A pair of autographed and inscribed Air Jordan XIIIs, gifted by Michael Jordan to NBA referee Jimmy Clark, sold for $51,240 at Goldin this weekend, and come with a colorful backstory.
The inscriptions, which include "To Jimmy Good Luck" and "P.S. Can I Have Calls!!" are traced back to the Chicago Bulls' 111-72 thumping of the Denver Nuggets in 1998.
Clark had a bit of a history with Jordan, who was fined $5,000 in 1992 after criticizing Clark and his fellow referees following a December game in Atlanta.
“We had three terrible referees, and you really couldn't determine who was the lead official,” Jordan said. “They all stunk. I'll probably get fined for that, but wait until they look at the film. If they don't say they stunk, then I'll say it.”
But six years later, during what would become famous as Jordan’s “Last Dance” season, it appears the relationship had mended.
After the game, Clark walked over to Jordan and said to him "Hey, Michael, I've never asked you for anything, right?” According to a letter of provenance provided by Clark, Jordan responded in agreement, Clark hadn’t asked him for anything. Clark then recounted asking Jordan, “Well, since you're retiring at the end of this season, how about signing those shoes for me?”
Jordan obliged. His teammate, Scottie Pippen, apparently offered to sign his own shoes and gift them as well, to which Jordan replied, "Shut up, Scottie, he doesn't want your shoes, he wants mine and besides you're not retiring.”
Before departing the arena, Clark had yet to receive the sneakers. He asked a locker room attendant to check on them for him, returning with the pair in a shopping bag from Target.
With more than two weeks remaining, bidding for the sneakers has surpassed $40,000.
A pair of sneakers worn and signed by Jordan later that month sold for $38,100 earlier this year at Sotheby’s.
The highest price paid for any auction of Jordan sneakers belongs to the “Dynasty Collection,” which included six individual sneakers from each of Jordan’s NBA Finals-clinching games and sold for a record $8 million in February.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.