Already a basketball legend, minor league baseball player, high-stakes golfer, NASCAR team co-owner and poker enthusiast, Michael Jordan scratches his competitive itch these days with deep sea fishing.
And because this is Jordan, his ‘hobby’ comes in the form of a $7.5 million tournament off the North Carolina coast, where the six-time NBA champion is rumored to aboard a new yacht worth an estimated $15 million.
For comparison’s sake, that’s less than 1 percent of Jordan’s reported $3.6 billion net worth.
Known as the Big Rock Blue Marlin Tournament, the competition began on Monday runs through Saturday, after which there will be an awards brunch on Sunday.
Jordan is not listed among the anglers in the tournament. However, he has previously participated in the event and a conspicuous vessel named ‘Catch 23’ is currently entered into the field. Podcaster and investor Joe Pompliano added fuel to the fire by reporting Jordan’s entry into the field.
Jordan’s new $15 million yacht measures 82-feet, according to the tournament website
Jordan previously competed in the Big Rock Tournament as seen in this Grace Bell photo
Jordan is a fishing enthusiast and grew up in North Carolina, near where the event is held
His Airness’ new vessel is an 82-foot Boatworks ship, according to Pompliano. Captained by Stetson Turney, this yacht replaces the $8 million Viking-made ship he used at previous tournaments.
But as Pompliano points out, they both have a distinctive ‘elephant’ print wrapped around the boat.
Sportskeeda reports that Jordan competed at a popular billfish event in the Bahamas last year, where he and his teammates reeled in four blue marlins, five white marlins, and a sailfish.
Turney was named the best captain during the event.
Jordan has been known to fish with golfer Luke Donald.
In fact, Donald once shared a birthday message to Jordan on Instagram, showing the two out on a boat at sea and captioned the image: ‘Happy Birthday to the G.O.A.T.
‘The most competitive person I know in everything he does, he always finds a way to win. He’s also one of the kindest and most sincere people I’ve been around.
Jordan is not named directly in the list of entrants but his ‘Catch 23’ yacht is listed
Jordan, 61, has reportedly entered his new 82-foot yacht, ‘Catch 23’ into the event
Jordan’s new boat is an 82-foot Boatworks ship that is worth a reported $15million
Jordan and Europe Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald have taken fishing trips together before
‘He’s an inspiration to millions, including myself and I’m fortunate to hang with this legend. Happy Birthday MJ.’
Speaking on the-then European Tour’s ‘Life on Tour’ podcast in 2018, Donald said fishing was starting to replace golf as Jordan’s main hobby.
‘I think he’s getting a little bit bored of golf! So we go fishing a lot,’ he said. ‘I’d give him 10 shots though when he play.
‘He knows how to play, he knows how to score. Very good short game, he can get up and down from nowhere.’
