Everybody wants to be like Mike. But is it easy being Michael Jordan? His Airness gained quite the fame after leading the Tar Heels to an NCAA title win against Georgetown. With each passing day, his influence expanded with every new achievement. After he won his first NBA title with the Bulls and then the Olympics, Jordan gained a massive fan following all around the world. And with that, there have been meaningful interactions and sometimes odd and awkward encounters. One such was with a famed national reporter.

After Jordan’s third retirement, he was only seen at special occasions, events, or in private jets or yachts on vacations. Despite his public persona, Jordan has often expressed a desire for privacy and a life away from the constant spotlight. While there were rumors that Jordan didn’t meet his fans much, he was seen smilingly posing next to fans during his trip to St. Lucia. Another old incident, which took place years ago in the ’90s, involved Jordan having to pull away forcefully from a host after quite a few pleasantries. 

In the latest episode of Click and Tell, TV Fame Cabbie Richards made an appearance. During the conversation, the host reminded Richards of his encounter with Jordan at a golf course. “Listen I was like probably 270 lbs. (I was) sweaty. I’m anxious. My heart rate was probably like 140 bpm and I’m hugging this man for an uncomfortable seven, one thousand, one one thousand, two one thousand, 3 one thousand,” he said. The clip is still available where Jordan can be seen smiling as Richards hugged him. It might have been during the 1996 finals. 

“And by the fourth and a half 1000 he’s starting to like use his elbow to pry me off of his body cuz he’s like what is happening right now like this energy transfer of awkward and uncomfortable and grotesque is entering into my soul,” he recounted how Jordan tried to escape. While everyone appreciates Jordan, fans sometimes have odd ways of expressing their admiration. 

Not just Richards, there were many fans who used to get awestruck after seeing the 6x NBA champ. The Chicago Bulls once grew frustrated when numerous fans claimed that his life was easy. That was when he challenged them with a big task.

The intense scrutiny and constant demands of fame were a reality Michael Jordan had to navigate, leading him to challenge those who romanticized his life to experience the pressures firsthand.

Michael Jordan challenged fans to be him for 5 years

With his global fame, the Chicago Bulls legend often had massive crowds and fans surrounding him. Jordan’s global appeal transcended traditional sports fandom, making him a cultural phenomenon unlike any NBA player before him, which amplified the intensity of the public attention he faced. And for someone who loved a peaceful life with less attention from the public, it sometimes got tough for him. There were other times when he received odd wishes from fans.

Jordan shared that fans wished to be in the same position as him because they thought his life was easy. He couldn’t agree with that. He opened up about his frustration in an interview with Playboy Magazine in 1992. 

“People say they wish they were Michael Jordan. OK, do it for a year. Do it for two years. Do it for five years. When you get past the fun part, then go do the part where you get into cities at three a.m. and you have fifteen people waiting for autographs when you’re as tired as hell. Your knees are sore, back’s sore, your body’s sore, and yet you have to sign fifteen autographs at three in the morning,” he said.

Back then, he didn’t know that his fame would only continue to grow larger than ever. The fifteen people turned into a crowd. Not surprisingly, after his retirement, the basketball legend also stepped away from the spotlight and media attention.