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Former criminal hustled Michael Jordan out of $57,000 and claims he doesn’t know anything about James Jordan’s murder

Samir Mehdi
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Former criminal hustled Michael Jordan out of $57,000 and claims he doesn’t know anything about James Jordan’s murder

A gambling friend of Michael Jordan’s was asked about if he believed there was a connection between James Jordan’s murder and his son’s gambling. 

Michael Jordan was sullied with the comparisons that were made between him and the ideals that were supposed to be carried out by an ‘All American hero’. MJ’s status as the most prominent figure in North American sports in the 1990s grew to such a scale that it became impossible for fans to wrap their mind around him doing something that wasn’t ‘ideal’. 

The ‘Be Like Mike’ advertisement campaign only hurt the way Michael Jordan lived his life as wanting to ‘live like Mike’ meant you lived a life with no mistakes. This however, was not the case. 

Like anybody with money to spend, Jordan became infatuated with gambling. Whether it was with his security on coin-tossing or with a criminal dealing drugs while playing rounds of golf, the 6x champion was game. 

‘Slim Bouler’ knew Michael would put up big bucks on the line and took advantage of his competitive drive, eventually hustling ‘His Airness’ out of $57,000 out on the green.

Also read: “I hate that music, my blood would just boil”: Isiah Thomas throws shade at the Bulls Sirius theme song introducing Michael Jordan

‘Slim’ Bouler on what he thought about James Jordan’s murder. 

James Jordan, Michael’s father, was murdered on July 23rd, 1993 and a couple months later in November, Michael Jordan announced his retirement from the game of basketball. While many knew MJ was planning to retire because his love for the game had dwindled sine the previous summer’s Olympics, others had other ideas. 

With him having enveloped himself in the realm of gambling, many believed James’s death was directly related to his son’s gambling escapades. His departure from the NBA was also hypothesized to be stemming from this, saying David Stern suspended him from the league secretly: two extremely absurd theories.

Also read: Billionaire Michael Jordan ate ‘clay and dirt for dessert’ in North Carolina before becoming the NBA GOAT

Regardless, ‘Slim’ Bouler, Jordan’s old gambling partner, was asked about what he thinks of the theory surrounding James Jordan’s death in relation to Michael’s gambling ways. He would go on to say that he didn’t know anything about such a theory and that he was traveling from Texas to Charlotte for his sentencing at the time all of this took place.

‘Slim’ would serve time in federal prison after he was convicted of money laundering to the tune of $194,730, making it impossible for Michael Jordan to receive his $57,000 back. 

About the author

Samir Mehdi

Samir Mehdi

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Samir Mehdi is a senior strategist for the NBA division at The Sportsrush. Ever since he was 13 years old, he’s been obsessed with the game of basketball. From watching Kobe Bryant’s highlights on YouTube to now, analyzing and breaking down every single game on League Pass, Samir’s passion for the game is unwavering. He's a complete basketball junkie who not only breaks down current games but also keenly watches ones from the 60s’ and 70s’ while also reading comprehensive books on the history of the league. Samir’s life revolves around basketball and he hopes that shows in his work. Aside from work, he loves to spend time in the gym and with his friends at social gatherings.

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