How the Big Mac Became an NBA Legend

How the Big Mac Became an NBA Legend

For years, the Big Mac has been a staple of McDonald’s menu. But how did this sandwich become an NBA legend?

It all started with a chance encounter between then-Los Angeles Lakers player Shaquille O’Neal and McDonald’s CEO Jim Cantalupo. Shaq was in town for a game, and Cantalupo happened to be in the restaurant at the same time. They struck up a conversation,

The Big Mac’s humble beginnings

The Big Mac was created by Jim Delligatti, an early McDonald’s franchisee, in 1967. It was originally called the “Big Mac Super Sandwich” and was sold for 45 cents. The sandwich was so popular that it soon became a permanent menu item nationwide.

The Big Mac’s iconic status was cemented in the early 1970s when it was featured in a series of commercials starring actor John Goodman. In one of the ads, Goodman squares off against “BUGS” Bunny in a game of one-on-one basketball. The commercials were so popular that they helped make the Big Mac an NBA legend

How the Big Mac became an NBA legend

In the late 1970s, McDonald’s was looking for a way to increase sales of its Big Mac sandwich. The company turned to a then-22-year-old ad executive named Larry Bird who came up with the idea of holding a contest in which people would try to guess the exact number of calories in a Big Mac. The prize would be a free trip to the NBA Finals

The contest was an immediate success, with more than 6 million people entering. And, perhaps not surprisingly, most of them guessed wrong. The average guess was about twice the actual number of calories.

But there was one person who got it right: 7-foot-1 centers Darryl Dawkins of the Philadelphia 76ers and Artis Gilmore of the Chicago Bulls both correctly guessed 550 calories. As a result, they each won a free trip to the NBA Finals

The contest was so successful that McDonald’s decided to make it an annual event, and it quickly became known as the “Big Mac Challenge.” Over the years, some of the biggest names in basketball have taken part in the challenge, including Michael Jordan Magic Johnson and Shaquille O’Neal.

Today, the Big Mac is as much a part of basketball lore as it is a part of American culture And it all started with one simple contest.

Michael Jordan and the Big Mac

The Big Mac is a classic American burger, and it’s become an iconic part of the NBA. Michael Jordan famously had one before every game, and it’s become known as the “Jordan Burger.”

The story goes that when Jordan was a rookie with the Chicago Bulls he stopped at a McDonald’s before a game and ordered a Big Mac. The clerk behind the counter told him that he couldn’t have one because they were only for “superstars.”

Jordan was so determined to get his hands on a Big Mac that he went out and scored 35 points, grabbed 6 rebounds, and had 5 assists in that game. He then went back to McDonald’s and demanded his burger.

The legend of the Jordan Burger was born.

The Big Mac’s enduring popularity

The Big Mac’s enduring popularity is a testament to its simple construction and perfect balance of flavors. First introduced in 1967, the Big Mac quickly became a cult favorite among McDonald’s fans. In 1968, the Big Mac was introduced to the NBA, where it quickly became a hit with players and coaches alike. The Big Mac has since become an integral part of the NBA culture, appearing in countless TV and film appearances.

The Big Mac today

The Big Mac is one of the most popular sandwiches in the world. It was first introduced by McDonald’s in 1967 and has been a menu staple ever since. The sandwich is made up of two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a sesame seed bun. Over the years, the Big Mac has become an icon of American culture

The sandwich has also been immortalized in pop culture In 1980, the Big Mac made its debut in the Classic Basketball film “The Fish That Saved Pittsburgh”. In the film, a team of mismatched players comes together to win the NBA Championship One of the players is Moses Guthrie, a hamburger-loving center who always carries a Big Mac with him on the court. The character was based on real-life NBA player Maurice Lucas, who was known for carrying a McDonald’s bag with him during games.

In 1992, “The Simpsons” episode “Bart vs. Australia” featured Bart Simpson sending a letter to an Australian Talk Show host complaining about the country’s lack of chocolate-covered pretzels. In response, the host sends Bart a case of Vegemite and a toy kangaroo with a note attached that says “Don’t worry Bart, everything will be alright mate”. Bart then proceeds to put the Vegemite in his father Homer’s beer, which he drinks out of frustration. Homer then dreams that he is in Australia where he is chased by a giant kangaroo that wants to eat him. In the end, Homer wakes up from his dream and realizes that he loves Australia and its people. He then decides to send them a case of Budweiser beer as a way to apologize for Bart’s prank.

In 2006, Burger King introduced their version of the Big Mac called The Whopperito. The sandwich consisted of Whopper ingredients including flame-grilled beef, tomatoes, lettuce, onions, pickles, ketchup, and mayo wrapped in a soft flour tortilla. The sandwich was available for a limited time and was discontinued shortly after its introduction