Former White Sox hitting coach Mike Barnett discussed his time working with Michael Jordan in the Chicago organization -- including the time an impromptu basketball game ended with MJ dunking on the head of a young challenger -- on the Mac Attack show on WFNZ in Charlotte on Thursday.
The story began with some friendly ribbing on the long bus rides through the Southern League.
"We had two Division III All-American basketball players on our team -- Kevin Coughlin and Scott Tedder," Barnett said. "And we're coming back from Huntstville, and they're in the back kind popping off, going 'MJ, why don't you get your team together, get your old guys up there, and we'll get our guys, and we'll play a game.'
"After we got done with that game, there was a kid there that was about 6'7". I mean, same size as Michael, athletic-looking. So we played another pickup game, five-on-five this time, so this kid's playing. And Michael's just playing flat-footed, and this kid scored a couple baskets over him. Michael's just trying to basically make him feel good.
"So we're coming down the floor and he goes, 'Man you're not that good. You're my idol.'"
"And Michael goes, 'Excuse me? You're mine now.'"
That's when Jordan's famed competitiveness kicked into gear, Barnett said -- and the new Barons outfielder hilariously even shooed away manager Terry Francona when he tried to set a pick.
Listen below for Barnett's full appearance.