And we're not talking jam band kind of jam. We're not talking strawberry jam. We're talking what constituted a dunk ten to fifteen years ago. We're talking something that rocks you, or rims. We're talking the memory of the King of Pop, and his dip into the hard-top world of His Airness. Embedding is disabled by request for most Michael Jackson videos on Youtube, so I'm going to respect that boundary and simply link to the video.
Yes, Michael Jackson passed away Thursday. A fact largely overshadowing any sports happenings. For all my frustration with the Big Cactus, he at least took the time to touch on this when interviewed during the draft. And, if you care, my facebook quiz representative Michael Jackson song is Thriller, just so you know.
But on this sad day, I did want to take some time to remember the song that found MJ meeting MJ. While it perhaps didn't have the cultural impact of a crossover like Paula Abdul's Opposites Attract or Jordan's own venture into cartoons with 1996's Space Jam, it does represent one of the more artful meetings of sports world and the pop music world.
Jam also featured Heavy D, which isn't a sm all thing when you consider D's importance coming out of the late 80s. But the best part of the vid is that you catch both Michaels a little out of their element. Michael Jordan worked on some dance moves, and it showed us how even he could look stiff next to Jackson. This is something to consider when you look at how these taller than average athletes we watch actually move in the real world. And, of course, it's a testament to the kind of dance wonder Jackson was. He makes Jordan look like a mannakin out there, and you can just imagine him shaking circles around Jordan. At the same time, Jordan takes Jackson through some basketball paces. And, I gotta say, Jackson didn't look uncomfortable doing it. Though his intensity reminds more of Kevin Johnson than the sublimely intense Michael Jordan.
Anyway, Michael Jackson, you were a perpetual reminder that music is important and that it can be endlessly searching and growing and moving in the most personal of ways. And, of course, in the most public of displays of talent, which we at Outside can appreciate. Thanks for the memories, especially the musical ones.
One Last Jam
