Michael Jordan recently made the headlines for instigating a memorable day in Dwight Freeney’s life. He cleverly tricked the NFL star, only to surprise him with the incredible news of his Hall of Fame induction. Steve Wyche later shared the details of this memorable day, capturing the attention of fans around the world.
On The Rich Eisen Show, the 58-year-old recalled how his crew and Jordan teamed up with Freeney’s wife, Brittany, former head coach, Tony Dungy, and President of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Jim Porter to plan the prank. MJ subsequently invited the NFL legend to what appeared to be a routine golf game at his Grove XXIII course. They then used this opportunity to reveal the news, as Wyche shared,
“Dwight Freeney and Michael Jordan play golf together on Michael Jordan’s course outside of Jupiter, Florida at least four days a week. To Dwight Freeney, it was a routine golf outing with Michael Jordan. But MJ and Dwight’s wife and a couple of people set it up so that Tony Dungy and our crew and Jim Porter would be there to surprise him… And Dwight walks in the door and there’s Tony”.
This sparked discussions for several reasons. On one hand, it was a full-circle moment for Freeney, as the coach who drafted him into the NFL, Dungy, became the one to bring him the news of HOF. On the other, it pointed to Jordan‘s commitment to his close ones. On this occasion, for instance, he stretched his boundaries to make the day of a friend.
Moreover, this moment added a new twist to the stories surrounding Jordan’s Grove XXIII golf course. After all, MJ allegedly built the place for the exact opposite reason.
The story behind Michael Jordan’s private golf course
The Black Mamba’s competitive spirit has remained unchanged throughout his journey. Even after stepping away from basketball, he has looked for ways to channel this drive into other areas of his life. Interestingly, golf has become a major outlet for him in this regard.
This led him to design this course with a unique edge, intentionally making it challenging for players at every turn. Professional golfer Rickie Fowler confirmed this on Golf.com, and said “Grove is just like, if I don’t play absolutely perfect that day, I have no chance”.
A golf course that became infamous over time as ‘Slaughterhouse 23’, might earn a contrasting nickname after the recent incident. It’s also fitting that MJ orchestrated the event around Grove XXIII, further showing his love for the game. All these add another layer of uniqueness to the moment, as fans now eagerly anticipate seeing Jordan at the upcoming Hall of Fame ceremony.