Michael Jordan, the undisputed basketball icon and one of the most legendary figures in world sport, has made another unexpected move. After retiring from professional basketball, dabbling in baseball and establishing himself as a key figure in motorsport with his NASCAR team, he has now cast his net into new territory in sport fishing. And it’s not just for fun.Jordan has set his sights on a prize of more than $3.9 million by taking part in the prestigious White Marlin Open, known as the ‘Super Bowl of fishing’, a tournament held annually in Ocean City, Maryland, which brings together the best fishermen in the world and some of the biggest fortunes on the planet.
A legend on the high seas
The six-time NBA champion is not taking this new adventure lightly. Aboard his ‘Catch 23’, a custom 82-foot Bayliss yacht valued at around $15 million, Jordan and his team of nine anglers braved wild waves, strong winds and, of course, the imposing force of the white marlin, one of the most coveted and elusive fish in the tournament.
This is not the first time Jordan has participated in this tournament. In previous editions, his team took home $389,000 for catching the second largest white marlin. But this year, ambition is growing, and the goal of conquering first place in the world’s richest sport fishing tournament is more than evident.
The legality of the tournament
The competition, which has awarded more than $100 million in prizes since its inception in 1974 by Jim Motsko, is far from a mere expensive pastime. With a basic entry fee of $1,700, and fees that can exceed $100,000 to qualify for the full prize, the tournament imposes strict rules and integrity protocols worthy of an NBA Finals.
Each fish must be hooked and caught without outside help, which means that the angler cannot even be touched during the fight with the marlin or tuna. Fishing is only allowed between 8 a.m. and 3:30 p.m., and only on three of the five days of competition (seven days in this edition due to bad weather). In addition, each winning boat must pass a polygraph test to verify that they did not cheat, a measure that was put to the test in 2016, when Phil Heasley lost a $2.8 million prize after failing the lie detector test.
“Integrity is key. These rules are there to protect the spirit of the competition,” says Madelyne Motsko, daughter of the founder and current organizer of the event.
‘Catch 23’, more than just a boat
Jordan’s boat, ‘Catch 23’, not only pays homage to his iconic number with the Chicago Bulls, but has become a floating symbol of the crossover between sporting elite and luxury leisure. Equipped with state-of-the-art navigation technology and a 40-foot tower, it is ideal for spotting elusive marlin in the choppy waters of the Atlantic.
Jordan, 62, shows that his hunger for competition remains intact. Although he could live the rest of his life without lifting another finger, he dives into the sea with the same determination he showed against the Detroit Pistons or the Utah Jazz.
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