Christian Laettner joined director Rory Karpf and ESPN Films VP and executive producer John Dahl to preview the ESPN 30 for 30 “I Hate Christian Laettner” and answer questions from the media this week, and it was epic. Hands down the best media conference call ever.
He was asked about Michael Jordan and what is like to play with MJ both at the height of Jordan’s powers and again when His Airness was on the decline. Laettner played with Michael Jordan on the 1992 Dream Team and again when Jordan made his goofy comeback with the Washington Wizards.
The full Q&A audio is embedded below. The Michael Jordan talk begins around the 10 minute mark. However, you really should listen to the whole thing, because the entire question and answer session is phenomenal.
“He wasn’t as ruthless,” Laettner said about playing with Michael Jordan on the Wizards.
“I heard stories about when he was in Chicago he was just ruthless on people in practice, to his teammates, and he had mellowed by the time he was 40 by the time he was playing with us on the Wizards, but it was an honor to play with him, both on Team USA and on the Wizards.”
On the flip side, Michael Jordan is still revered as an idol in Tar Heel nation, and the most prominent figures in North Carolina basketball right now spoke about that.
Back to this specific podcast, there’s some talk about the Fab 5 calling Christian Laettner “a pussy” and “a bitch.”
And in this specific post, Laettner calls out one of his Twitter trolls from Kentucky and makes an example of him.
Related: Grant Hill gives us an exclusive interview as he discusses the recent resurgence in Laettner’s popularity and his friendship with his former teammate.
Here’s the link basic info about the film.) Here’s the link to our review/critique of the film. Remember though that the version we watched is a “rough cut,” as ESPN PR told us, and could end up being somewhat different from the version that will air Sunday night for the general public.
Still, this one is could be at the top of the ESPN 30 for 30 all time top ten list. Issues related to race, class and even sexual orientation serve as vital plot points. The gay rumors which surrounded Christian Laettner in the early 1990s are covered in full detail here; as well as in the doc.
VIDEO: Michael Jordan’s latest, newest ad.
VIDEO: Laettner’s new commercial with Dr. J and Shaq
Paul M. Banks owns, operates and writes The Sports Bank.net, which is partnered with Fox Sports Digital. You can read Banks’ feature stories and op-eds in the Chicago Tribune RedEye newspaper and hear his regular guest spots on numerous sports talk radio stations all across the country.
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