There was no more conversation about it.It was being dedicated to going out and doing the best you can to win every night—not once a week, or two times a month. That's the fascinating part. And he can giggle.
I was like, "Hey, let's play one on one." He was like, "Shit, I ain't playing you one on one." I'm like, "Come on, man.” He's like, "I ain't playing you." So he took the ball first and shot and made it. He rattles off what he’s doing now: working as a corporate spokesman, hosting special events for the NBA, playing lots of golf.
They were in chapters [of my life]. There’s a line that they can’t cross. “I played. And then the other guy who’s been accused of doing some unconscionable s---.”“Daaad, just go and do it.”In the book, Rashad describes his wedding day in detail. He suggests that Condola have one of her half-sisters drop her name first.One of his mentors in television happened to be the most prominent of African-American celebrities: Bill Cosby. He’s 6'2" and well built, even now at 68. They’ve disappeared out of my memory.
He says, ‘Come on over here and sit down.’ I sit next to him and he starts talking, and I’m just thinking, This is f------ Frank Sinatra. There was Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and the rest of The Rat Pack. “I stood there gasping for breath.”Jordan may be Rashad’s closest friend, but after reading his book, you could argue that his two most influential friends were Simpson and Cosby. I know how it works. Vince and Annie are joined by former NFL player and NBA broadcaster Ahmad Rashad to discuss his years hosting ‘NBA Inside Stuff,’ his relationship with Michael Jordan, and more Then I mention that I’ve read his book, and he realizes that I know the extent of his relationships with them. Then Lauren Bacall’s like, ‘You’re so cute.’ ” Simpson’s supportiveness stayed with Rashad for years. announcer introduced him, “The whole place was booing like crazy,” says Rashad. “I mean, he really nailed me, and I nearly doubled over,” Rashad writes. But he’ll be hard to get ahold of . ...”I ask Rashad how he broke into the TV business, and he says it’d been a long-time plan of his. “But I must’ve made an impact on them, for them to want to know me, too.”“Then the thing expands,” Rashad says. That was the most important thing. As with Nicholson, the two met when Rashad was in college and Cosby was passing through Eugene. For about 45 minutes, Rashad went missing. Jordan knew he could trust Rashad. Rashad finished his career with 495 career receptions and over 6,800 receiving yards. He'd call me and ask, "What does Michael do about this? It’s like, holy s---. That’s throw-away weight.” He’s told me all these stories, about all these people, why focus on them? It's either going to break you, or it's going to give you something to make you soar. For instance, I remember when they played Phoenix. “And here was Ahmad, fully attired in a coat and tie, sitting on hay bails, weeping. They sounded like they never went to school. He invites me to interview him during the NBA Finals. Cosby escorted Phylicia down the aisle of a Harlem church, walking with a fake limp to get laughs. “I feel like I know a lot of people,” he says. The way Rashad describes it, they were like “big brother-little brother, but we would switch. They weren’t the main characters. There’s Rashad in his tux, and standing next to him, one at each side, are Cosby and Simpson. “I’ve been watching your career.”On road trips Rashad and a select few would hang in Jordan’s hotel room after games. And that's cool.In the midst of the 1993 NBA playoffs, chasing a third straight title for his Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan decided to boycott the media.
The (…)Seriously. When he retired from football at 33, he says he had job offers from all three major networks. I’m not doing it,” Ahmad says, shaking his head and staring at the ground. And Michael didn't speak to him.