Michael Jordan
By all accounts, the greatest basketball player of all time is Michael Jordan.
Even today, everyone else is just vying for second place. With an unequaled constellation of artistry, grace, power, speed, improvisational prowess, flawless fundamentals, defiance of gravity, and insatiable thirst for glory, Jordan totally re-invented the definition of a basketball star.
Even modern-day basketball heavyweights recognize the incomparable status of Micheal Jordan.
"There's Michael Jordan and then there is the rest of us." -Magic Johnson
"God is masquerading as Michael Jordan." -Larry Bird
Listing his accomplishments would fill volumes whose books—if stacked one on top of another—would reach from here to the moon.
But his championships and awards do little justice to Michael Jordan's impact. Scoring in swarms with acrobatic dunks and drives and a matchless first step, the rookie sensation exploded into the league and culminated his career as an icon of popular culture. What Bill Nye did for science (and before him, Richard Dawkins), Michael Jordan did for basketball, making it cool and a popular sport.
Jordan's formative years were spent in North Carolina, where he picked up basketball. His varsity basketball team cut him because he was was shorter than 6 feet tall. However, in his sophomore year he swelled to 6'3”.
In 1984, when Michael was a junior in college, the Chicago Bulls chose him to play for their team.
Though initially Jordan had flaws such as wandering the court too much playing defense (a hold over from his high school training), he ironed out these wrinkles in his skill and eventually, in defense, be considered one of the best in history.
Even in Jordan's first season, his likeability and prowess was obvious to everyone. Chicago Stadium saw a dramatic rise in attendance. If “player 23” put on a good show, those cheering for Jordan's opponents were apparently calm and contented to watch their team lose.
Like most men, he picked up some habits from his father. Having watched his dad concentrating at work on cars and other devices with a sticked-out tongue; as Michael Jordan floated up to the basket, he'd often stick out his tongue. This would become part of his brand.
In the days before Michael Jordan, basketball players wore shorter shorts. Now they wear longer shorts. This is because of Michael Jordan's influence. He wore long shorts because he secretly wore North Carolina shorts under his Chicago Bulls shorts. Soon, other players emulated Jordan, and now every NBA player wears long shorts.
At the start of the 21st century, an large survey of athletes and members of the media was conducted by ESPN to order the greatest athletes from the 20th century from great to greatest. Michael Jordan was ranked on top, even above Wayne Gretzy, Muhammad Ali, and Babe Ruth.
Today you can see Michael Jordan’s jersey in Chicago’s Museum of Science and Industry.
Michael Jordan quotes
“I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost nearly 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and I missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
“If you’re trying to achieve, there will be roadblocks. I’ve had them; everybody has had them. But obstacles don’t have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don’t turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”
“My attitude is that if you push me towards something that you think is a weakness, then I will turn that perceived weakness into a strength.”
“I can accept failure, everyone fails at something. But I can’t accept not trying.”
“Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.”
“To be successful you have to be selfish, or else you never achieve. And once you get to your highest level, then you have to be unselfish. Stay reachable. Stay in touch. Don’t isolate.”
“Always turn a negative situation into a positive situation.”
“Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence wins championships.”
“I’ve never been afraid to fail.”
“Sometimes you need to get hit in the head to realize that you’re in a fight.”
“Everybody has talent, but ability takes hard work.”
“Practice like you’ve never won. Play like you’ve never lost.”
“When I was young, I had to learn the fundamentals of basketball. You can have all the physical ability in the world, but you still have to know the fundamentals.”
