Established 1961 19 Sports Thursday, May 21, 2020 Horace Grant: Jordan lied in ‘The Last Dance’ documentary If MJ had a grudge with me, let’s settle this like men

NEW YORK: Horace Grant, who won three NBA going into one of his teammates’ rooms and seeing championship rings with the , wasn’t coke, and weed and women,” Grant said. “My pleased with the way he was portrayed by former is: Why the hell did he want to bring that up? teammate in ESPN’s “The Last What’s that got to do with anything? I mean, if you Dance” documentary. want to call somebody a snitch, that’s a damn snitch The 10-hour film, which focused on the 1990s right there.” Bulls in general and Jordan in particular, concluded Grant said of his overall assessment of “The Last its run Sunday night on ESPN. Dance,” “(It was) entertaining, but we know, who In the documentary, Jordan alleged that Grant was there as teammates, that about 90 percent of it was the source of Sam Smith’s book “The Jordan — I don’t know if I can say it on air, but B.S. in Rules,” which painted Jordan in an unflattering light. terms of the realness of it. It wasn’t real — because Grant responded Tuesday in an interview with a lot of things (Jordan) said to some of his team- Chicago’s ESPN 1000 radio, “Lie, lie, lie. ... If MJ had mates, that his teammates went back at him. But all a grudge with me, let’s set- of that was kind of edited tle this like men. Let’s talk out of the documentary, if about it. Or we can settle it you want to call it a docu- another way. But yet and mentary.” still, he goes out and puts Destroy Grant, now 54, played this lie out that I was the in Chicago from 1987- source behind (the book). your 88 to 1993-94, helping “Sam and I have always the teams win NBA titles been great friends. We’re character in 1990-91, ‘91-92 and still great friends. But the ‘92-93. Jordan left the sanctity of that locker Bulls for a year to play room, I would never put minor league baseball, anything personal out then returned and won PARIS: File photo of former NBA star and owner of Charlotte Hornets team Michael Jordan looks there. The mere fact that Sam Smith was an inves- three more championships in 1995-96, ‘96-’97 on as he addresses a press conference ahead of the NBA match between Milwaukee tigative reporter. That he had to have two sources, and ‘97-98. Bucks and Charlotte Hornets at The AccorHotels Arena in Paris on January 24, 2020 —AFP two, to write a book, I guess. Why would MJ just After leaving the Bulls, Grant played two stints point me out? for Orlando (1994-95 to 1998-99 and 2001-02 to “It’s only a grudge, man. I’m telling you, it was 2002-03), helping the Magic knock the Bulls out in for the last 1.8 seconds of a playoff game against the back. Tried to do whatever he could to help that only a grudge. And I think he proved that during the second round of the playoffs after Jordan’s , reportedly because a play was team. My point is, why was that 1.(8) seconds in the this so-called documentary. When if you say some- return in 1994-95. Grant also played for the Seattle called up for Toni Kukoc instead of him to shoot. documentary, so-called documentary, about Pip? thing about him, he’s going to cut you off, he’s going SuperSonics (1999-2000) and the Los Angeles “I have never seen a quote unquote No. 2 guy, as “MJ wasn’t even on the team. Why was that in to try to destroy your character.” Lakers (2000-01 and 2003-04), winning another decorated as , portrayed so badly,” there? We handled that that year really well as a Grant said Jordan has a penchant for holding championship with the Lakers in 2000-01. Grant said. “In terms of the migraine, in terms of the team.” Grant finished his career with averages of grudges, pointing out that Jordan is no longer on “The Last Dance’s” portrayal of the Bulls’ 1993-94 1.(8) seconds, (Jordan calling him) selfish. I have 11.2 points and 8.1 rebounds across 1,165 games good terms with former friend Charles Barkley. season without Jordan particularly bothered Grant. He never seen this in all of my life. And the respect of, (1,037 starts). He earned his only All-Star appear- “My point is, he said that I was the snitch, but yet was especially upset by the depiction of the famous Pip was out there in Game 6 (of the ‘98 Finals), ance during the 1993-94 season, averaging 15.1 and still after 35 years he brings up his rookie year incident in which Scottie Pippen refused to participate could barely walk, getting knocked down on his points, 11.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists. –Reuters

