Michael Jordan, ‘I paid the price for going back to 1984’

Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on March 8, according to the Tribune’s archives.

Is an important event missing from this date? Email us.

Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)

• High temperature: 78 degrees (2000)
• Low temperature: Minus 7 degrees (1943)
• Precipitation: 1.67 inches (2009)
• Snowfall: 5.3 inches (1931)

1932: A fire destroyed Miralago dance club in a two-story stucco building in “No Man’s Land,” which was an unincorporated strip of land between Wilmette and Kenilworth.

Firefighters were late to respond, with Kenilworth officials arguing the establishment had no right to its water mains. Today, Plaza del Lago shopping center is on the site.

1937: A 5.4-magnitude earthquake centered in northwest Ohio was felt in Chicago around midnight.

“Except for frazzled nerves and a few broken dishes there was no damage; an early survey showed nobody hurt,” the Tribune reported.

1946: The University of Chicago, a founding member, left the Big Ten Conference. Michigan State’s entry in 1949, returned the conference to 10 teams.

As of 2024, there are 18 teams in the Big Ten.

The Chicago Bears have called Soldier Field home since 1971 — but they have flirted with leaving the downtown stadium several times since

1971: The Big Ten Conference denied permission for the Chicago Bears to lease Dyche Stadium — two weeks after the Bears signed a five-year deal with Northwestern University to play there.

1997: The University of Chicago advanced to the NCAA Division III Sweet Sixteen by defeating Wabash College 78-70 for the Maroons’ 18th straight win.

It was only the third NCAA championship run in the 94 years of the sport on campus, and it came as the team recorded more than 20 victories for the first time since 1920.

Vintage Chicago Tribune: March Madness was born in Illinois. Here’s history of Chicago teams in the tournament.

But March Madness hit differently in Hyde Park.

The Final Four? More like the finals four: “I have four exams in one day,” said sleep-deprived student Manuj Shah, hopped up on tea.

1998: Michael Jordan played his final game with the Chicago Bulls at Madison Square Garden — while wearing his original Air Jordans.

“I’m still glad I can entertain people with those kinds of shots,” Jordan said after the game. “But you wouldn’t believe the blisters I have on my feet now. I paid the price for going back to 1984.”

Jordan scored 42 points in 43 minutes in the Bulls’ 102-89 victory over the New York Knicks. In his first game on Nov. 8, 1984 at the venue, Jordan had 33 points in 33 minutes.

Also in 1998: It was a no-look pass into the NCAA Tournament for the 22-5 University of Illinois-Chicago Flames — the team’s first NCAA Tournament in school history.

The Flames lost to North Carolina-Charlotte 77-62.

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