An old magazine has breathed new life into the Bulls’ snitching controversy.
Douglas Charles, an editor for BroBible, dug up a photo of a 1993 cover of “Inside Sport” in which Horace Grant is featured giving unflattering quotes about Scottie Pippen and Phil Jackson. Grant has become a central figure in the drama following “The Last Dance,” coming out with the harshest rebuke of Michael Jordan in the aftermath of the docu-series that chronicled the Bulls’ six-title dynasty.
Jordan, whose interviews were the guiding force for the 10-part ESPN series, accused Grant of leaking the Bulls’ behind-the-scenes drama to Sam Smith for the Chicago Tribune writer’s book, “The Jordan Rules.”
Grant defended himself in a radio interview and pointed the “snitch” finger back at Jordan, noting how he talked about his teammates’ drug use in the first episode of the documentary.
“[He] puts this lie out that I was the source behind [the book],” Grant, who was part of the Bulls’ first three-peat before signing with the Magic, said. “Sam and I have always been great friends. We’re still great friends. But the sanctity of that locker room, I would never put anything personal out there. The mere fact that Sam Smith was an investigative reporter. That he had to have two sources, two, to write a book, I guess. Why would MJ just point me out?
“It’s only a grudge, man. I’m telling you, it was only a grudge. And I think he proved that during this so-called documentary. When if you say something about him, he’s going to cut you off, he’s going to try to destroy your character.”
However, the cover of the magazine makes it appear as if Grant’s issues with teammates went beyond Jordan.
“To be honest, Scottie has become arrogant and cocky, but that’s to be expected of people who can’t handle fame and fortune,” Grant is quoted as saying by the magazine.
Smith recently described Grant and Pippen as having a close relationship inside the locker room. Though, Pippen did admit that Grant’s comments to the magazine were bothersome.
“Horace told me he said that stuff a long time before. And I said, ‘Yeah, but you still said it, so evidently you meant it.’ It hurt. I won’t say it didn’t,” Pippen told Sports Illustrated. “I think it was a combination of a lot of things — frustration, maybe misinterpreting me a little bit and confusion over our friendship changing.
“Things aren’t the same as when we were young and it was Scottie and Horace, Horace and Scottie. We’ve outgrown that, and we both had to realize it. The important thing is that we’re still good friends and that we play well together.”
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