Keegan Bradley clarifies Michael Jordan’s role on U.S. Ryder Cup team

Michael Jordan is a Ryder Cup junkie. The former Dream Team superstar has been spotted at every Ryder Cup, with exception of Marco Simone, since his NBA heyday. He also happens to be close personal friends with Keegan Bradley, who was promoted to the role of Ryder Cup captain this week. This led to speculation that MJ might be involved in a more official capacity at Bethpage Black next September, a notion that Bradley respectfully debunked on Tuesday.

“He’s not going to be a vice captain,” Bradley told reporters. “He’s there for me if I need advice on golf, life, Ryder Cup—he’s always there. He’s one of the best friends I can ever have, so I’ll use his knowledge for everything, but he goes to the Ryder Cup to watch it.”

On one hand, this is disappointing. The idea of MJ—the most uber competitive human being to ever walk the earth—whipping the boys into shape while Bradley is kicking asses and taking names on the course as player-captain is certainly intoxicating. On the other, just because MJ won’t be an official vice-captain, doesn’t mean he won’t be able to rally the troops in his own way.

“He’s passionate, he’ll be pissed if we lose,” Bradley said.

If the prospect of pissing off Michael Jordan isn’t enough motivation to hang a crooked number on Team Europe next fall, then nothing will be.