by Massimiliano Crocamo
Nearly 40 years after Michael Jordan shattered a backboard during an exhibition game in the city, Trieste’s mayor Roberto Dipiazza was presented with a replica of the jersey the young Chicago Bulls star wore that day.
The jersey, a reproduction of the Stefanel Pallacanestro Trieste uniform Jordan donned on Aug. 26, 1985, was handed to the mayor on Wednesday by Massimo Piubello, who produced the original uniforms in the 1980s. The ceremony took place at City Hall, with the city’s sports councilor, Elisa Lodi, also in attendance.
Jordan’s powerful dunk during the game at the Palasport of Chiarbola shattered the glass backboard before a packed crowd, an incident later remembered as the “Shattered Backboard Game.” It remains one of the most iconic moments of his early career, as it was the only time he ever broke a backboard.
“I was there that day, and I had the good fortune of witnessing something truly special,” Mr. Dipiazza said. “It was a memorable moment for the sporting life of this city.”
The replica jersey, featuring the city’s official logo, is part of a limited series of 150 shirts produced through an agreement with Oviesse. All are being made in size XL, the size Jordan wore in 1985, and are available for purchase through the Udine-based association Che Spettacolo.
“For me, this is both a personal memory and a tribute to the city and the Friuli Venezia Giulia region,” Mr. Piubello said. “Back then, Jordan was not yet the global icon he would become, but the energy and promise were already there. And of course, the shattered backboard made it even more unforgettable.”
The original jersey was sold at auction earlier this year by Beppe Stefanel, son of the late Italian entrepreneur Gianluigi Stefanel, whose sponsorship brought Jordan to Trieste.
At the close of the ceremony, the mayor presented a copy of the book Trieste Inconsueta as a token of appreciation.
