OK, so in case you’ve been living in the Boneyard, you might be aware that the world’s most famous athlete’s prodigal son has come to roost in Champaign-Urbana, where he hopes to someday shoot some hoops for Bruce Weber’s Illini. Yes, Michael Jeffrey Jordan’s eldest offspring, Jeffrey Michael Jordan, has enrolled at the UI as an invited walk-on (meaning he has a spot on the team, but no scholarship. Not that he needs one). This development, when it happened in late spring, immediately multiplied C-U’s celebrity quotient. Everyone was speculating as to how often MJ would be seen sitting in the Assembly Hall bleachers and tooling around town.
Well, in today’s Springfield Journal-Register, John Supinie reports (second item) that Jeffrey’s dad took the basketball team’s incoming freshman class to dinner on one of his two visits this summer. And inquiring minds want to know how in the world this has been kept a secret as to where the Jordans wined and dined the future Illini (that’s not an NCAA violation, is it?). So this got me to thinking … knowing that the elder Jordan’s presence would be a bit of a distraction, it is most likely that they sought out a location with a private room. Young growing men like steaks and pasta, so here are the likely candidates in order:
1. Jim Gould, downtown Champaign — private room, steak, expensive.
2. Kennedy’s, rural Urbana — private room, on a golf course (MJ’s favorite pastime), steak, expensive.
3. Kofusion, downtown Champaign — again, expensive, modern, a semi-private room. Does Michael like sushi?
4. Champaign Country Club, central Champaign — perhaps MJ has reciprocal privileges from the many country clubs he belongs to all over the nation.
5. Biaggi’s, south Champaign — perhaps the darkhorse, but it’s close to the athletic facilities and has a private room.
8 responses so far ↓
Don // July 31, 2007 at 10:59 am
For a while I was seeing Chester Frazier and Jeff at Derald’s catering truck on Matthews (in front of the Medical Sciences Bldg) almost every day.
If it was on a Friday I bet Mike got them all fish sammiches (and I bet he didn’t even have to wait in line like the rest of us schmoes).
Leeanthro // July 31, 2007 at 11:09 am
The sad truth is that the basketball team often dines at the Ribeye. When I worked there, the football team overtook the entire restaurant (except a small section) the Friday night before every home football game for an hour. The basketball team also dined there often. The coaches took prospective players there too.
I used to work there and I had horrible experiences with the managment and some of the staff, so I can’t really recommend it in good conscience.
prairiegourmet // July 31, 2007 at 11:27 am
My guess would also be The Ribeye. If not there, then The Beef House in Covington. Both are notorius for quality “big meat”, and both places are notorius for sightings of athletes and coaches.
Jenna // July 31, 2007 at 2:58 pm
What about Steak and Shake….the northerns love that place! Plus, its more economical. lol!
lbotp // July 31, 2007 at 3:15 pm
I had a Jamar Smith-Brian Carlwell sighting on Green Street yesterday after lunch. I don’t know where they ate, but I guess it’s nice to see bygones are bygones ….
I always forget (conveniently) about the Ribeye, I just have a hard time seeing him there. We have only been there once; someone gave me a gift certificate years ago — and that was the only time. I just don’t like restaurants that don’t have windows.
I thought about the Beef House too, but decided it was too far. Who knows.
And guess what Jenna — they have opened several Steak n Shakes up north. The places were so busy when they first opened they had to take names.
Jennifer B. // July 31, 2007 at 5:00 pm
I live in Stone Creek, where Kennedy’s is located, and we’re both in incorporated Urbana: http://www.ci.urbana.il.us/urbana/about_urbana/Urbana_Map.pdf
Lisa // August 1, 2007 at 11:51 am
I used to work at the Ribeye, too, eons ago. I don’t remember seeing the b-ball team, but the football team I remember well. They also would take over the entire dining room, coming in the Friday nights before home games. Some of the guys would take the whole bowl of pea salad or whatever from the salad bar to their tables. It was awkward taking the bowls back from players and explaining that the bowls on the salad bar were meant to stay there and that they were supposed to just take a portion for themselves!
prairie biker // August 2, 2007 at 8:29 am
I wouldn’t recognize any of these guys if I ran into them on the street. When I shipped out for the USAF way back in ‘88, MJ walked right past us as we were waiting in line to check in at O’Hare. Everybody else seemed impressed but I had no clue (a typical problem).
I do know a good steak though.
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