COLUMBUS, Ohio — Popeye Jones spent two seasons as an NBA player in Washington, often using what was then called MCI Center as an incubator for his young son, Seth, and his budding hockey career. He recalls waiting after Wizards practices for the arena crew to switch the hardwood to ice so Seth could skate before the rink was inhabited by the Capitals.
One time, Seth had the idea of using his father’s connections to help raise money for his traveling youth hockey team. The kids were holding an auction, so Seth asked Popeye if he could score a pair of sneakers from teammate and locker neighbor Michael Jordan, who from 2001 to 2003 spent his final two NBA seasons with the Wizards.