What motivated that? In his new life as a businessman Jordan has made one shrewd move after another. Being able to transition from a basketball player who can impact a game, and determining outcome, to where you now sit up in an office without the same control, you have to be able to live vicariously through the players you select. Where do you see him today in terms of his life?Jordan: Hes in a transitional period. Obviously there is a bit more to it than that. Michael Jordan Videos Exceed Seven Million Views The series of videos shot during the interview between basketball legend Michael Jordan and Marvin R. Shanken has hit a combined total of 7.3 million views on the magazine's August 5, 2022 Channels Cuba Cuba's Small Rafael Gonzalez Brand Gets New Size February 16, 2023 Cigar News Michael Jordan would still call Tiger the best ever. I wanted that feeling of success and relaxation. "And he said, I cant have the cigartoday because my mom got mad at me because she saw me smoking a cigar.". But the effort was there and the learning curve and the passion was there. Does that make Bill Russell better than me or make me better than him? It would have an enormous impact on how they felt about their own self-esteem.Jordan: Really? But hes not stopping there. When I went back to [basketball] I appreciated it even more. It was very cool. Usually we text. He would do this before every home game. Sign in Michael Jordan on His. Call me, we'll set it up.". A lot of kids growing up because of their parents may start that way, but not end up that way. Really? This is a very critiquing period of this world. Cigar Aficionado Online, M. Shanken Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. You know, for another interview. Now that he is no longer on the courts, he admits to smoking as many as six cigars a day. And I can see who's calling. We've had an amazing arrary of covers during our 30-year history. Naturally, Jordan has become accustomed to the finer things. My agent and my people who have been working with me, have been pushing for me to do it. Obviously with the embargo its a little difficult.Jordan: Yes. That helped me put things in perspective. Educate the kids to be able to make sound decisions, from where they sit. At the end of the day, my time in the spotlight is dwindling. Which is somewhat frustrating. Rashad, who introduced Jordan to cigars, laughed and told Barkley that he was clearly the riffraff. "I'm fascinated with my massive size, and some of these guys being so small, and they can blow it past me, which is somewhat frustrating, but it is what it is.". So it was a rich experience. And sometimes I surprise myself because I find Ive got nothing to do today. Other than that people can call on me and ask me for money maybe. You can smoke a six-and-a-half, seven, seven-and-a-half-inch cigara double coronaand that's like a one-hour cigar. You realize that this is a very special man. They remain the perfect companion for whiling away on afternoons. Ive gone through so many good things, theres been very few bad things, but bad things make you better. So, I started smoking a cigar going to the games. Shanken: This is a very serious conversation, but what I really want to ask you now, is while youve been talking youve been smoking a pre-Castro Cuban cigar. So in essence its all related to who is watching now. So what are the cigars Jordan named as his go-to? Starting in 1994, Michael Jordan basically stopped talking to the press. Shanken: Im dying to know, have you had any holes in one?Jordan: Two. I love golf, I love cigars. After all, there's nothing like lighting up a Cuban cigar after winning a championship. I bought about 287 acres and were building 18 holes, a teaching facility. Let's put it this way: It's like averaging 45 points a game. W The legendary basketball player Michael Jordan sit down for a full hour interview to talk about basketball, his business life, his love of cigars, and more. Its a work in progress with the Hornets. So most of my focus stayed on the college game. It could alter them. He was in Chicago. To revisit this article, select My Account, thenView saved stories, To revisit this article, visit My Profile, then View saved stories. The Chicago Bulls legend made it clear he believed all potential NBA Draft prospects should have been at least 20 years old. Those interviewsas well as the videos that accompanied the second storyare essential Jordan literature. successful franchise. It is a double corona that has to be enjoyed over time. Ad Choices, And more gems from Marvin Shanken, the editor-in-chief of, The Real-Life Diet of Andrew Huberman, Who Switches to Red Party Lights After Dark, The 17 Best New Menswear Items to Buy This Week, Watch Deion Sanders's Interview Live at the GQ Sports Style Hall of Fame, Watch Allen Iverson's Interview Live at the GQ Sports Style Hall of Fame, Watch Derek Jeter's Interview Live at the GQ Sports Style Hall of Fame, Michael B. Jordan Hits the Press Junket in Percival's Best-Selling Polo Shirt. Jordan lays out a few, withthe comparison to the conversation aroundhim and Bill Russell the most compelling. And typically, if it's long, it's wide. I met him when he was 12 years old. So what are the, Recently, this cigar has made a comeback, but its original, Jordan is not shy or modest about the number of cigars he smokes a day. 2. Michael Jordan Used to Smoke a Cigar Before Every Home Game And more gems from Marvin Shanken, the editor-in-chief of Cigar Aficionado, on his two-time cover star. The interview took place in his living room, where he has a wine cellar, a cigar room, and you're surrounded by six MVPs. I dont know if I could survive in this Twitter time. The complete 58-minute interview has never been seenuntil now. It's like a Boeing 747. Shanken: You would be so unbelievably welcomed in Cuba by the Cuban people and the Cuban government. Upon reflection, what do you think is really the correct waythe right wayfor the NBA to handle this?Jordan: Ive been on both sides. