The Last Dance

The Last Dance, viewed on Netflix, is a documentary series on the final year (1998)  of Michael Jordan’s career as a basketball player on the Chicago Bulls.  The producers were given extraordinary access to the Bulls’ team goings-on during this period.  From what I had heard or read, it supposedly contained some controversial material, especially relating to MJ’s bullying of his teammates.  In the end, however, I conclude that this was simply an example of a hyper-competitive, exceptionally talented athlete driving both himself and his teammates to the heights of success.  

The series begins well, with the first few episodes delving into the personalities of MJ, Scottie Pippen and the ever-mercurial Denis Rodman.  After that, however, it devolves into a more standard sports documentary, ping-ponging back and forth between 1998 and the historical evolution of MJ's basketball prowess.  There are some interesting tidbits on Micheal’s upbringing, his battles with this older brother (definitely a harbinger of competitiveness) and his college career.  And way too many MJ highlights, which tend to blur into a compendium of acrobatic dunks and final second jump shots swishing through the hoop.

As mentioned, there were some controversies along the way.  A trip to Atlantic City with his father, on eve of a pivotal playoff game with the New York Knicks, was conflated into a late night gambling spree.  The later tragedy of the murder of MJ’s father was then driven into the murky depths of conspiracy theory around his gambling habits (which were never shown to be of any real consequence for someone some wealthy).  For a more humorous take on things, Rodman’s mini-vacation to Las Vegas  and another sojourn with the WWF and Hulk Hogan provide some respite to the basketball replays.

Another episode focuses on coach Phil Jackson, which falls a bit flat, and subsequent takes with Phil Kerr are rather boring as well.  Then there is the interlude after the Bulls’ first three-peat championships of MJ’s flirtation with baseball, which comes to a sad end with the strike and lockout of the players.  In the series, it is intimated that Michael would have (could have) made it to the majors, but that is not what I recall hearing at the time.

Finally, after ten long episodes, we get the end of 1998 and the second successful three-peat championship. And I remembered the reasons I stopped watching basketball after the retirement of Dr. J.