either those that genuinely love you and those that have experienced you (negatively or positively) first hand. I'm sure that MJ's father has seen him rise to the occassion in many ways. To hear anyone doubt what someone can do, even though they're seeing specifics with their own eyes. The minute their excuses are uttered, you really have to unleash whatever crickets with disgust. As the obvious doesn't up and change based on what someone wants to think/ would rather think. It seems like most folk were busy feeling some type of way about hi.. To the point that they couldn't believe what their own eyes showed them. #interesting

Does anybody know the piece of music that starts at 21:10 and its name?

Can someone tell me WHO IS A carl Malone fan 🤣🤔 I don't know anyone 🤣 he was always jealous of MJ

Mind over matter is a real thing.

Jordan was going to bury you no matter what that's why he's the best ever.We got 2 Chicago icons that had flu games and man did they perform

"Pizza" 😉

Jordan is a great player that will never be denied but even though I thought he was sick I never thought he wasn’t gonna play, pass out later or collapse on the floor despite being sick I thought he was putting on a little bit.

Michael Jordan is a tough guy but not against needles

No poisoning food , was as ordinary happens in the kitchen ,many did not clean their hands while handling with food.

Kirk Gibson ❤23 if you wear it play like a goat. “I don’t believe what I just saw “;

The mailman doesn't deliver on Sundays!

lebron will cry like a girl after watchin this😂

carl malone thought he was jordan lol 😅

They gave him Gatorade????? read the labels doc.!!!!!!

Jordan is the 🐐🐐🐐 lebron 😂😂😂

Why does Jud Buechler look so scared

Why would he fake being sick?

He knew if he didn't play they would have lost the championship. He wasn't going to let his teammates down. That's a leader. He's the reason why I don't like athletes like Simone Biles. She cost her team the gold. No chance in hell Michael Jordan would have done that. This game is proof positive.

Listen close to the story , I love MJ. Too many joyous moments watching him grown up & as grown man. However, this story sounds like BS. Not that he was sick , but the Hotel w no room service. There is little Easter eggs in the story. If you listen close that you can tell our bullshit why would Michael Jordan even agree to stay at a hotel with no room service? He could bring a chef or at least a personal assistant (TIM GROVER) isn’t a dumb guy. Nikes lied regarding MJ before. The True Banned One, now every 5-7 years they drop the ‘Flu Game 12s’ and you would be amazed with a backstory does for a sneaker, especially concerning marketing they eat it up. Just my theory, not buying the pizza / flu/oh TLD it’s now “ the food poisoning game” nope but result would’ve been same 🐐 and I’m sure it wasn’t his idea to lie either time.

JORDAN HAD THAT DOG!!!

Jordan owns lefraud shames

My version would be the diarrhea game considering the UNHOLY DEMONS I release in the toilet everyday. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

That's what yall get Jazz and Stockton I hope it hurt bad ...bad bad ... Sad the 🚀 fan 😁🤘🏿tx✌🏿💚🤎🖤

funny that these teams have 100s of staff around...they have docs, trainers, managers, etcetc...and they DON'T have a cook? in an away game? ridiculous....MJ must've drank too much and that's it. by the way coca cola usually helps reduce food related migraine

He was hungover ,with the flu & food poisoning on top of that !!.

Probably Jordans best game....but he ain't Tom Brady(goat)

You spelled hangover wrong...

what if that pizza kiled MJ?

Cute story, LeBron still the goat 🐐

Chicago had four hallfamer vs. Two of Utah. A total despair . I always say if you do not open the wallet you will never have a shot. Look Toronto Raptors and now the super teams.

And they try to argue LeBron🤡 is better than MJ 👑. My ass. 😂😂 LeBron not even Kobi level. Its not made Up, Official boosted stats. Its the mentality Killer Mentality 1.MJ 2Kobe 3AI 🎉🎉💯👑💯💯