Windy City Love! Michael Jordan Gives Retired Hockey Player Chris Chelios His Flowers

A Chicago sports legend, the Blackhawks’ Chris Chelios, had his jersey number raised to the rafters at United Center this past weekend. Another Chicago sports legend, Michael Jordan, was scheduled to be there, but due to a death in the former basketball player’s family, he was unable to attend.

He did send a video message to Chelios instead.

According to NBC Sports Chicago, the ceremony took place on Sunday, Feb. 26, when the team retired Chelios’s No. 7 jersey before the Blackhawks played against the Detroit Red Wings. The NBA Hall of Famer sent in a video message that was displayed on the jumbotron screen at the stadium.

As Jordan commented on their 30-year friendship, he expressed regret in not being able to be there to acknowledge this moment. With the backdrop being a golf course, he stated that he was glad that he was sharing space in the rafters with Chelios.

“Hey, man, unfortunately, Chelios, I can’t make it again this week,” Jordan said in the video. “I tried for the Ring of Honor. I couldn’t make it then. I had a death in the family on Sunday. Look, you’re a very deserving man, and I’m proud to see your jersey up there with my jersey. You and I have been friends for 30 years, so I wish you the best. I send a bunch of love, you know, go Blackhawks!”

The love Chelios has for Jordan was displayed in his speech as he made sure to mention the former basketball player.

“And we go, of course, to Michael Jordan, who became a dear friend of mine. Without a doubt, the king,” Chelios said. “And that old phrase they use, ‘I want to be like Mike,’ well, I really did want to be like Mike. And one thing I did, which I hadn’t done previously in my career, was train properly. And I just watched him after every game with Tim Grove, his trainer. And I thought to myself, well if Michael’s got a trainer, that might be my edge. I’ll get a trainer.”

And just like Mike, he is now just like him by having his jersey hanging in the same rafters as the basketball legend.