Dolores Jordan had always been a woman of secrets, but none weighed heavier on her heart than the one she had kept for over thirty years. At 83, she found herself rummaging through her attic, a place filled with memories and remnants of a life well-lived. As she sifted through old boxes, a wooden chest caught her eye, hidden behind a dusty suitcase. Curiosity piqued, she pulled it out, the smell of aged wood and paper wafting through the air.
Inside, she discovered a bundle of yellowed newspaper clippings, an old baseball card, and at the bottom, a sealed envelope with her son Michael’s name scrawled across it in her handwriting. Her heart raced as she recognized the letter she had written in 1995, a letter she had never had the courage to give him. It contained a truth that could change everything—a truth about Michael’s real father, Walter Griffin, a former baseball player, not James Jordan Sr., the man who had raised him.
Dolores sat on her neatly made bed, the weight of three decades of silence pressing down on her. Michael was now 52, a grandfather himself. Would he be angry? Would he understand? She had kept this secret for so long, fearing it would overshadow the love and bond they shared. But now, with the letter in her hands, she felt a sense of urgency. “He deserves to know,” she whispered to herself, recalling the promise she had made to James before he passed away.
Taking a deep breath, she picked up her phone and dialed Michael’s number. “Hey Mom, what’s up?” he answered, his voice warm and familiar. “Michael, I need to see you. It’s important,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. After a pause, he agreed to come home the next day, and Dolores felt a mix of relief and dread.
That night, sleep eluded her as memories flooded her mind. She thought back to the day Michael was born, the joy and love she felt as she held him for the first time. She remembered the countless moments of pride as he grew into a basketball legend, the way he soared through the air, his hands—so much like Walter’s—graceful and powerful. But with each memory came the weight of her secret, the burden of the truth she had kept hidden.
The next day, as she prepared Michael’s favorite meal, she reflected on the past. She remembered the day she met Walter, the young love they had shared, and the promise they made to each other. But life had taken a different turn, and James had stepped in, offering to raise Michael as his own. It was a decision made out of love, but one that had left her with a heavy heart.
When Michael arrived, Dolores greeted him with a warm hug, but the tension in the air was palpable. They sat down to eat, and as they talked about his life, Dolores felt the letter burning a hole in her pocket. Finally, she could wait no longer. “Let’s go to the living room,” she said, retrieving the wooden box from the attic.
“What’s this?” Michael asked, curiosity etched on his face. “Something I should have shown you a long time ago,” she replied, her voice steady despite her racing heart. She opened the box and took out the baseball card, handing it to him. “This is Walter Griffin,” she said, watching as confusion washed over his face.
“Who is Walter Griffin to us?” he asked, his brow furrowing. Dolores took a deep breath, her heart pounding. “I met Walter in 1961, before I met James. We were young and in love. He got drafted by the White Sox, but then he got injured. By the time he came back to Wilmington, I was pregnant with you.”
The color drained from Michael’s face. “James knew?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “Yes,” Dolores confirmed. “He knew from the beginning and offered to raise you as his own, but Walter had to stay away.”
Michael stood up abruptly, the baseball card slipping from his fingers. “I need some air,” he said, walking out the front door. Dolores watched him go, her heart aching. She had known this moment would be difficult, but she had hoped for understanding.
After a few minutes, Michael returned, his expression composed but troubled. “Why now?” he asked, sitting back down. “After all these years, why tell me now?” Dolores explained how she had found the box in the attic and realized she could no longer keep the truth from him. “I’m getting older, and I didn’t want to leave this world without you knowing who you really are,” she said, her voice trembling.
Michael picked up the baseball card again, studying it closely. “Do I look like him?” he asked, his voice thick with emotion. “You have his hands,” Dolores replied, tears filling her eyes. “And your ability to jump, that’s all Walter.”
“Is he still alive?” Michael asked, his voice barely above a whisper. “Yes,” Dolores said. “He’s a high school baseball coach in Arizona. He’s followed your career from a distance and is very proud of you.”
Michael shook his head in disbelief. “All those years I played basketball thinking I was doing it for Dad, for James,” he said, his voice breaking. “And when I switched to baseball, it was like Walter’s blood was calling to me.”
Dolores reached for his hand, squeezing it gently. “You are still James Jordan’s son in every way that matters,” she said. “Biology is just the beginning. It’s love that makes a family.”