Klopp backs Liverpool to manage without Warriors, Raptors ‘Anfield boost’ stay unbeaten in LONDON: Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp believes his runaway leaders will cope without the “best kick in you’re a..” of their Anfield crowd NBA 2K League should the Premier League season resume. English top-flight players are set to be back in LOS ANGELES: Behind a big scoring night from training this week after a Premier League meeting Charlie “CB13” Bostwick and a massive - on Monday gave the go-ahead to the first stage of ing effort from Malik “Slaughter” Leisinger, the return to play protocols. unbeaten Warriors Gaming Squad swept winless If matches do eventually take place again this Lakers Gaming 2-0 on Tuesday to remain tied for season, they will be behind closed doors and possi- first place in the NBA 2K League. bly at neutral venues. Liverpool were left 25 points The Warriors improved to 5-0, level with clear at the top of the table when the coronavirus Raptors Uprising GC, who topped Knicks saw the season suspended in March. Gaming 2-0 on Tuesday. The league’s other top They now need just two more wins to claim a teams, Mavs Gaming (4-0) and Blazer5 Gaming first English title in 30 years and German boss (2-0), were both idle Tuesday. Klopp, having watched his native Bundesliga Both of the other matches on the opening resume last weekend without spectators at matches, night of Week 3 also resulted in 2-0 sweeps, with is confident his players can motivate themselves LIVERPOOL: Liverpool’s Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson Becker arrives at Melwood in Liverpool, north west Pacers Gaming defeating 76ers GC, and Wizards without a crowd. “The competition will make the England for a training session on May 19, 2020, as training resumes for the first time since the English District Gaming spoiling Pistons GT’s season intensity,” he told Liverpool’s website. “So it’s not Premier League was halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. —AFP debut.Originally scheduled to begin its season about ‘oh, Liverpool have to win two games’. “By March 24, the NBA 2K League postponed play the way, we have to win two games when we start – due to the coronavirus pandemic. On April 27, - it’s not ‘only two’, it’s two. We have to win them.” “So, a lot of these things are possible but Anfield “From a physical point of view, the boys are in a the league announced an initial six-week, online- will not be packed for a while...We love that but we good shape, I think Then we have to start getting only schedule, with all 23 teams playing eight ‘PERFECT PACKAGE’ cannot have it. “And it looks like it will be possible used to the pitch, football boots and balls again,” total matches from their home markets. Action Former Borussia Dortmund manager Klopp –- and it is in Germany already possible -– to play said Klopp. “For the body that’s a big challenge finally began May 5. added: “We have to do it, unfortunately, without the behind closed doors. “All the physical numbers of because these little turns and stuff like this, these Each match is a best-of-three, with the out- best boost in the world and the best kick in you’re the games in Germany were incredibly high, so like football-specific things, they make all the differ- come of each three-game series counting as one a.. in the right moment in the world, from the Anfield 117 or 118 km running, without anybody shouting at ence,” explained the Reds’ manager. win or one loss in the standings. The Warriors crowd. “But that’s how it is. It’s 100 percent (that) you that you have to run. Just because you want it, “It’s like when you come back from an injury, the opened Tuesday with a 69-60 win over the the perfect package of football is a full, packed because you do it for your team-mates. boys are fit really early from an endurance point of Lakers thanks to 29 points from CB13 plus 16 Anfield stadium, two really good teams, big fight, “That’s exactly what we have to do as well.” view — they could run a marathon probably — but points and 25 rebounds from Slaughter. super goals and at the end Liverpool win. That’s the Players are now allowed to train in small, socially- the moment you start playing football, you can see The second game was a 105-47 destruction, perfect matchday. distant sessions not lasting longer than 75 minutes. how different it is.” —AFP with CB13 amassing 53 points and 10 assists while Slaughter piled up 10 points, 23 boards and seven assists. Sten “SAV” Valge-Saar scored 27 to be adopted.” million euros ($327 million) in television points in each game for the Lakers (0-5). Serie A group The minister said that a controver- Bundesliga restart money. While other sports are in the dark Kenneth “Kenny Got Work” Hailey was the cata- sial measure of isolating team mem- about when they can resume competi- lyst for the Raptors, recording 37 points and five bers for two weeks at club facilities to draws criticism from tions, the restart of top tier football is steals in a series-opening, 83-65 victory over the training gets limit the risk of contagion has been controversial. Zeidler says he is allowed Knicks. Eric “Timelycook” Donald had 26 points withdrawn. If a player tests positive sports community to train “relatively normally” again, as for the Raptors while the Knicks’ Christopher green light he will be quarantined for two weeks, BERLIN: The restart of the Bundesliga Germany relaxes restrictions. “Duck” Charles had 24 points and 10 assists. while the team will be placed in isola- last weekend has drawn criticism from However, he