Michael Jordan was this week inducted into the Hall of Fame, with little fanfare in comparison to the bright lights and unfathomable achievements that punctuated a career that was as unique as it was illustrious.
With this in mind, I opened the memory vault, dusted off my Jordan memories and compiled the Sports Fan’s Life Jordan Files.
23 Marks of a Man, the likes of which basketball, or sport in general, is unlikely to see again.
1. Is it the Shoes?
Sure, there were shoe deals before Jordan (Dr J. Bird and Magic were somewhat pioneers to a much smaller extent). But nothing like this. From the moment Jordan decided to don the prototype Jordan I’s, after initially dismissing them as clown shoes that would make him the bunt of team mates’ jokes, history was made, and remade, time and time again. Each pair were designed around a part of MJ’s personality and character. From his Ferrari, to a fighter jet, to a tuxedo or some Japanese styling, these things were like nothing the world had ever seen. They made Nike Nike. . It was always the shoes.
2. Is it the Draft Day Snub?
After completing a successful collegiate career at North Carolina, Jordan entered the draft as a top prospect. Houston, looking for a dominant big man, selected future superstar Hakeem Olajuwon and then, in one of the most vilified draft selections in history, the Portland Trail Blazers selected Sam Bowie with the second overall pick ahead of one M.J. Jordan..dooming them to generations of ridicule as the man they passed over became well, MJ. Ever made a decision and then regretted it in hindsight for the rest of your life? Well, multiply that 1,000,000 times and you’re somewhere near Portland’s level of self loathing.
3. Is it the Ability?
It was always evident, from the early days of his college career to his rookie year, through to his last (real) game, Jordan possessed a level of ability that no other player had, could or would, ever reach in the game of basketball. Whilst starting as a slashing, driving, dunking skinny two guard, he developed his game as the NBA changed it’s rules in an attempt to nullify his dominance. They said he couldn’t shoot threes, couldn’t get his team mates involved, was too selfish. he answered his critics every time. From day one, no one had seen anything like this before, not the athleticism and certainly not the shot making ability. The game had changed. for good.
4. Is it the Legacy
Yeah, he changed the game, but there was so much more. He changed the way players dressed, on and off the court, he changed the way they earned (those 100 million dollar contracts every one signs now? They would never have been popular without the attention Jordan bought to the NBA), he changed the global popularity of his sport, to the point it is now surpassed only by ‘The Beautiful Game’, he changed the level of celebrity amongst athletes. He set a standard so high that it paralysed many who came after him. Until LeBron and Kobe, how many players had been dubbed ‘The Next Jordan’ and fallen? He made the NBA simple as that).
5. Is it the Point Explosions?
No one could take over a game like Michael. Larry Bird himself once declared, after watching in amazement as Jordan piled on 63 points in a playoff game (albeit in a win for Bird’s Celtics), ‘That was God, disguised as Michael Jordan’. It was nothing for him to score 20 points in a quarter, 50 in a game, or 60. 40 was all in a nights work. A scoring phenomenon and a guard! Many point to Wilt Chamberlains scoring feats, but remember ‘The Stilt’ was one athletic piece of tall timber at a time when that wasn’t the norm.
6. Is it the Tongue?
Ah, the tongue. Every kid, every playground, every pick up game had one. Everyone wanted to emulate it. When the man himself had it wagging, there was no stopping him.
7. Is it the Dunks?
Dr.J was really the first player to consistently flaunt his athletic prowess by way of dunking in, over and around his opponents, but Jordan? Well, let’s just say that he took it to the world. He made it cool(er), he made ‘posterizing’ someone a status symbol in the NBA. His Eastern Conference Finals dunk over Xavier McDaniel and Patrick Ewing would probably go down as my favourite, purely for the symbolism (the Bulls were being man handled by the Knicks,the only way New York could compete with the superior skills of Jordan’s Bulls) That dunk changed the course of the series, and New York were forever the bridesmaids. But it was the All Star Weekend Dunk Competitions that have become folklore in the NBA. His duels with Dominique Wilkins are the stuff of legend, and the free throw line, logo inspiring dunk? Even today’s super athletes struggle to emulate it.
8. Is it the Rings?
You can’t argue with 6 titles, two three-peats, with a sabbatical in between. Probably would have had two more, but his story wouldn’t have been as interesting without.
9. Is it the Retirements?
Who walks away from their sport at the absolute peak of their power? Jordan would have been regarded as the best ever had he actually stayed retired the first time, after the death of his father and subsequent time in baseball. To come back and win three more titles? Who else, in any sport, could do that? No one.
