As a player with the now infamous and ground breaking Fab Five freshmen at the University of Michigan and even throughout a very productive 14 year NBA career, Jalen Rose was not always the most popular player or teammate.
But once he crossed over into the mainstream media following retirement as in 2007, he has become one of the most insightful commentators for both TNT and ESPN over the past few seasons.
ESPN apparently agrees as he went from sideline reporter to headline contributor for both ESPN College Gameday and as the host of ESPN’s NBA basketball coverage during the 2013 postseason.
Now, some of his critics point to Rose’s penchant for off color humor and wild and outlandish storytelling, like when he once stole Patrick Ewing’s TV, as well as not always being the best role model for kids, when he once served 20 days in jail for a DUI arrest in 2011, but he is also very philanthropic, contributing millions of dollars tot he inner city youth in his hometown of Detroit, as well as giving $100,000 check to help Dikembe Mutombo in the construction of his hospital back in the Congo.
Some people may actually start believing that Rose is psychic as he was one of the first analysts that predicted, back in the Summer of 2012, that then OKC Thunder 6th Man James Harden would be traded to the Houston Rockets.
If you that that was a whopper, Rose recently appeared on a video with Bill Simmons making yet another bold prediction, that the G.O.A.T – Michael Jordan, will make an NBA comeback at age 50, to play one game with the Charlotte Bobcats this season.
Jordan did once joke during his Hall of Fame speech back in 2009 that we shouldn’t be surprised If we say him making a comeback at age 50, and his longtime trainer Tim Grover has let it leak recently that he has devised a strenuous workout plan when and if MJ decides to make a return once again.
Former #2 overall draft pick, and current Bobcat Michael Kidd-Gilchrist reported earlier this year that Jordan schooled the 19 year old in a game of 1-on-1 during practice.
Then of curse there’s that now memorable footage of Jordan dunking at age 50 at a basketball camp this Summer.
Of course, he would have to relinquish his ownership stakes in the franchise, but just think of the financial ramifications…a new #23 Bobcats jersey, new Air Jordan players edition kicks, all coinciding with the Bobcats’ impending name change back to the Hornets next season.
Remember, the one thing that Jordan thrives on besides the competition is money. Is it possible we see an MJ comeback this season? Jalen Rose thinks so…
Jalen Rose Predicts MJ Comeback at Age 50:
Allen Moll has been a lifelong NBA and NCAA College Basketball fan who watches and studies games religiously, and coaches youth basketball in his native Lehigh Valley region of Pennsylvania. Allen has also provided content to Bleacherreport.com, Upperdeckblog.com, Cleveland.com, CSN Philly.com, Buckets Magazine, in addition to being a tenured NBA and NCAA columnist for TheHoopDoctors.com.