Notable Bulls Commentator Dismissed for Disregarding Single Entrance Tune Rule upon Michael Jordan's Chicago Homecoming
Done Deal: Ray Clay Returns to Announce Michael Jordan once more
Remember good ol' Ray Clay, the legendary PA announcer who pumped up the Chicago Bulls during their unforgettable run in the '90s? Well, he's back, and this time, he's set to make an extraordinary comeback by announcing one of the greatest basketball legends of all time—none other than Michael Jordan.
After Jordan's unexpected second retirement in 1998, many Bulls fans wondered whether Ray Clay would announce his return to the United Center in the familiar, iconic style he'd always used. In an interview, Clay admitted he wasn't certain until he realized that most fans would want to hear the legend introduced in the same grand manner.
"One journalist from the press asked how I planned on introducing Michael Jordan when he came back to the United Center," Clay reminisced. "I was honest when I said nobody from the organization had told me how they wanted me to introduce him. I said my feeling would be that everybody in the building wants to hear Michael Jordan introduced as he'd always been introduced many times before."
However, the organization had a different plan and asked Ray to tone down his introduction to match that of an opposing player. SportsCenter later aired footage of the announcement and reported that Club management had instructed Ray to minimize his famous introduction, effectively marking the beginning of his downfall.
Fast forward to 2002, Jordan decides to unretire and join the Washington Wizards. Fans were thrilled to see Jordan back on the court, and many were eager to hear Ray Clay's iconic voice booming through the speakers. And, as it turns out, we were not to be disappointed!
Although the Wizards faced the Bulls at their home, Jordan's former team, the fans gave him a hero's welcome. Ray Clay honored the iconic player in the only way he knew how—by announcing Jordan with his signature style.
Sadly, Ray Clay's friendship with the Bulls organization seemed to have soured after the incident, leading to his termination in May 2002 without any official explanation. Some speculate that his disagreement with club management over Jordan's introduction may have been the reason for his dismissal.
Yet, Ray Clay found solace in his career when the Philadelphia 76ers invited him to announce Jordan's final NBA game as a Wizard. After a long career, Ray Clay retired from announcing the WNBA Chicago Sky's games in 2019 but made a brief comeback in 2024 to announce for the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
Throughout his career, Ray Clay became synonymous with the electrifying atmosphere of Bulls games, and his iconic introductions will never be forgotten. To this day, his voice continues to echo through Chicago's history, reminding us of a time when the city and the world were captivated by the team—and one player in particular—known as the Chicago Bulls.
Jordan hung up his jersey for good in 2003, but his influence on the game of basketball remains unmatched. Today, he continues to be involved in basketball, owning the Charlotte Hornets, a NASCAR team, and retaining royalties of his popular Air Jordan brand, making him one of the wealthiest athletes in history.
- The legendary PA announcer, Ray Clay, is set to announce the great basketball legend, Michael Jordan, who is playing in the NBA, much like his stint with the Chicago Bulls during the '90s.
- Clay confessed in an interview that he wasn't sure how he would introduce Jordan when he returned to the United Center, similar to the way he'd done before, until he realized fans wanted the same grand introduction.
- The organization, however, had a plan to tone down Clay's introduction to match that of an opposing player, a decision that was reported by SportsCenter.
- Despite the controversy, Jordan made his comeback in 2002 with the Washington Wizards, and Ray Clay, the intrinsically connected voice of the Bulls, honored him with his signature style.
- Following his connection with the Bulls, Clay found solace in announcing for the Philadelphia 76ers and the WNBA Chicago Sky, before making a brief comeback in 2024 to announce for the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field.
- Known for creating an electrifying atmosphere during Bulls games, Ray Clay's iconic introductions will remain etched in our memories, reminding us of a time when the Chicago Bulls, with Jordan at the helm, dominated the Premier League and the global sports scene.