10. Is it the Endorsements?
Again, many stars in all sports, but specifically the NBA should be paying Jordan commission for the way he raised the bar of athletic sponsorship. Not only Nike, but Hanes, Gatorade and many others fell over each other to get a piece of Michael’s popularity. Some of the most famous ad campaigns ever have featured His Airness, having plenty of people wanting to ‘Be Like Mike’.
11. Is it the Game Winners?
Jordan possessed an amazing ability to perform in the clutch, and it started early. He won the National Championship at North Carolina after hitting the game winning shot, and a legend began. He won countless regular season matches, but he reserved his best for the biggest stages. His shot over hapless Cleveland guard, and regular Jordan whipping boy, Craig Ehlo to win the Eastern Conference Finals is perhaps as famous for Ehlo somewhat symbolically diving/falling out of camera range as Jordan hit the match winner as it is for the shot itself. Capped off his real career by hitting yet another buzzer beater against Utah, driving a stake through the heart of that franchise and sealing his 6th and Final Championship.
12. Is it the Rivalries?
Jordan took on all comers, big and small. He got over the hump by beating Detroit’s ‘Bad Boys’ before defeating Magic’s Lakers. He practically owned Cleveland, and their kids. He was a constant roadblock for a Portland team possessing more talent team wise, but their star, Clyde Drexler never had Jordan’s killer instinct. He singlehandedly stood up to the Knicks’ bully-boy tactics and never took a backward step to anyone.
13. Is it the MVP’s
The term ‘Most Valuable Player’ could well have been penned for Jordan himself. He starred at all levels of the game, college, the NBA regular season, All Star Game and Finals Series, taking home the MVP gong in each, and rightly so. Never a more valuable player has walked the court.
14. Is it the Baseball Career?
I remember reading and hearing about Jordan’s retirement in the wake of his father’s murder and thinking, who will I cheer for now? I was so caught up watching one player, I had no interest in the rest of the NBA! He took time off, worked his butt off to compete in the Minor Leagues of Baseball for a Chicago White Sox feeder club, famously buying the team a bus from his own wallet, before decided to return to once again dominate the NBA.
15. Is it the Ability to Make Team Mates Better?
They say that you are never truly considered great in basketball, the NBA specifically, until you display the ability to make your team mates better. Jordan ticked this box by dragging the rotting corpses of Bill Cartwright, Will Purdue, Luc Longley, Steve Kerr and John Paxson to NBA Championships.
16. Is it the Style?
With the NBA’s uniforms, specifically their shorts, displaying a general disregard for the well being of male genitalia with their tightness, Jordan began the trend towards longer, baggier shorts. Sure, the gang-style culture that came in in the late 90’s took it to an extreme, but Jordan added style and class to a league that was struggling for identity. Never had one tattoo, was one of the first to shave his head, and began wearing suits and ties to games before players were forced to. Is style a style icon post retirement, he even has his own scent (hope it doesn’t smell like his shoes!).
17. Is it the Scoring Average?
30.1 points per game. over an entire career, at a time when the league’s perimeter defence laws were downright brutal compared to today’s soft as butter rules. He did it against the best, beating double and triple coverage every night, and getting beaten with every drive to the hoop. No one comes close.
18. Is it the Lousy Attempt at Being a GM?
Jordan has had two attempts in the front office of NBA franchises, firstly with the Washington Wizards, where he famously whittled No#1 Draft Pick, Kwame Brown’s confidence down until he broke. Secondly, and currently, Jordan holds a Basketball Operations post with the Charlotte Bobcats, and is solely responsible for drafting Adam Morrison. His management career makes his baseball career look almost Hall of Fame-worthy by comparison. For any other player, it would have tarnished their reputation, Jordan is immune.
19. Is it the #45?
Ever the entertainer, Jordan returned from his baseball lay off, making his return against the Indiana Pacers, wearing not his usual #23, but the unfamiliar #45. If it was a PR stunt as some suspected, and a way to move a few million jerseys, it worked. The ship was righted soon after as he re-donned his original digits and won three more titles.
20. Is it the Competitor?
Jordan had the ability to make other players shrink in his presence. Craig Ehlo, Nick Andersen, Clyde Drexler, the list is long and talented. When the most skilled, and athletically gifted player also possesses an unsurpassed will to win and killer instinct, the game’s over.
21. Is it the Gambling?
The man would bet on two flies crawling up a wall. The media went after Jordan numerous times throughout his career for his gambling exploits. