O'Donnell: 'Last Dance' not likely to disappoint Jordan's legion of fans

AND NOW, FROM NORTH CAROLINA ... and ESPN, Netflix, Jump 23, NBA Entertainment and Mandalay Sports Media:

Michael Jordan and the 10-part docuseries on the historically dysfunctional 1997-1998 Chicago Bulls titled "The Last Dance."

Sunday, beginning at 8 p.m., ESPN will present the first two episodes of the extended TV event.

Four more Sunday doubleheaders will follow, concluding May 17.

Hopes are high that the series will capture enough imaginations - and eyeballs - on the barren American popscape to emerge as the most-watched documentary ever on ESPN.

That bar currently belongs to "You Don't Know Bo," the "30 for 30" on Bo Jackson that drew 3.6 million viewers on Johnny Manziel's Heisman Saturday - Dec. 8, 2012.

Industry polls and optimists indicate the final tote may overwhelmingly favor Michael over Bo.

This despite the fact that all four legacied networks - including ESPN corporate stepsister ABC with "American Idol" - are airing fresh episodic TV Sunday.

But in an inspiration-starved nation, will memories of Michael - even sullied ones - be enough to push "The Last Dance" over the Bo bar?

The initial eight episodes were earlier released to select media for review.

Director Jason Hehir has crafted a flowing, frequently taut look back at Jordan, the six-time world champion Bulls and many of the tangents that led to the team's successes and bizarre breakup after that 1997-1998 campaign.

In Episodes 1 & 2, almost all of the featured names - from Barack Obama and Bill Clinton to Scottie Pippen, Magic Johnson and Michael himself - will be immediately familiar to most viewers.

The six inclusions from the print media side - plus retired NBA senior VP/communications Brian McIntyre - may not be.

So, as a viewer's supplement, here are thumbnails on those seven:

Mark Vancil - A Bulls beat writer for The Sun-Times during Jordan's early NBA years. ... No print reporter cultivated more quick rapport and ultimate profit with Jordan.

The Northern Illinois grad left newspapering in 1991 and struck gold as a primary force behind "Rare Air," the 1993 Jordan coffee-table mega-seller. ... The book greatly benefitted from a publication date barely one full month after M.J. announced his first "retirement" from the Bulls.

Vancil speaks with far more authority about the way Jordan thinks than any other media member in "The Last Dance." ... Ahmad Rashad completes the exacta, but Jordan used Rashad (and vice versa). ... He partnered with Vancil.

Brian McIntyre - Chicago-bred to the gills and later absolutely masterful as the NBA's longtime senior VP/communications. ... Was essentially privy to all in the David Stern-Jordan channel, meaning McIntyre likely has more secrets than a Russian election judge in Detroit. ... And he's far too professional to ever tell all.

Comes across as far more serious in "TLD" than he is in real life. ... Got his start modestly outside Chicago Stadium, hawking a self-published sheet that held the feet of the Wirtz family to the fire over its inept handling of the Blackhawks. ... The Bulls snatched him up as a public relations staffer and he was at Commissioner Larry O'Brien's NBA/HQ less than five years later.

David Aldridge - Will never be mistaken for Chris Rock, but has always brought an informed objectivity to his national NBA reporting. ... That includes more than 30 years as a lead courtsider for The Washington Post, Turner and ESPN.

Never really beat the herd on any specific Jordan reportage. ... But very early on, His Airness was mastering presenting "Good Michael" to national sorts like Aldridge, whose steady professionalism has never devolved into sensationalism.

Mike Wilbon - Another native Chicagoan of an age and passion who presumptively could link Erwin "Wolfgang" Mueller all the way to Lauri Markkannen (with Shaler Halimon and Mo Whatley in between). ... Nonetheless, he is nonessential and overused in "TLD."

Wilbon has had hot national dice for a number of reasons in recent years. ... Still, his inclusion in "TLD" comes across as a bone to ESPN more than any great insight into Anything M.J.

J.A. Adande - Had two nondescript years (1992 to 1994) as a Bulls guy at The Sun-Times, then traveled the highlands of sports journalism. ... Maybe he had some career highlights along the way, but none of them involved Jordan.

Well-spoken and an extremely friendly mien throughout "TLD." ... Now heads the sports journalism department at Northwestern.

Sam Smith - A good enough feature writer at The Chicago Tribune who Velcroed on to The Jordan Age a few years in and has never gone away. ... Jordan himself thought Smith was "weasely" and Smith seconded that emotion with publication of "The Jordan Rules" in 1992.

Caught his best reportorial stride around the Bulls from 1992 to 1995, three very flash-free years of local herd coverage of the team. ... Left The Trib years ago and now regularly draws a stipend from Jerry Reinsdorf and Co. doing a blog on the team's website.

So, there's objectivity.

Rick Telander - In lieu of a narrator, director Hehir elected to use some form of tribal elder as a wise interlocutor and Telander drew the assignment. ... It makes mates chortle, primarily because Ol' Rick has always had college football as his primary power alley and was the fourth or fifth "go-to" on the Bulls at The Sun-Times during the year of "TLD." In mitigation, it must be said Telander delivers his lines well.

And in the end, with "The Last Dance," what is there left to do but enjoy?

• Jim O'Donnell's Sports & Media column appears Thursday and Sunday. Reach him at jimodonnelldh@yahoo.com.