The final episode of “THE OPRAH WINFREY SHOW” is airing today, and MICHAEL JORDAN made a surprise appearance on yesterday's show to wish Winfrey well on her future endeavors. The Bulls' PA announcer introduced Jordan like he did during Jordan's tenure with the team. Jordan told Winfrey, "We came into Chicago about the same time. ... You have done wonders for me. I know you've been a fan of basketball but I've been a fan of yours for many years. ... I'm very happy for you. You have meant a lot to me. You inspired me. If you ever need me, just call me. You need a job, I got one for you" ("The Oprah Winfrey Show," 5/24). During the 25-year run of the influential show, there have been many memorable appearances by athletes and sports personalities. THE DAILY's Molly Hogan has compiled some highlights of those visits.
AIR TIME: Winfrey’s show is based in Chicago, and Jordan has long been one of her favorite guests. The Basketball HOFer made an appearance in ’05 to promote a new book and debut the ladies line of Jordan Brand clothes. Jordan said, “You should have seen all the letters that I was getting from women saying, ‘When are you going to come out with a ladies line?’ And so this year we really made a big push and said, ‘You know, we’re going to cater to the ladies.’” During a fashion show for the new line, CHARLES BARKLEY modeled some of the clothes, surprising Jordan. At the conclusion of the show, Jordan gave the members of the audience a Jordan Brand duffel bag along with items from the new line. Barkley made a solo appearance in '02 to promote the release of his latest book, but it did not take long for Jordan to come up in conversation. Barkley called Jordan "cheap" because "Michael never tips." Barkley also said Jordan "always gets mad" when Barkley gives money to homeless people. Barkley: "Jordan says, 'If they can ask you if you got any spare change, they can say welcome to McDonald's, can I help you please?'"
THE START OF THE LEGEND: TIGER WOODS has appeared on Winfrey’s show several times. Woods’ appearance in ’97, following his record-breaking win at The Masters, included his late father, EARL. Winfrey wondered whether Tiger was “bigger than golf,” to which Earl replied, “Absolutely not. He will never be bigger than golf. He will transcend golf in that he will venture outside of the boundaries of golf and make contributions. But to say that Tiger is bigger than golf, no."
THE KING AND THE QUEEN: LEBRON JAMES made an appearance in ’05, where he discussed the pressures of being celebrated and praised at such a young age. James said, “That’s one thing I’ve never believed in and that’s pressure. I feel like I built this pressure because I was able to play the game of basketball at a higher level; and when I did that, the people just automatically threw pressure on me, so I never believed in it.”
I LOVE GOLD: The show’s 23rd season began with an episode taped at Chicago’s Millennium Park to celebrate Team USA’s recent success at the ’08 Beijing Games. More than 150 Olympians were at the show, including eight-time Gold Medalist MICHAEL PHELPS and members of the victorious U.S. men’s basketball team. DWYANE WADE said, “I was hugging Oprah and I gave her a kiss on the cheek, and I was like, ‘This is a pinch-me moment.’”
FASHION FORWARD: Two giants of their sports, JOHN ELWAY and WAYNE GRETZKY, teamed up before the turn of the century to create MVP.com. They appeared on the show in '00 to discuss the website and conduct a celebrity fashion show that included several Chicago-based athletes at the time -- Cubs 2B ERIC YOUNG, Blackhawks RW TONY AMONTE and Fire G ZACK THORNTON -- modeling apparel sold on MVP.com. After moderating the show, Elway was asked about team ownership, and he said, “If one fell right in front of me, sure."
BARING HER SOUL: After a stalker taped ERIN ANDREWS nude through a hotel peephole and put the video on the Internet in ’09, the ESPN reporter talked to Winfrey in her only televised interview on the subject. Andrews said after calling her parents and telling them about the video, “I kept screaming: 'I'm done. My career is over. I'm done.'”
CAN'T WIN THEM ALL: Winfrey welcomed DREW BREES to the show shortly after the Saints won Super Bowl XLIV, but the appearance is remembered for a rare gaffe made by the host. Winfrey mistook Brees’ birthmark for lipstick and tried to wipe it off his face. She asked, “Who kissed you? There’s a big ol’ kiss right there.”
