The Pump Fake That Got The Goat

It might sound like another internet story to get you all riled up, but this one is actually true. For those who aren't aware of the legend that is Kenny Rogers, he's a country music hall of fame musician who's made the charts more than 120 times across all genres. With more than 100 million record sales worldwide, Kenny Rogers is a GOAT. He's also been the inspiration for several social media spin-offs, such as the ever-popular NotKennyRogers on X, which I highly recommend following if you need a good laugh. Conversely, we all know Michael Jordan as the GOAT of basketball, ruling the 90's with the 3-Peat repeat Chicago Bulls franchise. The stories about Jordan's achievements in the sport are nothing short of fascinating. If you've haven't watched it yet, you will not find a better sports documentary than The Last Dance on Netflix, which follows the aforementioned Bulls' team and tells the story of its successes through its best players' eyes.

How Kenny Rogers Faked The King Of The Court

Back in the beautiful year of 1988, Kenny Rogers hosted a sports and entertainment festival that included a charity 3-on-3 basketball tournament at his Beaver Dam farm in Georgia. The three-day event also included entertainment such as golf, tennis, and music, but the real feature was the basketball tournament. NBA greats such as Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, and Dominique Wilkins also played in the star-studded event. Rogers found himself playing against Jordan, but he wasn't scared. During the game, Rogers pump-faked, and Jordan fell for it, allowing Rogers to nail a jump shot. As if this wasn't entertaining enough, the tournament was broadcast on ABC, and announcer Chuck Hearn made the right call at the right time, broadcasting live, "Kenny just put Michael in the popcorn machine." Fear not, Jordan faithful, Michael blocked Roger's next shot and ended up hitting the game-winning basket. Check out the video:

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PICTURES: See Inside Kenny Rogers' Staggering California Estate

Kenny Rogers developed a taste for fine living early in his success. His ultra-lavish mansion in Bel Air, Calif., an estate called Lionsgate, was opulent even by celebrity standards. The 11-bedroom, 17-bathroom home totals 23,988 square feet of space, and it sits on 1.63 acres of some of the most expensive real estate in California.

The lavish interior includes a master suite that encompasses more than 3,000 square feet, three separate living rooms, seven fireplaces, a billiards room, a formal study, a private 12-seat theater with leather seats, a climate-controlled wine room that opens onto a saltwater pool, three steam showers and a large dry sauna. The property also features an outdoor glass elevator that leads to a large ballroom party space with an attached guest suite and a professional-sized gym.

The exterior of the house is just as lavish, including an outdoor living area with heated floors and a fully equipped bar, a tennis court with stadium lighting and a viewing area, a hot tub and extensive landscaping. Realtor.com calls Lionsgate the "most prestigious luxury estate" in Bel Air, boasting "possibly the best views in Los Angeles."

According to Business Insider, Rogers purchased the estate in the 1970s, and he added the lions to the gate and christened the home Lionsgate. He sold it in 1983 for $5.8 million, according to Variety, and the property most recently sold in 2015 for a staggering $46.25 million.

Gallery Credit: Sterling Whitaker

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