NBA all-time great Michael Jordan and boxing all-time great Mike Tyson dominated their sport like no other. The two helped popularize their respective sport around the world. Millions of fans around the world consider them two of the greatest athletes of all time. The superstars were born three years apart. Interestingly, they were both given birth in the same hospital in Brooklyn, New York. While Jordan and Tyson both came to prominence in the 80s, only Tyson tasted success immediately. MJ, on the other hand, dominated the 90s.
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However, there is another interesting similarity between the two. Both the celebrities dated actress Robin Givens. Michael Jordan joined the Chicago Bulls in 1984. Then, in 1986, he met actress Givens, and they dated for a short period. The couple called it quits after a while and in 1987, Givens started dating ‘Iron Mike’.
The couple in love soon married one year later, in 1987. However, their marriage was rocky and lasted only a year. In February 1989, the two separated.
Michael Jordan vs. Mike Tyson
A report from GQ magazine in 1989 revealed how Michael Jordan could have married actress Robin Givens instead of Tyson. The article says that Michael was “supposed to be married”?as he puts it. It explains how MJ is reading about the issues around Tyson and Givens.
The author writes, “Now, in the limo, Michael reads the latest about Mike Tyson and Robin Givens in?USA To?day, while his current girlfriend asks him questions about the horror movie they watched last night. But Jordan can’t be bothered with questions about the movie. He’s unreeling a horror show in his own head:?He?could have been in Mike Tyson’s shoes right now.”
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From this, it was clear how close Jordan was to marrying Givens. But Michael was not very fond of his spell with Givens. “It got tired in five, six days,” says Michael. The author also writes that Jordan was afraid of women and wouldn’t trust anyone other than his mother. Interestingly, the girlfriend mentioned in the article could be Juanita Vanoy. Also, Jordan and Vanoy married in the same year, 1989.
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When Tyson and Givens were separated, there was a moment when the heavyweight champion confronted Jordan. As per reports, Tyson confronted Jordan during a meeting and accused him of stealing his wife. And the report suggests the Bulls legend walked away and didn’t want any part of it.