CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) — Michael Jordan has had a lifetime of big moments. His latest came on the witness stand in a federal courthouse.
The retired NBA great testified Friday against NASCAR in an antitrust case he is pursuing against the stock car series on behalf of his race team, 23XI Racing, along with Front Row Motorsports. Both teams want to force NASCAR to change the way it does business with its teams, accusing the organization of monopolistic behavior.
“Someone had to step forward and challenge the entity,” the soft-spoken Jordan told the jury. “I felt I could challenge NASCAR as a whole.”
It was a different role for the 62-year-old Jordan, known best for the six NBA titles he won with the Chicago Bulls and his business interests in retirement, including his still relatively new role as a NASCAR team co-owner alongside three-time Daytona 500 winner Denny Hamlin. The name 23XI combines Jordan’s longtime jersey number (23) with Hamlin’s race car number (11).
Dressed in a dark blue suit, Jordan slowly headed to the stand for the afternoon session, adjusted the seat for his 6-foot-6 frame, and settled in. Those in the packed courtroom hung on every word.
Jordan shared that he grew up a NASCAR fan, attending races at age 11 or 12 with his family at tracks in Charlotte and Rockingham in his home state of North Carolina, as well as Darlington in South Carolina and the Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.
“We called it a weekend vacation,” he said.
There were moments of levity during the dramatic day of testimony, which also included Heather Gibbs, daughter-in-law of team owner and NFL Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs. People were turned away from the courtroom due to capacity, and U.S. District Judge Kenneth Bell couldn’t help but notice the high attendance in front of him as well as an overflow room nearby.
“I take it Mr. Jordan is the next witness,” Judge Bell quipped.
Outside the courthouse in downtown Charlotte, a crowd gathered for the first time this week to catch a glimpse of Jordan. One woman screamed, “Oh my God, Mike! You are an icon, you the best, you the best to do it in the NBA!” Another claimed to have played golf and cards with Jordan’s acquaintances while asking for a photo with him and his daughters.
Jordan responded, “Man, it’s cold out here for you guys,” before complimenting the two girls on their Nike-branded hoodies.
A spectator held a sign that read, “NASCAR Your Fans Deserve Better.” Hamlin turned to him and said, “You’re right,” as they made their way through the crowd toward a caravan of waiting SUVs.
On the witness stand, Jordan revealed he was an early fan of Richard Petty, like his father. He later gravitated to Cale Yarborough, “the original No. 11. Sorry, Denny,” Jordan testified as Hamlin watched from the gallery.
When asked to outline his career, Jordan noted his time with the Bulls and added that he remains a minority owner of the Charlotte Hornets. Did he play anywhere else?
“I try to forget it but I did,” said Jordan, referring to his stint with the Washington Wizards in a mostly forgettable return to the NBA after his championship runs with the Bulls and a brief minor league baseball career.
However, Jordan spent most of his testimony explaining why he is suing the series he loves over the charters that guarantee teams revenue and access to Cup Series races. Among other things, the plaintiffs want the charters made permanent, something NASCAR has resisted.
“Look, we saw the economics wasn’t really beneficial to the teams,” Jordan testified, adding: “The thing I see in NASCAR that I think is absent is a shared responsibility of growth as well as loss.”
As the session wound down, defense attorney Lawrence Buterman noted the novelty of cross-examining an icon like Jordan, closing with the comment: “Thank you for making my 9-year-old think I’m cool today.”
“You’re not wearing any Jordans today,” Jordan replied with a smile.
When he was dismissed from the stand, Jordan said, “Whew,” and made his way back to the seat in the front row he’s occupied all week.
___
AP Auto Racing
https://mymotherlode.com/sports/basketball-general-news/10268682/another-must-watch-moment-for-michael-jordan-as-nba-great-testifies-at-nascar-trial.html