Proposing on Christmas is almost a cliche.  The holidays have always been a sort of semi-enchanted period of the year and a disproportionate number of proposals take place during the limbo period between Christmas and New Year’s.   It’s a time period that attracts both procrastinators and family men.  Procrastinators say: “I’ll wait until Christmas.” The family man says, “During this season I’m reminded of the importance of family and I think it’s time to take this thing to the next level.”  I’m pretty sure that old MJ falls into the latter camp.

Good old Michael Jordan—the Joe Dimaggio of Basketball—might not be quite as limber as he was when he took the Bulls to multiple championships in the early 90’s, but apparently he’s still flexible enough to get down on one knee!

You heard right!: this Christmas His Airness popped the question to his long-term lover, Yvette Prieto—the breathtaking Cuban model.  The couple has only confirmed details of their engagement through Jordan’s publicist, but rumor has it that Jordan proposed on Christmas, and that the couple celebrated their happiness on a private yacht on the French Riviera.

Prieto is a Cuban-born model who has done work for designers such as Alexander Wang. She is a principal with Miami-based companies Aqua Management and Beet the LBS. This 32-year-old beauty has formerly been romantically linked to Julio Iglesias, Jr., who described her as “fantastic”, “loving”, “simple”, and “a very good person”.

Jordan played for the Chicago Bulls from 1984 until 1993, and then again from 1995 to 1999. He  signed with the Washington Wizards in 2001, although his partnership with that team came to a close sooner than expected.  Named “the greatest basketball player of all time” on the NBA‘s website, Jordan has earned any number of victory garlands, fr0m Rookie of the Year, five-time NBA MVP, six-time NBA champion, six-time NBA Finals MVP…and on and on.

The two started seeing one another in 2008, two years after Jordan’s divorce from his wife of 18 years, Juanita. They moved in together the following year, into a modest, three-bedroom home in Florida.  Unlike many celebrity couples, the two have chosen to keep details of their relationship private.

In his heyday, Jordan epitomized Chicago to many. From Chicago Boystown to the trading floor of the commodities exchange, he made Chicago proud, and Chicago pride is something special! Whether he was doing his famous flying slam dunk at United Center or raising money for the CharitaBulls, Make-A-Wish Foundation, or any of the other sundry charities that Jordan has worked with, he has become a true Chicago icon.

So let’s raise a glass to the happy couple, and wish them a lifetime of happiness and love. Who knows?  Maybe some of their bliss will rub off on the rest of us, and we’ll find a little New Year’s love, as well.