It’s been almost 26 years since Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls defeated the Utah Jazz in the 1998 NBA Finals. That doesn’t mean the Jazz got over it.
Delta Center, home of the Utah Jazz, will host March Madness first and second round games in Salt Lake City this year. On Wednesday, one of the reporters who was on-site to cover the tournament noticed that his WiFi network at the arena had a unique name: JordanPushedOff.
“JordanPusedOff” is a reference to one of the most (infamous) moments in Jordan’s career and the history of the Jazz (and Bulls) franchise.
The Bulls led 3 games to 2 in the 1998 NBA Finals, but trailed by one point to the Jazz with 10 seconds left in the game. Jordan dribbled the ball into the paint, hit a crossover to evade a defender and hit a mid-range jump shot with five seconds left.
NCAA Tournament:How to stream March Madness on your phone
That’s bracket madness: Enter USA TODAY’s NCAA Tournament Bracket Contest for a chance to win $1 million.
The 2-pointer ultimately clinched Chicago’s sixth title and was his last shot attempt for the Bulls, but it became an iconic moment in the Windy City.
In Salt Lake City, there is a strong opinion among Jazz fans that Jordan shoved Brian Russell during the crossover before taking the shot, which is where the Delta Center WiFi network gets its name.
Jazz owner Ryan Smith told Pat McAfee about the “JordanPushedOff” network name on an episode of The Pat McAfee Show last November. The arena is back in the spotlight after hosting several March Madness games.
Did Michael Jordan push Brian Russell?
Jordan’s final shot with the Bulls remains the most controversial of his career, and NBA fans still have their own interpretations.
NCAA tournament schedule:What kind of March Madness game will it be tomorrow?
March Madness Game in Salt Lake City
Four first-round games will be held on Thursday, March 21st at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
- No. 15 Long Beach State vs. No. 2 Arizona, 2 p.m. ET/Noon (MT)
- No. 10 Nevada vs. No. 7 Dayton, 4:30 p.m. ET/2:30 p.m.
- No. 12 McNeese State vs. No. 5 Gonzaga State, 7:25pm ET/5:25pm MT
- No. 13 Samford vs. No. 4 Kansas, 9:55 p.m. ET/7:55 p.m. MT
The winners of the four games will meet in the second round on Saturday, March 23rd at the Delta Center.
