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Only time will tell when MJ and Lavar will faceoff

Date: November 23, 2020

By: Michael Daly

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Richard Mackson/USA TODAY Sports

The Charlotte Hornets drafted LaMelo Ball No. 3 overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. Ball’s father, Lavar Ball, called out Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan to play a game of one-on-one in 2017. The reality of this game taking place is closer now than ever because of Ball’s direct affiliations with his son’s team, the Hornets.

 

It would make perfect sense for this game to happen since Ball and Jordan will likely be around in each other at some point, and this topic is bound to come up. The game itself should be broadcasted and it would make for phenomenal television with tremendous ratings.

 

In his introductory press conference with the team last week, the youngest Ball spoke about his doubts about the game happening. He also tipped his hand on who he thinks would win the game.

Jordan would clearly win the game against Ball, but it would be an absolute spectacle that any network would want to air on their network. The game doesn’t even necessarily need to be on a national television network. It could be aired on the Charlotte Hornets’ local television broadcaster, FOX Sports Southeast. Once the game is posted on the internet, it will receive millions of engagement and views on every single social media and video platform.

 

The Ball’s father came into the public eye in 2017 when his eldest son, Lonzo, played for the UCLA Bruins during his freshman season. Ball became a larger-than-life figure in the sports world, and his gregarious personality put a ton of attention on the skills and attributes of all three of his sons.

During the 2016-2017 collegiate basketball season, Ball made appearances on dozens of talk shows where he promoted his talent on the basketball, despite having never played basketball professionally. He used his sons as a way to call out basketball legends like Shaquille O’Neal to a two-on-two or a three-on-three game.

 

His callouts did not stop there, as he went right to the top of the food chain amongst basketball legends. Ball said on multiple talk shows that he could defeat Jordan in a one-on-one contest because he is bigger than Jordan, and he believed that Jordan would need help defending him.

 

In March 2017, Ball appeared on ESPN’s First Take and he doubled down on his claims that he could take Jordan in an individual basketball game. “In my heyday, [Michael Jordan] would need help,” said Ball. “He’s too small. His name is big, but in a one-on-one, I’m undefeated, never lost.”

Ball impressed people when he played former NFL defensive lineman Marcellus Wiley in a one-on-one and defeated Wiley. His win only boosted his confidence that he could take down the greatest basketball player in basketball history in a one-on-one match.

 

He is the ultimate promoter, as he created the Big Baller Brand and sold sneakers and apparel for his sons to wear during their basketball games. Ball’s love and passion for his children is why he still has relevancy in the sports world because of the market trail he was on in 2017 when Lonzo was drafted by the Los Angeles Lakers.

Although Ball’s son, LaMelo, believes this game will not happen, there is still a chance this game could transpire because of the competitor Jordan is. Now that he will be around Ball in-person, Jordan’s competitive fire will be burning to prove Ball wrong and people that believe Ball could defeat Jordan.

 

2020 has been a terrible year for millions of people and sports have been a healer through this difficult time. By putting on a one-on-one match between Jordan and Ball, it would make people feel great to see two large personalities play against one another.

Michael Daly is the station manager of 89.5 FM WSOU, and can be reached at wsoustationmanager@gmail.com.

Posted in: Sports, WSOU

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