National Basketball Association

Report: Michael Jordan misspelled Barack Obama's name on 50th birthday gift

Published Feb. 10, 2015 11:57 a.m. ET

foxsports

The former chief strategist to President Barack Obama, David Axelrod, has a signed poster of Michael Jordan in the front hall of his home. Unfortunately for Axelrod, the poster wasn't meant for him. In fact, it's addressed to the president. But, as Axelrod told New York magazine, there was a problem with the poster, which was a 50th birthday gift to Obama from Jordan himself.

In the front hall is a glass-encased ballot box from the Florida 2000 presidential election. There’s also a napkin signed by JFK, a letter from the newly elected Abraham Lincoln to the Chicago mayor’s son, and a signed poster of Michael Jordan. "When the president turned 50, I wanted to get him something special … so I sent it to Jordan to have him sign it for me." In black Sharpie, Jordan scrawled, "To Barrack: you still owe me dinner. Wishing you well, Michael Jordan."

"I gave it to the president, and he said, 'I can’t put this up, he misspelled my name!' So I said, 'Fine, I’ll take it.' "

There's no word on whether Jordan was made aware of the error or if a replacement gift was provided. Given the relationship between Jordan and Obama, however, it seems safe to say that Jordan would have made fun of Obama if he brought up the gift faux pas.

Sure, on the one hand, Jordan hosted a $20,000-a-plate fundraising dinner for Obama a year after the president's 50th birthday.

On the other, however, Jordan's already demonstrated that he has no issue talking trash to one of the most powerful men in the free world. You'll likely recall that he called Obama a "s----y" golfer back in October of this past year, and that was without ever having played a single hole with the president.

Weighing all the evidence, then, only two things are certain: Jordan will be collecting on that dinner you owe him, Mr. President, if he hasn't already. And come January of 2017, you can bet there will be a tee time for two scheduled somewhere in North Carolina.

(h/t NYmag.com)

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