re: How Jordan REALLY broke his ribs???

["Thomas Murphy" <tfmiii@worldnet.att.net>]

The trib version - although much spicier - corrolates with what D'Alessandro
reports, with the added virtue that it actually provides a reasonable
explanation of how the ribs were broken.
-----------------
Dave D'Alessandro
The Sporting News

Michael Jordan's broken ribs have stalled his comeback, but his tongue is as
sharp as ever.

This story comes from a player at the scene of one of his final workouts in
Chicago: In one scrimmage, Jordan was humiliating Celtics power forward
Antoine Walker, and during this abuse, he serenaded Walker with, "You can
put four L's on your calendar right now-two in Boston, two in Washington."

Actually, Jordan should save the worst punishment for his old team because
it was an elbow from Bulls small forward Ron Artest that broke his ribs.


> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Mon, 25 Jun 2001 11:39:08 EDT
> From: CeltsSteve@AOL.com
> Subject: How Jordan REALLY broke his ribs???
>
> The Chicago Trib has an article in today's edition that "speculates" that
the version currently circulating is what really occurred that fateful day.
Seems that MJ was in full trash talk mode with Antoine and Artest and Artest
ended end body slamming him and then a fight ensued. All parties in the gym
that day were sworn to secrecy to preserve the Legend.
>
> http://www.chicagosports.com/bulls/content/column/0,2007,154835,00.html
>
>
> The mystery of the broken ribs
>
> So just how does someone break two ribs being guarded? If Ron Artest were
that strong, wouldn't the Bulls have been a little better?
>
> The hottest rumor about Michael Jordan's rib injury in Chicago is that it
occurred in a fight with Artest. Artest denies it, but being slammed to the
ground is how you can break ribs, and that's the story going around.
>
> It's being said that Jordan was in full trash-talk mode that day. He had
been telling Antoine Walker of the Celtics to count on four losses to the
Wizards next season, and he was hitting jump shots in the face of Artest and
taunting Artest about his time with the Bulls and was getting personal. The
story is that Artest stayed back in the lane, and then when Jordan came in
the next time, Artest grabbed him and slammed him to the floor. That's
supposedly when the ribs were broken.
>
> Artest is also said to have thrown a punch at Jordan afterward. Word is
the participants were sworn to secrecy or wouldn't be allowed back in the
private gym near Jordan's West Side restaurant. Who knows if it's true, but
it certainly sounds more realistic than the story Jordan has been telling.
>
> Copyright 2001 The Chicago Tribune