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. To a fellow cigar smoker, that is real bonding. Never played golf with him yet. I also grew up a NASCAR fan, a Richard Petty fan. Obviously, Michael loves cigars and knew of me and read the magazine and so forth. Jordan has appeared on two of the magazine's covers, in 2005 and 2017, each time sitting for a lengthy interview (and a number of cigars) with editor-in-chief and publisher Marvin Shanken. My biggest problem from a competitive standpoint is the focus of todays athlete. Listen, I know it because I go through the same thing: When you play golf and you smoke a cigar, you don't even know you're smoking a cigar. People dont see that. Yeah, Jack has 18 majors and Tiger's got14. Cigar Aficionado is a lifestyle magazine that revolves around, that's right, cigars. In a 2005 interview with Cigar Aficionado, Jordan said he had smoked the Partagas Serie D No. You were voted No. The Hoyo de Monterrey Double Corona is a Cuban delight. Michael Jordan captivated audiences like no other person could do in the basketball games history as far back as anyone can remember. No. The first issue of Cigar Aficionado was printed in 1992, which makes the interview roughly three years old. Your Jordan shoe brand from Nike, I am told, does $3 billion a year. So all I can say to you is: I want to be like Mike. You now are the owner of the Charlotte Hornets. Shanken: Have you seen a lot of it?Jordan: Yeah, Ive seen it. And whatever we dont smoke [gestures to the box of Hoyos] is yours. I watched college basketball and baseball. So obviously you guys had a happy initial interview. It's daunting. His mom put an end to that, saying she didnt like it. Do you have a favorite? I think hes going to roll up his sleeves, hes going to dive in, hes going to try to do the best he can in terms of reconnecting it back to the city of Miami. He owned car dealerships and he came to me and he said I have this opportunitywould you have an interest? I dont know if I could survive in this Twitter time. Im 54 years old. I like variety. Director Jason Hehirexplained that in one episode, a cigar rests on the table next to MJ, untouched. GQ: So your first interview with Michael was in 2005. And he loves his golf, and he loves his cigars. Tiger evolved it to where it crossed a lot of different boundaries, where it's not just a white guy's sport. Shanken: So what role, positive or negative, does an agent play in helping the young man make the best decisions? I talk to my father-in-law about that all the time. At age 58, he still works out. Im massive, and some of these guys are so small, and they can blow it past me. Shanken: I dont want to end the interview without having this cigar. Shanken: Now were fast forwarding all these years to today, and you are a very complete businessman, with many different interests. The summer of "The Last Dance" and a conveniently timed interview drop three days after the Finals? this was right before we found out that michael jordan went and got dennis rodman from vegas who was in bed with carmen electra. GOLF DIGEST MAY EARN A PORTION OF SALES FROM PRODUCTS THAT ARE PURCHASED THROUGH OUR SITE AS PART OF OUR AFFILIATE PARTNERSHIPS WITH RETAILERS. Right now were just going through the permit stage. At the end of the day my heart, my soul, my dedication is in the right place. This is after the interview. What do you like to smoke?Jordan: Partags Lusitanias are my favorite. Shanken: Well, if you went into a cigar factory all the cigar rollers would stop their work and they would give you a welcome that would give you goose bumps. The Cuban Partags Lusitania cost on average $13 each in Cuba back in 2015. Im still going to be a very positive force within the community, with the kids of tomorrow, but Ive got my own kids. Shanken: Who is going to design the course?Jordan: Bobby Weed. Jordan's Philosophy in Best Cigar Prices. Throughout his interviews on ESPNsThe Last Dance,Jordan can be seen with a cigar in his mouth. By simply searching 'Cigar Aficionado Michael Jordan' or 'Michael Jordan Uncut', the full sit-down can be found on YouTube for free. Thats what my father and my mother instilled in me. And these are not little cigars! If you want to play music, play music. Jordan was hooked from that point on until the present. It's the most relaxing thing.. I know he smokes on the golf course; I play with him. He's passionate about cigars. It is the equivalent of $20 per smoke. I love baseball. Yes, Jack has 18 majors and Tiger has 14. What we have been able to do is understand what works with the consumer, and weve been able to grow that business. This comes as a surprise because it requires leaves of specific sizes to make and arent around all year. Because you can always put your name on something, but most of the things that I dopractically all the things that I doare very authentic in terms of my involvement. The star players are not rushing to small markets, so I put more emphasis on draft than I used to, because youre not going to be able to get the LeBrons of the world to come to Charlotte. Notice any parallels there? Because everybody felt the team was