Real Jordan-heads know Koehler’s actual origin story, which was recounted in those two articles. “I get taken care of,” he told the paper’s Mitchell Krugel. Doesn’t bother me.”Ī 1991 story in The Times of Northwest Indiana identifies even more job titles and duties for Koehler: “chauffeur, body guard, advisor, companion at promotional and public appearances, confidant, Ping-Pong partner and personal assistant, among a dozen other functions.” At the time, he didn’t even get a regular salary from Jordan, telling the Times he only had a handshake deal with him. ”Otherwise, you can refer to me as Michael’s personal assistant. “Michael’s told people I’m his best friend in Chicago, which would be an honor, of course,” Koehler told the Tribune in June 1992. In a story by Bob Verdi of the Chicago Tribune nearly 30 years ago, Koehler joked about how even he wasn’t quite sure what his job title was. “Personal assistant and best friend” makes it sound like he’s one of those people who gets paid to be a celebrity’s buddy, but his exact role has been tough to pin down over the years, so it’s a decent description for his unlikely role. His name is George Koehler, he’s a white man in his late 50s, and for three-plus decades he’s quietly been a part of Jordan’s orbit. But on Sunday night, the ESPN docuseries introduced a new, surprise talking head: A guy who calls himself Michael Jordan’s “personal assistant and best friend.” Wait, what? presidents, and of course Michael Jordan himself. Pearson said Jordan “told us the night before he was going to do it.The Last Dance is packed with basketball legends, Hall of Fame coaches, two former U.S. “But being Michael Jordan, there was probably a little more pressure on him than the rest of us guys.” Valrie, who opted to play and is the Sox’s top hitter in exhibition games, said all of the players are feeling pressure. If anything, he was hurting and said: `I’m going home.' " "And it was his first reaction after me asking all those guys to be out of the locker room. “At that time, he was upset, and probably hadn’t thought things through,” Schueler said. In Jordan’s statement, he said the labor dispute “has made it increasingly difficult to continue my development at a rate that meets my standards.” He never spoke to Schueler after stalking off the practice field on March 2 and leaving camp for good. Things change, and he made the decision that he thought was best for himself.” “I just wish he could continue to play baseball and get better and finally fulfill one of his goals in life. “He’d done a lot of things positive last year and was doing a lot more things positive this year,” Valrie said. “He’s a kind of guy like me-he’ll talk to you as long as you get to know him, and it doesn’t take long to get to know him.”īirmingham outfielder Kerry Valrie, one of Jordan’s closest friends on the team, said it was a shame Jordan couldn’t finish what he had started. “I miss him already, and I got a chance to know him just a little bit,” said Dennis “Oil Can” Boyd. Jordan may not have left a mark on the baseball diamond, but he left an impression on many of the players he met during his baseball sojourn, from his Birmingham buddies to the replacement players who were on hand for the final chapter in Sarasota. “As far as replacing the marketability, you don’t think about it.” “As far as replacing the talent, it’s not that hard,” Schmittou said. Nashville Sounds owner Larry Schmittou won’t be able to cash in on Jordan’s presence as the Birmingham Barons did last year, but he said he wasn’t disappointed by Jordan’s decision. Schueler said Jordan likely would have been called up in September if he progressed at the same rate this season as in ’94.
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