Michael Jordan and his celebrity guests play softball game to benefit 40 charities

Jet, August 16, 1993 by Dobie Holland

Michael Jordan recently invited a few famous friends over to his home town to play a game of softball to benefit 40 charities.

As a result, hordes of baseball fans, basketball fans, as well as fans of Jordan's celebrity guests, flocked to Chicago's Comiskey Park early to witness the Michael Jordan - Michael Bolton Celebrity Softball Challenge.

And Jordan's Air Force and The Bolton Bombers had as much fun playing the game as the fans had watching the celebrities display their athletic prowess.

Jordan's team, laden with celebrity jocks like Magic Johnson, Evander Holyfield, Hammer, Tom Selleck, Ahmad Rashad, Chicago Bulls center Stacey King and ex-football star Otis Wilson, tussled in a softball grudge-match against the blue-eyed soul balladeer Bolton and a team consisting of his band.

The Bolton Bombers brought Michael Jordan's Air Force to a crashing halt with a 7-1 victory.

To add insult to injury, Bo Jackson, who coached Jordan's Air Force, was ejected late in the game after he argued a call. The usually mild-mannered Jackson, raced onto the field to argue a call with umpire Ernie Furrer.

Jackson turned his cap backwards and jawed eye-to-eye with the umpire to the delight of the crowd.

Although Stacey King is a mainstay of the Chicago Bulls, he was a duck out of water on the softball field. In his only at bat, King earned the dubious distinction of striking out. King also whiffed on a slow tantalizing underhand lob toss. He later joked after the game about needing extra batting practice.

Michael Bolton drew the wrath of some fans and Jordan's Air Force when he taunted them and said, "I love Chicago but we're here to kick Michael Jordan's butt." But he soon fell back into their good graces. Bolton, who was wearing a knee brace, played an almost flawless third base to the delight of the crowd, especially the female fans who screamed a few high notes of their own.

Tom Selleck, star of Mr. Baseball, harkened memories of Pete Rose when he made a belly-flopper dive in the first inning.

Jordan, who once flirted with the idea of being a professional baseball player, made one of his team's four hits-a line single to left in the first inning - and scored its only run.

It was the only thing coach Jackson could cheer about. Meanwhile, White Sox slugger Frank Thomas coached the Bolton squad, taunting coach Bo's players from the first-base dugout.

"This game is a fun way we can do something really serious - help children," Jordan noted. "Besides, how could I turn down a challenge from a New York crooner in my home town?"

Bolton challenged Jordan to the contest after singing at last year's Michael Jordan Foundation Gala, and Bolton's team was more than up to that challenge.

The Bolton Bombers featured a band of no-names that fans never heard of, but they played like regular big-leaguers.

"Michael brought in the heavyweights, but we dealt with them appropriately and swiftly," Bolton quipped.

The game preceded the Chicago White Sox and Milwaukee Brewers game. Bolton and Jordan threw out the first pitch before the game.

The contest was put together to benefit over 40 charities through the Michael Jordan Foundation. The Jordan Foundation has been reaching out to needy children since it was founded in 1989 by Jordan and his mother Deloris.

The non-profit foundation operates from its downtown office supporting children's charities, education and medical research.

"The greatest satisfaction of being involved with the Foundation is knowing you have encouraged children who have been sidelined by life to achieve their goals," Jordan said. The sports superstar added, "With our efforts, we hope to boost self-esteem and create newfound confidence that puts them back into the starting lineup - where dreams become reality."

Charities Aided By Softball Game

Illinois Special Olympics Midwest Association of Sickle Cell

Anemia Starlight Foundation Make-A-Wish Foundation C.Y.C.L.E. Austin Special Schools Chicago Wheelchair Bulls Off The Street Club Hales Franciscan High School Inner City Impact Greenhouse Shelter Miles Square Community Center Olive-Harvey Middle School Ronald McDonald Houses St. Jude Children's Hospital Saint Augustine's College Xavier University Variety Club New Concept Development Center Providence St. Mel School St. Gregory's Episcopal School Livingstone College Southern School El Valor Marklund Children's Home The Children's Place Child Abuse Prevention Services Henry Booth House Family Focus Demicco Youth Services Roseland Training Center Chicago United Youth Service Project I. Link, Inc. Goodman Theater Illinois Children's School & Rehab North Carolina Cities In School Hartigan Elementary School Michael Jordan College Scholarship

Program Ken Rosen Memorial Scholarship