In 1987, Eric Barber, 16, wrote to an NBC show called Sports Fantasy to pitch his dream: to play Michael Jordan one-on-one. The caveat: It would be in wheelchair basketball.
Jordan accepted. He would play Barber, who was born with scoliosis and lost the use of his legs at age 3.
They dueled in front of a gym crowd at Jordan’s basketball camp in Benedictine University in Lisle, Ill. Barber was confident, predicting victory and detailing his strategy before the event.
“Pretty much just to go around him. Keep him off balance.