The Last Dance: Michael Jordan was a once in a generation basketball star who led the Bulls to 6 World Championships. Why would an org experiencing unparalleled success choose to bring it to such an unceremonious end & is The House of Windsor doomed to the same fate?

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Jordan’s popularity exceeded that of his team, the NBA, & ultimately the sport. He elevated those institutions’ marketability & they profited greatly from the association. Harry had been in a 1-2 battle w/ HMQ for most popular royal, but w/ Meghan he entered a new stratosphere. +

KP tripled their social media following. Dozens of podcasts, TV specials, & even a TV network launched. Windsor became the most popular British tourist attraction & the BRF saw record-breaking visitors & merch sales. But, the real coup was the lucrative US media opportunities. +

Kids around the world weren’t singing “I want to be like Meghan,” but the women in South Africa singing “African Queen” came damn close. She represented a progressive, feminist role model & more importantly, a champion, particularly for women of color. +

Media outlets as broad-ranging as the Guardian & Essence magazine were suddenly covering the royals. A Jordan led Dream Team unlocked the international market for the NBA ushering in a wave of young global talent who have become some of the league’s brightest stars. +

Similarly, H&M represented the modern face & future of the Commonwealth. Landmark tours in Oceania & Southern Africa drew jaw-dropping crowds. The Sussexes were heralded as “committed & passionate” ambassadors for the UK. +

Yet, somehow winning wasn’t enough for the Bulls or the House of Windsor. Bulls’ GM Jerry Krause & the Firm both chose to sacrifice their stars to show that the institution is bigger than any individual. Krause was determined to prove he could build a winning team w/out Jordan. +

Despite sputtering flashes of on-court success, the Bulls remain a middling franchise - no longer a perennial NBA playoff contender & an afterthought globally. They cast out 2 Hall of Famers still among the top 50 players all time & have only drafted 2 All-Stars since. +

The Firm has trotted out a revolving lineup of “Fab 4s” hopelessly trying to recapture lightning in a bottle.Can they convince the public a Ford Fiesta is a Lamborghini when they can’t even convince themselves? Still, they seem content to sacrifice soft power for the status quo.+

Jordan retired & gave the Bulls 3 years in absentia to rebuild. H&M are free agents building their own team. The pandemic has given the Firm about a 6 month head start. Somehow I don’t think that will be enough. /END