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5/12/2020

Whatever makes you feel uncomfortable, man': Gary Lineker recounts brilliant story of when he hosted Michael Jordan for a round of golf at Sunningdale... and how basketball icon replied when asked how much should be wagered!

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker recounted the time he hosted Michael Jordan and Samuel L Jackson at Sunningdale Golf Club.
The Last Dance documentary on Netflix, which has been a hit with sports fans during lockdown for the coronavirus pandemic, shows Jordan's career on and off the court with the Chicago Bulls.
A key focus in one episode was Jordan's incredible gambling habits and also his love for golf - a passion which saw Lineker recall one Sunday afternoon when he and a fellow member hosted Jordan and some of his team-mates.  
Michael Jordan's love for golf saw him play all over the world - and once with Gary Lineker
 Michael Jordan's love for golf saw him play all over the world - and once with Gary Lineker

The Match of the Day host revealed his encounter with the basketball icon at Sunningdale
The Match of the Day host revealed his encounter with the basketball icon at Sunningdale
Lineker's story begins with a call from his agent on a Thursday night which revealed Jordan's desire to play at the Sunningdale course in Berkshire.  
On Sundays, the only way to gain access to play is if hosted by a member and so  with Lineker enrolled at the course, he agreed he could host three guests.
'If it's a Sunday they can't play without a member, but I can host them (too f****** right, I could),' Lineker's Twitter thread continued. 
It went from three guests to six and Lineker, to ensure he followed through on his word and was able to host Jordan and his friends, needed a second member so as not to contravene club rules, so he asked his friend 'Queeny'.  
Jordan was a keen golfer off the court and his team approached Lineker to get onto the course
Jordan was a keen golfer off the court and his team approached Lineker to get onto the course
Lineker was a member at Sunningdale and detailed his story in a Twitter thread on Tuesday
Lineker was a member at Sunningdale and detailed his story in a Twitter thread on Tuesday
On arrival, Lineker, who lived in Sunningdale, and 'Queeny' were told their guests were out on the putting green puffing cigars. 
Jordan was seen in the Last Dance documentary with a preference to smoke a cigar while outside on the golf course and he did likewise when in Berkshire.  
Another key trait that emerged from the documentary was that Jordan liked to put his money where his mouth was in terms of his golf and wagers were commonplace on the green. 
Whether 'Queeny' was privy to Jordan's habits is unclear, but Lineker revealed how his fellow member wanted to offer up some money to increase the stakes with the famous Chicago Bulls star on the course.  
Lineker, in recounting the conversation, reveals Queeny said: '"So Michael would you like bet, a little wager?" 
'Michael says "Sure, man." Queeny says "So how much would you like to play for?" Michael puffs on his cigar, looks straight at him, smiles and says "Whatever makes you feel uncomfortable, man." Mr Jordan had already won the day.' 
The pay-off saw Jordan tell Lineker's friend to wager 'whatever makes you feel uncomfortable'
The pay-off saw Jordan tell Lineker's friend to wager 'whatever makes you feel uncomfortable'
The NBA icon enjoyed gambling while a player and was ruthlessly competitive in competition
The NBA icon enjoyed gambling while a player and was ruthlessly competitive in competition
While it remains unclear if money was won and lost on that round of golf at Sunningdale, what is definitely true is that Jordan enjoyed to gamble. 
In the book Michael Jordan: The Life, it was reported that he wrote a letter to a high school date saying he was happy she'd paid off a bet he won against her.
And in 2019, a cheque for $5 from Jordan's time at college went up for auction. It was written to another student at North Carolina and came after he won the cash in a game of pool.
While playing for the Washington Wizards towards the end of his career, rookie Jamal Crawford challenged Jordan to a three-point shootout for $1,000. Jordan won. Crawford then upped it to $5,000 before winning.
Jordan asked him, 'What car did you drive here with?'. It was a new Mercedes.
Jordan during his successful spell with the Chicago Bulls, when he won six championships
Jordan during his successful spell with the Chicago Bulls, when he won six championships

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