As they sat in silence, the weight of the moment hung heavy in the air. Finally, Michael stood up and walked to the window, looking out at the yard. “So many people knew,” he said softly. “So many secrets kept from me.”
Just then, there was a knock at the door. Dolores opened it to find Coach Raymond Wilson standing there, looking nervous but determined. “I had a feeling you might need some support today,” he said, stepping inside.
Michael turned to Raymond, surprise etched on his face. “You knew?” he asked. Raymond nodded, his expression serious. “I knew Walter. I was his high school baseball coach. He was one of the most talented young players I ever coached.”
As they sat down together, Raymond filled in the gaps of the story, explaining how Walter had struggled after his injury and how he had honored the agreement to stay away. “He followed your career from a distance,” Raymond said. “He was proud of you, Michael. He always was.”
Michael absorbed the information, his mind racing. “So my biological father is dying, and I’m just learning about his existence today?” he asked, his voice thick with emotion. “Yes,” Raymond said gently. “He’s been diagnosed with cancer.”
Dolores gasped, tears streaming down her face. “Why didn’t you tell me?” she asked Raymond, her voice trembling. “He didn’t want to be the reason you finally told Michael the truth,” Raymond explained. “He wanted it to be your decision.”
Michael took a deep breath, his expression resolute. “I need to make a call,” he said, stepping onto the back porch for privacy. Dolores and Raymond exchanged worried glances, unsure of what would happen next.
After about fifteen minutes, Michael returned, his expression unreadable. “He’s flying in tomorrow,” he said simply. “I’m sending my plane for him.” Dolores felt her heart race. Walter was coming back into their lives.
As the day turned into night, Michael and Dolores talked late into the evening, sharing stories and memories. Michael insisted on staying at Dolores’s house rather than going to his own home or a hotel. “I want to be here when he arrives,” he said.
The next morning, they prepared for Walter’s arrival. When the doorbell rang, Dolores’s hands shook with anticipation. Michael opened the door, and there stood Walter Griffin, looking older but still tall and strong. “Michael,” Walter said, his voice breaking slightly. “Thank you for calling me.”
As they embraced, Dolores felt a sense of relief wash over her. The secret that had weighed on her heart for so long was finally being lifted. Walter entered the house, and they all sat down together, ready to share the truth and begin a new chapter.
Walter spoke of his love for Dolores, his dreams of being a father, and the pain of having to let go. “I’ve dreamed of this moment for so long,” he said, looking at Michael. “I’m just grateful for this chance to meet you.”
Michael studied Walter’s face, searching for answers. “You gave up your son,” he said, his voice thick with emotion. “Every day of my life,” Walter replied, tears in his eyes. “But I never regretted knowing you were being raised by good people who loved you.”
As they talked, Dolores watched the two men connect, sharing stories and discovering the bonds that transcended the years of separation. The secret that had once divided them was now a bridge, leading to understanding, forgiveness, and a new beginning.
In that moment, Dolores realized that love, not blood, defined a family. And as she watched her son and his biological father share their first moments together, she felt a sense of peace wash over her. The truth had finally come to light, and in its place was something beautiful—a chance for healing, connection, and a future filled with love.
Legend Michael Jordan’s Dream Wedding
The former basketball star married for the second time to Cuban beauty, Yvette Prieto, on April 27.
The 50-year-old basketball legend met the 16-year-old beauty in 2008 and they officially started dating a year later. On Christmas 2011, Michael Jordan proposed to Yvette Prieto and she accepted. After months of preparation, the former basketball superstar happily married her in a dreamy wedding in Florida on April 27.
The couple exchanged vows at the Episcopal Church in front of 300 guests, including their closest friends and family. Golfer Tiger Woods was also in attendance, but did not bring his beautiful new girlfriend Lindsey Vonn.
The view inside the church before Jordan and his beautiful bride had their ceremony.
Wedding staff rushed to carry decorative flower pots into the church on April 26. ‘They’ve been planning the big day for months. He wants his wedding to be as beautiful and perfect as Yvette’s dreams,’ a friend of the legendary Jordan shared with People magazine .
Bridesmaids in gray dresses walked into the church to congratulate the bride and groom. This was Michael Jordan’s second marriage. His first marriage to ex-wife Juanita Vanoy ended in 2006 after 17 years of marriage and three children, two boys and a girl. After the divorce, the basketball legend lost hundreds of millions of dollars in property division.