2K Sports has revealed the cover athlete for its upcoming NBA 2K11, and it's... Michael Jordan. And he's trying to lick my face or something. Seriously, what's going on here? Is this a thing Jordan is known for, playing basketball with his tongue hanging out of his mouth like a dehydrated puppy?

I'm not sure, I'm not the sports guy around here. But even though that's the case, I damned well know who Jordan is, which makes him a killer catch for 2K Sports as a cover athlete. So props to them for scoring it, but let me run this by you:

"This could possibly be the most highly anticipated cover art in the history of sports games," says Jason Argent, vice president of marketing for 2K Sports.

Is that a thing, "highly anticipated cover art"? Aren't we looking forward to the game, and just kind of nodding in approval of the cool art here? True, 2K will probably sell a few games just by plastering Jordan's wagging tongue on the cover. But Jordan himself probably won't be playing the game. In fact, it doesn't even sound like he's much of a gamer, preferring to get sweaty on the court.

"It's exciting to see it all come together. I am looking forward to seeing the final product," he says, using 'final product' to mean 'fat endorsement check,' "but my kids might have to give me some lessons."

When you're a living sports legend, considered to be one of the greatest of all time, I wouldn't worry too much about being able to play basketball video games, Jordan. I think you're doing just fine. NBA 2K11 is out October 5.

Legacy Comments (will be imported soon)

Justice

It's really weird how his tongue is out in all three shots. Shoulda keep that mouth closed!

DF

Aren't there several upon several shots of him performing either a slam dunk or a layup and the tongue's just there? It's a miracle he hasn't bitten through it.

K1NG J0RDAN

He always had his tongue out. Watch some games from back in the day. It's his trademark.

Nick Chester

@K1NG J0RDAN:

This is why I'm not the "sports" guy!

Niero Gonzalez

so lame! I would have gone for something way more bold and iconic to showcase jordan. this looks like any generic discount sports poster.

Neroisonfire

Yea idk how people don't know that about him... Lol. It was like his signature thing and everyone knew about it lol D:

LT BrickFist

Looks crappy and sorta cluttered.. They could have done something else. Wish they would have put it up to vote like they did with Kobe's cover last year.

UltorOscariot

This better be a joke. Or someone needs to be fired.

It works for Einstein. Not so much for MJ.

tenshin78

Jordan with his tongue hanging out its his trademark, back in the day when somebody REALLY wanted to do something fancy in the court they would HAVE to stick the tongue out, otherwise it wouldn't be "Jordanish".
Jordan with no tongue out is like Mario without the mustache.

Geoff Henao

Being a native Chicagoan, this is the greatest cover I've seen. It definitely lessens the blow of the Bosh/Wade to Miami agreement from this morning.

Skribble

Are you guys kidding? This is some of the best cover art ever.

I bet he's lining up a space jam.

overdoze

tongue hanging out is a jordan thing

xenon

Hmm... yes. That was his trademark, actually.

http://www.google.com/images?hl=en&safe=off&q=michael+jordan+tongue&um=1&ie=UTF-8&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi

Kytherno

can't unsee tounge

Jon Hartley

I wonder if this means he'll actually, you know, be in the game this year. Last year they had "Team Jordan" with players who wear his shoes and clothes on it, but no actual Michael Jordan in the game. Weak.

@ Nick-

Even as a non-sports guy, how could anyone not know that about MJ? Amazing!

s0lesurviv0r

I remember way back when I was a kid, kids playing basketball were always trying to imitate Mike. One day a kid tried to duck, smacked tongue and face first into the rusty basketball pole.

kirobz

I just hope that they fix a lot of bugs from 2k10..

Thype

Looks like Jordan with his - damn near - trademark tongue move. Tough to find a shot without his tongue sticking out I would gather.

Looks good I guess, not really concerned with cover art to be honest.

pordiogamer

@akathatoneguy: yeah, I think I stopped watching basketball after this guy left the bulls....

falsenipple

@Niero: All the good shots of Jordan, including the iconic dunk silhouette, are probably all copyrighted from here to eternity. While he did play a fair share of seasons, the guy wasn't actually shy about being a commodity and the press used every possible bit of his likeness whenever they could, although it is troubling that he's not airborne. I mean, it'd be like having Gears game cover with Dom without him holding onto that crazy-ass, chainsaw gun.

Los255

so lame! I would have gone for something way more bold and iconic to showcase jordan. this looks like any generic discount sports poster.

I agree. If anything, he looks dumb.

Nick Chester

In my defense on this, if you Google "Michael Jordan" and go to images, there are pages and pages of the guy with his tongue IN his mouth. As a non-sports fan, I think I'm justified in not knowing that this was a "thing." Although I suspected it was. I learned something today!