A Fan Waited 20 Years to Meet Michael Jordan—What MJ Did Left Him in Shock
When Teddy Owens was 12 years old, something extraordinary happened. He was sitting cross-legged on the floor, glued to the TV screen as he watched the Chicago Bulls win their first NBA championship. The moment was intense, the crowd roaring with joy, but what stayed with Teddy was a brief but significant moment—Michael Jordan, the man he admired more than anyone, pointed at the camera after the victory.
The crowd’s cheer drowned out Jordan’s words, but for Teddy, it felt personal. He was certain Jordan was speaking to him. That fleeting moment sparked a 20-year obsession that shaped Teddy’s life in ways he never could have imagined. He wrote letters, traveled across the country, collected memorabilia, and never gave up on his dream to meet the basketball legend.
Teddy was 12 when it all started. His mom was in the kitchen making popcorn as the game reached its final moments. The Bulls were leading by five points, and Teddy’s heart raced in anticipation. He counted down the final seconds—“5, 4, 3, 2, 1”—and then the Bulls were champions. Teddy couldn’t contain his excitement. He jumped up, arms pumping in the air, yelling so loudly that his mom rushed into the living room. She smiled and ruffled his hair, telling him, “Of course, your hero always wins.”
Then, the moment that changed everything occurred: Michael Jordan looked straight into the camera and pointed. Teddy froze. He was sure that the gesture was meant for him, and deep down, he felt like Jordan had made a promise. The next day, he told his friend Reggie about it, claiming that one day he would meet Jordan and find out exactly what Jordan had said in that moment. Reggie laughed it off, but Teddy was serious. This was a promise he made to himself.
Soon after, Teddy began collecting anything and everything related to Michael Jordan. His walls were filled with posters. His shelves were stacked with cards. He saved his allowance, spent hours in card shops, and worked hard to expand his collection. His parents thought it was just a phase, but Teddy knew it wasn’t. His dream was alive.
Years passed, and despite the challenges life threw at him—his father losing his job, financial struggles at home—Teddy never wavered in his pursuit of meeting Jordan. He continued writing letters, traveling to events, and doing whatever he could to get closer to his hero. As he grew older, he carried that hope with him, even if it seemed increasingly impossible.
One of the most significant moments in Teddy’s journey came when his dad suggested selling his collection to help the family. But Teddy couldn’t let go of his dream, even in the face of hardship. Christmases were smaller, and the family struggled, but Teddy always kept a portion of his money for his Jordan fund. Through it all, his obsession with Jordan never faded.
At age 14, Teddy had written over 50 letters to Jordan, and by the time he reached high school, the entire town of Greenfield had heard about the “Jordan kid” who wrote monthly letters. Some people laughed at him, others admired his persistence, but Teddy kept going.
Then, something incredible happened: he got a lead. Scottie Pippen, Jordan’s teammate, was going to be at an event, and Teddy was given the chance to meet him. Teddy thought this could be his moment, but when he asked Scottie how he could meet Jordan, the answer was clear—persistence counts. Teddy held onto that advice.
Teddy eventually ended up volunteering at a golf tournament in the Bahamas where Jordan occasionally played. He didn’t get the chance to meet Jordan then either, but he did get closer than ever before. Jordan’s caddy, Marcus, saw his determination and promised to help Teddy meet Jordan if another opportunity arose. But when the next opportunity came, it was yet another letdown: Jordan had to leave early because of a family emergency.
Despite all the disappointments, Teddy didn’t give up. He had Marcus’s business card and kept emailing him for a chance to meet Jordan. But just as it seemed like his dream was fading, Teddy got the opportunity to present his basketball program, Be Like Mike, at the Michael Jordan Foundation’s youth showcase. This wasn’t about meeting Jordan anymore; it was about creating something that would honor the values Jordan represented.
Teddy spent years working with kids in his community, offering free basketball programs to those who couldn’t afford camps or equipment. His program grew, and Teddy’s determination caught the attention of the Jordan Foundation. They invited him to showcase his program, and this time, he would have a chance to meet Jordan.
When the day came, Teddy presented his program, speaking from the heart about how Be Like Mike had impacted kids’ lives. After the presentation, he was invited to lunch with Jordan, and for the first time, he spoke about his journey to meet the man who had inspired him for so long. Teddy shared the story of how he had written 84 letters, made countless trips, and even traveled to the Bahamas just to meet Jordan. Jordan, listening intently, smiled and then shared something Teddy hadn’t expected.
He told Teddy that when he pointed at the camera after winning his first championship, he wasn’t pointing at him; he was pointing at Magic Johnson, making a promise that there would be more championships. The answer was simple, and it wasn’t the grand revelation Teddy had been seeking. But it didn’t matter anymore. The journey had been the most important part.
Jordan, understanding Teddy’s perseverance, gave him a business card and encouraged him to keep working on his program. Teddy was shocked. Jordan, the man he had spent his whole life pursuing, was now a supporter of the very thing Teddy had built in his honor.
As Teddy left the lunch, he reflected on the journey he had taken. He had spent years chasing a moment, but now he realized that the value of the journey wasn’t in the destination—it was in the person he had become along the way. He had built something meaningful, something that would inspire the next generation.
For Teddy, the real victory was not in meeting Jordan, but in the legacy of Be Like Mike, the basketball program that continued to grow and help kids achieve their dreams. And in that moment, Teddy understood that sometimes, the most meaningful journeys are not about reaching the end but about becoming the person you were always meant to be.
Michael Jordan didn’t hesitate when naming the one sportsman who left him starstruck when they first met
It takes a lot to leave Jordan starstruck, but there was one meeting that he admitted was a real privilege.
It would take a lot to leave NBA legend Michael Jordan starstruck, but he has admitted that meeting one sporting star was an absolute privilege.
Having played in an era when the NBA hosted all-time greats such as Kobe Bryant, Shaquelle O’Neal and Larry Bird, it’s safe to say Jordan has met his fair share of sporting legends.
With an impressive six NBA championships and several personal accomplishments throughout his 15 season career, Jordan himself is widely considered to be one of the greatest athletes of all time.
However, neither of these things stopped him from being completely starstruck when meeting one sports icon for the first time.
While many would consider Jordan to be the greatest NBA player ever, some would argue that Wilt Chamberlain still holds that title.
Chamberlain remains the only player to ever score 100 points in an NBA game, doing so during a historic match for the Philadelphia Warriors in March 2 1962 as his side recorded a 169–147 win over the New York Knicks.
According to the NBA’s official website, ‘The Big Dipper’ was basketball’s unstoppable force and ‘the most awesome offensive force the game has ever seen,’ and therefore it comes as no surprise that Jordan idolised him.
And when the two men finally met each other, Jordan admitted that he was left in awe.
“I got the chance to meet Wilt Chamberlain for the first time, which I thought was a privilege for me being that I finished second to him in a lot of individual stats and career stats and scoring stats,” Jordan said via MDBBall.
“He was very nice to visit. He came up to me and congratulated me on my career.”
Wilt Chamberlain is viewed by many as one of the greatest basketball players of all time. (Image: Getty)
He added: “I’m a basketball enthusiast, and I honour and respect the people that gave me the opportunity to excel at this game, to make a living at this game. To see a lot of those guys, it was a privilege for me.”
Chamberlain was the only NBA player to score 4,000 points in a season and set NBA single-game records for most points (100), most consecutive field goals (18) and most rebounds (55).
He retired as the all-time leader in career points with 31,419, which was later surpassed by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Karl Malone, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Michael Jordan and Dirk Nowitzki.
Tragically, the NBA legend passed away on October 12, 1999, at age 63 due to congestive heart failure.
