My dad played in Michael Jordan’s Bulls debut and I paved the way for Flau’jae Johnson as a trailblazing college star

March Madness is in full swing for both the men and women.

There are storylines galore, as upsets happen, stars emerge, and the blue bloods battle for college basketball supremacy.

The two NCAA tournaments are filled with Hollywood scripts that write themselves.

And one storyline in particular, rooted in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has a few interesting dots connected through the fabric of the sport, all the way to arguably the game's greatest player, Michael Jordan.

Flau'jae Johnson is LSU's explosive third-year guard who is trying to lead the Tigers to a second national championship in three years.

In 2023, Johnson and Angel Reese took down Caitlin Clark and the Iowa Hawkeyes in the title game to capture the program's first national championship in school history.

Reese has since gone on to become a star in the WNBA while Johnson has not only found success off the court, but has also blossomed off of it, as a rapper.

Johnson is signed with Jay-Z's label, Roc Nation, and has already put out three albums.

However, she isn't the first March Madness hero to be moonlighting as a rapper away from the court.

That honor belongs to Renaldo Woolridge.

The 34-year-old who played for Tennessee from 2008-2012, before playing one year at USC.

When Woolridge wasn't helping the Volunteers make a run in the tournament, he could be found in the recording studio.

While in Knoxville, Woolridge founded his own independent record label called Swiperboy Entertainment.

He goes by the name Swiperboy.

Woolridge has recorded and made songs that both Tennessee and USC have used as anthems for their football and basketball seasons.

He was quite the multitasker.

So where does the connection to His Airness come into play?

Woolridge's father, Orlando Woolridge, was Jordan's teammate when he made his debut for the Chicago Bulls on October 26, 1984.

Jordan's first game as a pro.

The Bulls defeated the Washington Bullets 109-93.

Jordan finished with 16 points, 7 assists and 6 rebounds, but shot just 5-16 from the field.

Woolridge, in his fourth season, outshined the rookie, finishing with 28 points, 9 rebounds and 3 assists, going an efficient 13-19 from the field.

Over 40 years later, it is Woolridge's son who has had an impact on one of the biggest stars of March Madness.

There is no Flau'jae Johnson without Renaldo Woolridge.

He helped pave the way and show everyone that athletes are more than just what they can do on the court.

Although the people of Baton Rouge probably wouldn't mind if Johnson took the Tigers back to the promise land one last time.