going to be dismantled. First of all youre never going to say who is the greatest of all time. Now, obviously Jack won more during the time that he played. There's no fans, there's no camerasit's a relatively private moment. We spend time talking about it. Is it about getting the best deal he can? He said he smokes six a day, and he plays 36 holes. Hows it taste? Shanken: I assume youre at a competitive disadvantage in a lot of ways. Shanken: Lets talk about Derek Jeter.Jordan: Hes like my little brother. The Uncut Interview With Michael Jordan Cigar Aficionado 107K subscribers Subscribe 63K 3.4M views 2 years ago Watch the complete, uncut video of Marvin R. Shanken's interview with NBA legend. This particular cigar was very popular in the 90s. Jordan had his first cigar after he and his Chicago Bulls won their first NBA championship in 1991. Also the audiences who watch basketball are decliningI think it peaked when you were playing. Suppose you are an oldie who abandoned any of the double corona variations in the 90s. It was a business decision, an opportunity for me to play professional basketball. Its an education. In 2017, Michael Jordan told Cigar Aficionado magazine that his favourite brand is the Cuban Partags Lusitania, however he likes a variety of cigars. For a person like myself who lives in the spotlight, the thing that hes always said is take a pause before you make a decision, and say what if. Whatever decision youre going to make will have consequences. I dont like rules. Her family has a lot of memories about Cuba, so in essence she wants to go, which I think is a motivational factor. Some people may view some of my decisions to be not the right ones. Who he admired is who I watched. My mother calls me practically every day, reiterating keep your nose clean. Thats her constant reminder that people are watching, people are learning, people are paying attention. I like variety. Recent productions have seen the cigar sport a charming combination of coffee notes, sweet spices, and a tinge of orange peel. Regardless, it set the internet ablaze to the tune of 1.2 million views (and counting) in just 12 days, despite some of its contents being fairly outdated. I wish I could buy one of those old cars and ship it over here. Dont rub success in peoples faces. He is a phenomenon. You're into the heat of the moment, and the competition, and who you're playing with, and the conversation. It became a ritual for every home game.. Joe Rivera is a senior content producer at The Sporting News and teaches Multimedia Sports Reporting at his alma mater, Rutgers University. Would you believe it if I said the number is equal to his championship rings? Jordan: If its perceived properly. Youve got something else worthwhile? Was it strictly friendship or business?Jordan: Both. During Jordan's first Cigar Aficionado cover story, he and the story's author enjoy a pair of Montecristo No. Youre going to have one or two teams that are going to be great, and another 28 teams that are going to be garbage. Shanken: Do you play golf almost every day?Jordan: Almost every day. Free shipping for many products! We won the championship, and Jerry Reinsdorf {owner of the Bulls] gave me one of his cigars. Bill Russell won 11. Watch the complete, uncut video of Marvin R. Shanken's interview with NBA legend Michael Jordan. But he looks really relaxed when you guys are talkinghe gets expansive in a way you're not used to seeing. But his love for the things goes even deeper than that, as the Editor-in-Chief of Cigar Aficionado magazine, Marvin Shanken, even said Jordan once told him he used to smoke a cigar before every single home game in . All rights reserved. All Rights Reserved. It is a regular production cigar and is as regularly available as it is top-notch. GQ may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with retailers. He's just a nice guy. [laughing]. In an interview with Cigar Aficionado in 2017, Jordan admits to smoking quite a lot. The best support system is their agent. During one episode of this weekend's"The Last Dance," viewers noticed something curious: In just one interview that Jordan did with the production team, he had a cigar resting beside him. Thats Jordan. Augusta, without a doubt. I have my own wife. - Michael Jordan, Cigar Aficionado PARTAGAS LUSITANIA Branded in 1845 by Don Jaime Partagas, Partagas is one of the oldest and most renowned of all Havana cigar brands. As he noted, the conversation is a public relations game. I dont want to just lend my name to a product. Here are 10 of our favorites. When we played, the talent pool was much broader, because the kids were in college much longer. But don't wear it and rub it in other people's faces.". As odd as it sounds that an athlete as accomplished as Michael Jordan loves cigars, it is true, and he loves puffing more than one cigar a day. Then we have to be adults. On Oct. 14, Cigar Aficionado released a one-hour, uncut interview with Michael Jordan, which was conducted for the publication's 25-year anniversary.. After I went to Cuba I decided I didnt want to die without having a cigar magazine.Jordan: Thats my dream trip. Shanken: So its been through an editing process.Jordan: No, it has not gone through a true editing process. "He's in a transitional period. You want to win the big prize. 