Hmm.
It’s got me thinking.
Look, I know you’ve all read the speculation about basketball legend Michael Jordan possibly visiting Sarasota when 1000 North – the members-only club and private restaurant that he co-founded – opens downtown later this year.
And, absolutely, a Jordan appearance would be a great thing for Sarasota as a city.
I mean, who wouldn’t want (another) visit by the greatest basketball player ever to play, well, basketball (sorry, LeBron James)?
But here’s my far more selfish thought:
What if a Jordan appearance in Sarasota gave me an opportunity to strike him off the list of sports figures I’d like to interview?
True, I have had conversations with lots of cool sports people I greatly admire:
Hall of Fame quarterback and iconic Fox NFL studio analyst Terry Bradshaw.
Current Toronto Blue Jays President (and former Cleveland baseball executive) Mark Shapiro.
Former Cleveland Browns head coach Romeo Crennel.
Lots of NASCAR drivers.
And, yes, I’ve also had horrible conversations with truly unpleasant sports figures I wish I’d never met.
Super Bowl-winning quarterback Joe Montana.
Disgraced and reviled former Penn State football coach Joe Paterno.
Several Cleveland athletes who, at one point or another, wanted to physically attack me.
The NASCAR executive who actually did physically confront me during a Race Week fan fest on State Street in downtown Bristol, Virginia-Tennessee.
But there’s no doubt about it: a Jordan interview would definitely be high on my list.
3 questions for you, MJ
So let’s pretend I am interviewing Jordan.
And let’s pretend I can fire off the three Sarasota-related questions I’d most like to ask him.
Here we go:
Your 1000 North club offer memberships on an invite-only basis. So who is the Sarasota figure you most want to be a member of your club?
I mean, if and when you ever pop into 1000 North, who’s the local celebrity you’d be happiest to see mingling around in the club?
Whose presence would immediately bring a beaming, “Ahh, it’s good to be in Sarasota” smile to your face?
New College of Florida President Richard Corcoran?
Legendary Hall of Fame basketball analyst Dick Vitale?
Urban Meyer, the Hall of Fame football coach and New College board trustee?
One of Sarasota’s numerous, big-baller real estate developers?
Sarasota County School Board Chair Bridget Ziegler?
Ziegler’s husband, former Sarasota County Commissioner Christian Ziegler?
Sarasota County Tax Collector Mike Moran?
Someone else altogether?
Yes, yes, I know.
It is a nosy question. MJ.
But what’s the answer to it?
Why not make a truly bold investment in our community by becoming a New College board trustee?
Look, after the recent tail-kicking John Oliver administered to New College on his HBO talk show, what better way for the school to respond than to put someone as universally beloved as you on the trustees board?
I mean, Meyer’s already on the board, so you wouldn’t be the only trustee with jock links.
And here’s the best part of all:
Even if you attended every New College board meeting virtually while smoking one of your cigars thousands of miles away in some far-flung locale – and even if you rarely uttered a word during any of those meetings – you would still make a greater contribution than former Board Trustee Christopher Rufo made during his toxic tenure.
And, finally, here’s my third question for you, MJ:
As a Sarasota business owner, just where do you stand on this whole issue of paid parking hours in the downtown area?
I mean, after the grief I got for being on the side of “make ‘em all pay, all the time,” I’d love your view on all of this.
Really.
I’m serious!
Opinion Editor Roger Brown can be reached at roger.brown@heraldtribune.com. Follow him on X at RBrown_HTOpin.
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Could Michael Jordan visit Sarasota? Great. I have questions | Opinion
Reporting by Roger Brown, Sarasota Herald-Tribune / Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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By Roger Brown, Sarasota Herald-Tribune | USA TODAY Network