feels the current situation The Raptors won the second game 78-72 MILAN: Italy’s Serie A teams have tion, and monitored, but can continue the sports community in football-mad is just confirmation of the preferential behind 32 points and nine assists from Kenny Got been given the green light to resume to train together. Germany with world champion rower treatment football enjoys in Germany. Work plus 28 points from Maurice “ReeceMode” group training but will have to wait FIGC president Gravina welcomed Oliver Zeidler branding it “a joke” and Reigning Olympic javelin champion Flowers. Duck’s 31 points and seven assists until May 28 to know whether the a “decisive step on the path of criticised an “insane system”. “It’s a joke,” Thomas Roehler agrees. “It seems that weren’t enough for the Knicks. season can resume, Sports Minister restarting football in Italy”. Zeidler told AFP subsidiary SID. “If chil- it’s more important to politicians that the Jomar “Jomar” Varela-Escapa contributed 16 Vincenzo Spadafora said on Tuesday. Gravina said that FIGC Medical dren cannot go to daycare and caterers ball is allowed to roll than all sports being points, 13 rebounds, five steals and five blocked Spadafora told Italian television Scientific Commission were now are not allowed to use their full capacity, treated the same,” Roehler, who won shots as the Pacers defeated the winless 76ers that government scientists had working on the protocol for the return then allowing millionaires on the pitch Olympic gold for Germany in Rio de 64-47 in Game 1. Ethan “Radiant” White scored accepted the Italian football federa- to competition. The Italian season has sends the wrong signal.” Janeiro, told Sport1 last month. However, 20 points for the 76ers. tion’s (FIGC) revised health protocol. been on hold since March 9 amid the The 23-year-old, the 2019 world top sprinter Gina Lueckenkemper says The Pacers sealed the series with a 61-54 win “The Scientific Technical pandemic which has killed more than champion in single sculls, said he would the Bundesliga’s restart gives most as Nicolas “Swizurk” Grech scored a team-high Committee have approved the FIGC 32,000 people in Italy. Serie A teams like fans to turn their backs on the Germans the sense of a return to normal- 16 points while Jomar had 10 points and 12 protocol for the resumption of team have been training individually since “insane system” and the “increasingly ity more than any other sport can. rebounds. Rashann “Scretty” Petty had 19 points training,” Spadafora told Rai. “It is May 4, with a government decree sus- drifting parallel world” in which football “Even the ancient Romans knew how for the 76ers, who got 16 points and 19 boards excellent news, collective training can pending all competition until June 14. exists. The German Bundesliga became to make people happy: food and games,” from Alexander “Steez” Bernstein. now resume.” Italian players’ union president the first top European league to resume Lueckenkemper, the 2018 European Rookie John “JBM” Mascone scored 25 points Spadafora said he has scheduled a Damiano Tommasi said Tuesday that after the restart plan was approved by 100m silver medallist, told SID. in the Wizards’ opening 60-50 win over the meeting on May 28 with FIGC presi- footballers would need at least a Angela Merkel’s government. Regular Nevertheless, the 23-year-old finds criti- Pistons. Ryan “Dayfri” Conger added 14 points dent Gabriele Gravina and Lega Serie month training before returning to testing of players, games played behind cism of the league’s restart “justified and and 17 points for the winners while Ramo A chief Paolo Dal Pino to decide on competition. closed doors and replacements wearing sensible”. Fencer Max Hartung said the “Ramo” Radoncic notched 14 points, 13 boards the return to competition. “Even if some talk about six, at face masks are part of the strict hygiene return of football gives other sports hope and six assists for the losers. “We will then decide if and when least four weeks would be needed to measures. of a restart. “When you see that football The Wizards doubled up the Pistons 82-41 in the second game as JBM had 27 points, Justin Serie A will restart,” he said. “The avoid injuries,” said the former Italy Germany currently has 175,210 cases is being played again, it makes your fin- “Just_Awkward” Howell scored 23 points and important thing will be to restart with and Roma midfielder. “Caution comes of the coronavirus, which has so far gers itch to go back to the planche,” said Dayfri put up 13 points, 19 rebounds and seven the firm intention of completing the first because at this point you need claimed over 8,000 lives. However, the 30-year-old, who was part of the assists. Devin “DevGoss” Gossett led the Pistons championship, then the federations real certainties from a medical and Bundesliga clubs want the season com- Germany team which won the 2014 with 13 points. —Reuters will decide the modalities and formats health point of view.” —AFP pleted by June 30 in order to claim 300 world title. —AFP