2's are the undisputed top of the heap when it comes to Cuban torpedo cigars. I never played against Wilt Chamberlain, I never played against Jerry West. #BoriHablamosTv #autoestima #amorpropioFor support our channel:https://www.patreon.com/BoriHablamosTVFollow Me: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/borihabla. By Sam Schube May 15,. Yeah, OK. Source: Cigar Aficionado. "I like variety. If I had to smoke a cigar that I can get through, that would be an Esplendido [a Cohiba Churchill]. Where are they going to get that education? It became a ritual for every home game. The basketball legend said, It became such a relaxing thing to do each and every day for a home game, I smoke a cigar. Very contemporary. And obviously Michael was able to get the benefits from it, which was the relaxation. I won six championships. Jordan appeared twice on the cover ofCigar Aficionado. What leadership is about. One of the biggest issues we do have is we are not a Chicago, we are not an L.A., we are not a big market to where teams or players look to go. I'm not gonna play for that." Initially, when I got out of basketball, I really didnt know what I was going to do in terms of ownership. She wants to go for different reasons. As for Rory McIlroy, MJ has met him but never played with him, and he shares the same sentiments most average golfers have when watching the Northern Irishman. Now, theformer Chicago Bulls star watches the game from the Charlotte Hornets owners office. They never played in the same tournament, they never played with the same equipment, they never played with the same length of golf course. Shanken: Bravo.Jordan: That, to me, is huge. Real talented. Michael Jordan at the 2006 Ryder Cup Michael Jordan had his first cigar after winning his first NBA championship back in 1991. Clearly, he likes Cubans, but not too strong. Jordan has even admitted that since his retirement, he's smoked as many as six cigars in a day! He said, "Let's do it. So dont think you can take advantage. Does anything stick out to you from that first interview? When available, a box of 25 Partagas Lusitania cigars sells for approximately $500. THE MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, TRANSMITTED, CACHED OR OTHERWISE USED, EXCEPT WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. 2023 DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Michael Jordan talks golf -- and smoking SIX cigars per day -- in Cigar Aficionado interview, something he made clear in a 2005 interview with, Check out his thoughts on Rickie, JT and Spieth in the rest of this awesome interview here. Shanken: Have you ever played with Jordan Spieth?Jordan: I did about four weeks ago, in Cabo. Shanken: Other than playing golf with me again, and going to Cuba, whats on your bucket list?Jordan: Winning a championship in Charlotte. He retired as a player in 2003, but his star power has not wanedhes the top-ranked athlete in history by The Harris Poll, ahead of such luminaries as Babe Ruth and Muhammad Ali. And its a bad four. Eh, it's personal stuff. So then we arranged to do it at the Bear's Club, which was closed at the time. Thats the way hes lived his life. to me. The Partagas Lusitania is not some rare brand of cigar. In 2013, he declared he was going to get down to his playing weight of 218 pounds it is unknown . He was scuffling along in minor-league baseball, and after an inflammatory Sports Illustrated cover story (for which the writer has apologized not once but twice), the worlds most famous athlete decided he simply didnt want to engage. I dont know how I can be a part of it, but I am a part of it from afar and from a support standpoint. With the Jordan Brand, it is successful because I can impact it. A lot of people, it does hit them in a certain way. These are for the end of the night, and I'm getting ready for the end of the day. To learn more about Jordans history with the magazine, and his hellacious six-smokes-a-day habit, I called Shanken up at his home in Florida. All they think about is he batted .202, and he struck out a certain number of times. Twenty, 30 years ago, millions of kids growing up wanted to be like Mike, as the slogan goes. WhetherJordan in his heart of heartsdoesn't see the value in comparing his greatness to that of other basketball players, orhe sees himself as the unquestioned GOAT,is almost immaterial. But the recent swell in the basketball GOAT debate after LeBron James secured his fourth title with the Los Angeles Lakers is what makes the sentiment especially timely. I'm bored to death, I want to come over and have a cigar with you." He has stated many times that he smokes six cigars a day. Jordan: I always wanted to be connected to basketball, because of my love for the game. Then you had an owner come in who was not from North Carolinaand were good friends, Bob Johnson and Ithatdisconnected itself from the community, angered the community, to where they would not support it. Jordan: At Turnberry in Miami. Some articles have noted the high price of the Cuban cigars Jordan likes to smoke. So I said, "How many do you smoke a day?" But its enough to keep me coming back. I had no idea when I went there I was going to create a cigar magazine. Actually, I started going there in 1991 to do a cover story for The Wine Spectator on Cuban cigars. That's part of the relaxation. Whether he's playing or spectating, rarely will you see Michael Jordan in a golf setting without a cigar in hand. He is, to me, in a very unique situation. In any case, sixthat's a pretty decent number of cigars for a day. We hang out a lot. Check out Cigar Aficionado's newsletters, bringing you our latest ratings & reviews, cigar news and our guide to the good life. And this time, I brought a crew and I videotaped the whole thing. [Opens a box of cigars and offers one to Jordan.] . And my cell phone rings.