Photo Credit: Ron Frehm/AP

The Story Of A Father & Son Conning Themselves Into NBA Locker Rooms To Meet Michael Jordan And Other NBA Players

This has got to be one of the coolest father/son stories I’ve ever heard. In the 1990s, comedian Gary Vider, who was a kid back then, and his father ran a brilliant scam to get themselves access to NBA arenas and even locker rooms. This even included Michael Jordan’s legendary 55-point game in his first time back at Madison Square Garden after his first retirement.

The two pretended to be a kids reporter and photographer for Sports Illustrated and never got caught, even on the day of Jordan’s famous game, that had an actual kids reporter from Sports Illustrated present.

From 1993-1997 My father and I ran a scam saying I was a reporter for Sports Illustrated for Kids and he was a photographer.

My dad would smooth talk our way into games at Madison Square Garden and Nassau Coliseum without a ticket and get us access into the locker rooms.
When we would get in the locker room I would (fake) interview the players, take pictures, and get autographs.
One of the closest calls we ever had was Michael Jordan’s first game back at MSG after he took a year and half off to play baseball.
We’d been to the Garden countless times before but this time an actual reporter and photographer for Sports Illustrated for Kids showed up. My dad made it a point for us to say hi to them, never telling them who we were. I remember thinking as a 10 year old this it we are going to jail.
After watching MJ score 55 points my dad and I rushed to the locker room. Security was limiting how many people could get through, even press. We wound up getting in and the real Sports Illustrated for Kids didn’t.

This pic is from my “interview” with Michael Jordan.