Michael Jordan has undeniably left numerous people humiliated on the court. However, even off the court, one can’t escape Jordan’s burning words. WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry got a taste of this during the 1992 Olympic Games.
In an interview with VladTV in 2020, Henry reminisced about the unfateful night when he was left wrapped in embarrassment by the legendary player. The conversation started with a simple introduction by Henry in the hope of a good talk. However, to his and everyone’s surprise, it ended up a humiliating one instead.
Henry was representing Team USA in powerlifting, and he made the decision to introduce himself to the ‘Dream Team’. Jordan reluctantly replied to Henry’s introduction with a “Who are you?”. Henry found himself in disbelief over this, and in his own words it felt “like a slap in the face”.
He further explained, “It’s like someone walking up and just slapping you. I was in shock. I was like this is Michael Jordan. And I’m angry, like, ‘Why? Why? What the hell?”. Michael Jordan and Mark Henry both are undeniably legendary in their own fields.
Michael Jordan didn’t know who Mark Henry was
This encounter left an undeniable mark on Henry, and he mentioned “It had been a long time since that happened to me, and I wasn’t having no parts of it”. This revelation wasn’t a surprise for the NBA community as they are very well-used to such instances. Notably, Jordan’s humiliation has also led a player to retire early.
Henry in the interview also mentioned how Michael Jordan took back after instantly realizing his mistake. However, the damage was done. His Airness knew his reaction had come off as disrespectful and decided to diffuse the situation. Henry said, “He backed off ‘Whoa, whoa, wait a minute. My bad. I didn’t want to come across,” but he did.
Reflecting on the incident, Henry highlighted the importance of not just what is said but how it is communicated. He brought his mother’s advice and said, “Be careful what you say, but even be more careful of how you say it”. Jordan’s words had come across as disrespectful, and the way he said it added more to it.
Despite this rocky start, the story took an unexpected turn. Jordan not only apologized but also invited Henry to his birthday party at the NBA All-Star game. This gesture marked the beginning of an unlikely friendship between two athletes from vastly different sports.