How The Last Dance Saved our Quarantine
November 16, 2020
Quarantine: a period where you probably wasted too much time on TikTok, made whipped coffee every morning, and listened to Supalonley by BENEE way too much. Another quarantine activity that my family took part in was watching The Last Dance. The Last Dance is a 10-part documentary series, on ESPN, about one of the most legendary basketball players and basketball teams, of all time – Michael Jordan and the ‘98 Chicago Bulls.
This documentary series was able to give us hope, nostalgia, and something to look forward to every single Sunday night at 9PM EST from mid-April to mid-May. In additional to that, there are a few other reasons how The Last Dance single-handedly saved my family’s quarantine season.
First, this documentary gave us a glimpse of sports when the entire sports industry was shut down. It was originally scheduled for June 2nd, however the producer decided to move it up in light of the pandemic and boy were we thankful! Most of us were too young to watch the 97’-98’ Bulls, so the games during the documentary were new and exciting for us to watch.
Even though we may have known the outcomes of the games, the documentary showed the emotions of the practices leading up to them, and the post-game locker room discussions. We were reminded of the importance of positive relationships between players, managers, and coaches as well as the factors that can lead to victory. The Bulls demonstrated how a team can come together to sweep the nation by storm and win a national title.
Second, we were given a new appreciation for Michael Jordan and the 98’ Bulls. As a Chicago native, it was so cool to be able to learn about my own city’s basketball team from a different perspective. Even though I was never able to witness Jordan play myself, I was able to see MJ through a special lens in this documentary. This documentary followed the Bulls during the 1997-1998 season, while covering the other gaps of Jordan’s career and flashing back to modern-day interviews of the team.
I never realized the amount of criticism Jordan had experienced and everything he overcame during his career, including the murder of his father. The documentary clearly showed how the hard work and dedication of the team had a cost, but that cost was worth it to win.
ESPN states, “Jordan more than anyone made the Bulls champions. His tough love likely had some effect. But Jordan in a way underestimated himself. He demonstrated plenty of toughness and mettle without verbal or physical abuse. His example — his work, his play, his gutting through injury and illness — did enough talking.” (NBA Insiders, 2020).
Jordan was able to push himself and his teammates to greatness, despite the challenges placed in front of them, which made Jordan such an influential player in the NBA. I gained a new found respect for the 98’ Bulls, and especially Michael Jordan, through this raw, emotional, and motivating documentary.
Third, The Last Dance made us feel a lot of nostalgia, and brought us together in the midst of a global pandemic. Michael Jordan could bring the country together in such chaotic and unprecedented times, even if it was only for 2 hours. The soundtrack throughout the entire documentary was incredible and made you feel like you were living in the 90’s again. The Ringer states, “The music has been the most rewarding surprise, playing an integral role in the documentary’s reexamination of history while we live through it” (Kimble, 2020).
In addition to the music, the documentary covers the birth of Air Jordan and how it became one of the most successful shoe lines in Nike’s history. According to CBS Sports, “It’s been 22 years since Jordan suited up for the Bulls, and yet in December of 2019 his brand earned its first $1 billion quarter” (Wimbish, 2020).
Lastly, this documentary made us feel so nostalgic because it told a story. Vox states, “Pro sports are never just about watching some people compete at a sport. They also emotionally invest in a story, one that’s unfolding unpredictably as we watch. Developing an attachment to a big story produced the same thing that religion or cultural tradition gives: a sense of belonging, of having a place, of moving through time in a way that’s exciting, interesting, and grounding” (Wilkinson, 2020). The Last Dance did an incredible job painting a story that we became a part of in only 10 episodes.
The Last Dance is streaming on Netflix right now and is a perfect family activity for Thanksgiving or Christmas break. Tune into history being made and the story of the most legendary basketball player of all time… sorry Lebron.
Sources:
https://www.vox.com/culture/2020/5/19/21262308/the-last-dance-michael-jordan-espn-bulls-basketball
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/29180240/how-last-dance-changed-way-think-michael-jordan
Written by: Kaitlyn Skarstein
Kaitlyn loves being able to write for the SA blog because she thinks it is important to share her voice. She loves being able to express her own opinions on important subjects that are relevant for students, faculty, and many others.