Michael Jordan's bodyguard John Michael Wozniak was a true...
John Michael Wozniak was a fixture at Michael Jordan’s side for more than two decades.
John Michael Wozniak was a decorated Chicago narcotics officer who worked security at the old Chicago Stadium. Jordan developed an affinity for him early in his career when, while parking Jordan’s SUV, Wozniak accidentally shattered the back windshield after failing to account for the spare tire hanging on the vehicle’s rear. (Nicholi retweeted an anecdote describing the car in question as a Ford Bronco, although he says his dad told him it was a Chevy Blazer.)
Wozniak apologized to Jordan for the damage, telling him that he had a newborn (Nicholi) at home but would pay for the repairs upon receiving his next paycheck. Jordan appreciated the honesty and made special requests for Wozniak’s presence afterward.
Wozniak began working for Jordan’s security team full-time when the Hall of Famer moved to Birmingham, Ala., to start his baseball career with the Barons. That arrangement lasted more than two decades, with Wozniak handling security at Jordan’s Highland Park property until he could no longer work. Nicholi, who moved to Nashville with his wife and three kids last year for his job in software sales, says that Jordan paid his father until the day he died.
To the end, Wozniak’s business-like approach endeared him to the six-time champion.
“He wasn’t the type to ask for anything,” Nicholi said. “The only time he’d ask Michael for stuff was if it was for fundraisers and charitable things within the community. Michael was very pro-police. His father was military. His brother was military. So Michael always without flinching would give my dad paraphernalia, autographs to raise money for fallen officers’ families.”
The significance of that moment was not lost on John Michael Wozniak, who had a Jumpman logo tattooed on one arm and “23/Dog” tattooed on the other.
“Sometimes I felt a little chill and happiness for him because of how much he changed the city,” John Michael Wozniak told Complex in 2016.
Nicholi was hoping his father would live to see “The Last Dance,” even if he knew that was a longshot once his health declined. He said that John was interviewed for the film, which has provided a memorable window into his father’s element.
On Sunday, once he saw his father’s celebrity take off, Nicholi texted Jordan, joking that someone with crazy hair other than Dennis Rodman had stolen the show.
“Lol,” Jordan replied, according to Nicholi, before telling him that Lett, Travis and his father would always be in his heart.
John Michael Wozniak was a fixture at Michael Jordan’s side for more than two decades.
John Michael Wozniak was a decorated Chicago narcotics officer who worked security at the old Chicago Stadium. Jordan developed an affinity for him early in his career when, while parking Jordan’s SUV, Wozniak accidentally shattered the back windshield after failing to account for the spare tire hanging on the vehicle’s rear. (Nicholi retweeted an anecdote describing the car in question as a Ford Bronco, although he says his dad told him it was a Chevy Blazer.)
Wozniak apologized to Jordan for the damage, telling him that he had a newborn (Nicholi) at home but would pay for the repairs upon receiving his next paycheck. Jordan appreciated the honesty and made special requests for Wozniak’s presence afterward.
Wozniak began working for Jordan’s security team full-time when the Hall of Famer moved to Birmingham, Ala., to start his baseball career with the Barons. That arrangement lasted more than two decades, with Wozniak handling security at Jordan’s Highland Park property until he could no longer work. Nicholi, who moved to Nashville with his wife and three kids last year for his job in software sales, says that Jordan paid his father until the day he died.
To the end, Wozniak’s business-like approach endeared him to the six-time champion.
“He wasn’t the type to ask for anything,” Nicholi said. “The only time he’d ask Michael for stuff was if it was for fundraisers and charitable things within the community. Michael was very pro-police. His father was military. His brother was military. So Michael always without flinching would give my dad paraphernalia, autographs to raise money for fallen officers’ families.”
The significance of that moment was not lost on John Michael Wozniak, who had a Jumpman logo tattooed on one arm and “23/Dog” tattooed on the other.
“Sometimes I felt a little chill and happiness for him because of how much he changed the city,” John Michael Wozniak told Complex in 2016.
Nicholi was hoping his father would live to see “The Last Dance,” even if he knew that was a longshot once his health declined. He said that John was interviewed for the film, which has provided a memorable window into his father’s element.
On Sunday, once he saw his father’s celebrity take off, Nicholi texted Jordan, joking that someone with crazy hair other than Dennis Rodman had stolen the show.
“Lol,” Jordan replied, according to Nicholi, before telling him that Lett, Travis and his father would always be in his heart.
