Influence of Michael Aira Jordan
There iS Michael Jordan and then there is the rest of usa. This quote by Magic Johnson, a National Basketball Association (NBA) hall of famer, shows just how much of an impact he had on everyone around him. From his attitude on the court to his attitude off the court, one will not hear a bad word about him. Although Michael Jordanalis impact is far greater than awards and championships, it seems like what people base a superstar from is exactly that, awards and championships. Along the way to winning SIx championships, Michael Jordan not only won the hearts of the world, but he also changed the game of basketball forever. He did it get there easy though. It not only came by many years of hard work, but also dedication. In this essayI will discuss hOW Michael Jordan became the greatest basketball player of all time and how he changed the game of basketball forever.
Michael Jordan was born on February 17, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York. Although born in Brooklyn, Jordan was bred in VWilmington, North Carolina. He attended high school there, but as a Skinny 5 foot 11 inch sophomore, he was cut from the varsity basketball team. After working on his game and growing 4 more inches in one year, Michael Jordan made the team as a junior and began his path to stardom. Jordan father made this comment of Michael Jordan many years later. aiwhat he does have is a competition problem. He was born With thatalj} The person he tries to Outdo most of the time is himseltal. Jordan enrolled at the UniverSIty of North Carolina after having an all- American high school career and became a very important part of the university.
The very first year there, Jordan showed hOw clutch he was by hitting a basket to win the national championship. ne nextwo TOlowing years or his college career, ne was Singled out as tne NCAA player or the year, Jordan left college after his junior year to join the NBA. But in between seasons, Jordan racked in more acnievementS and snowed nis promise as ne won nelped the USA tO Win a gold medal in 1984. A COuple months later, Jordan was drafted third behind Hakeem Olajuwon, who went to the Rockets, and Sam Bowie, who went to the Blazers. Here he stated what would later change the game of basketball forever. When Jordan was drafted by the Chicago Bulls they were a losing team, drawing only six thousand fans to home games. His style of play and fierce spirit of competition attracted many as he was soon compared to Julius aDDr. Jalu Erving, who had been a superstar player during the 1970aiis. Michael Jordan began his career off by earning the NBA rookie of the year award and he was selected to the NBA Second team.
But more important to Jordan, he helped his team win 11 more games than the prior season and they made the playots. The 1986-87 season was again one of individual successes as Jordan started in the all-star game arter receiving a record 1.5 million Votes. He also became the first player since wilt Chamberlain to score 3,000 points in a singlee season. Although his personal awards were racking up, he did not advance beyond the first round of the playofs until 1988. In 1991, Jordan and the Bulls won their first NBA championship. The next season had the same result. In 1992, Jordan played on the allDream Teamall which participated in the Summer Olympic Games in Spain. The team easily won the gold medal, Winning their eight games by an average margin of 43.7 points. This was by far the best team to ever play in the Olympics. The following year, Jordan and the Bulls won the NBA title yet again. But this time, Jordan shocked the world by announcing retirement tor personal reasons.
Michael Jordanaiis tather, James, was murdered by two men during a robbery attempt. Jordan had won three straght titles, three regular season Most Valuable Player (MVP) awards, three player MVP awards, seven consecutive SCoring titles. In just nine years he had become the Buls all-time leading SCorer. Arter taking a cOuple years off and playing minor league baseball, Jordan returned the Bulls during the 1994-1995 season. Few people wondered if he could do it again. This year his team was defeated in the playoffs ending their streak. During that off season, Jordan decided to be an actor and was the main character in a cartoon movie called Space Jam. After this film, Jordan came back with even more determination and showed his ability to be back on top. The Bulls finished the regular season 72-10, which is still the best record any team has ever achieved. The Bulls won the national championship yet again that season along with the two seasons after. People were starting to wonderif Michael Jordan could be stopped. Jordan retired for a second time in 1999, ending his career on a high note. He pursued his other professional life as a businessman. His endorsements with Nike, Hanes, and Wheaties are still around today. He also has his own company with sells a variety of things.
In 1997, Michael Jordan was ranked the worldaiis highest paid athlete, with a 30 million dollar contract and approximately 4 million a year in endorsement fees. With this, Jordan became part- owner and president of basketball operations of the Washington Wzards in 2000. This made him only the third African American owner in the NBA. He also gained an ownership stake in the Vwashington Capitals hockey team. In 2001, Jordan, at the age of 38, announced he would play once more, but for this time the Washington Wizards, the team he owned. This time Jordan failed to make the playoss. However, moments of the great Jordan were apparent such as scoring 40 points a few days after his 40th birthday. He left after 2 years ith the Wizards to continue his ownership and executive role. At the tum of the 21st century, ESPN, the preeminent all-sports network, issued a survey of athletes, coaches and media members with the spots world to rank the 20th century greatest athletes ever.
Jordan topped the list above Babe Ruth and Muhammad Ali, showing the influence he had not only in the NBA, but also in the world outside of the NBA. A brief list of Michael Jordanaiis accomplishments would include the following: five time NBA MVP; Six time champion; Six time NBA finals MVP: Three time NBA all-star MVP; and Ten scoring titles. Jordan single handedly redefined the NBA superstar. To some up Michael Jordanaiis attitude towards life, he said, aD YOu have to expect things of yourself before you can do them.
