Tim Grover: “100% it was food poisoning. Obviously it sounds better to be the ‘Flu Game’ than the ‘Food Poisoning Game’ , that doesn’t even run off your tongue correctly.” (Full Video Above)
Listen to Michael Jordan’s longtime trainer and friend Tim Grover’s interview on Barstool Sports’ ‘Pardon My Take’ podcast, where Grover details the events surrounding the notorious Jordan ‘Flu Game’ during Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals.
Always a major footnote in the legendary career of Jordan, a sickly and incapacitated Jordan was experiencing severe flu-like symptoms the day of the game, June 11th 1997, as the Bulls and Jazz played the monumental decided game 5 on a series tied 2-2.
Jordan battled through extreme malaise and fever to finish the game with 38 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, and one block, in a game where teammates had to help him off the court to the bench during ever TV timeout, where a drained MJ would then remain slumped and emotionless trying to cipher enough energy to continue.
Listen to Grover explain why the ‘Flu Game’ was not actually the flu at all, and was actually a terrible case of food poisoning from a pizza delivery that may have been compromised by Jazz fans the night before the game in Park City, Utah.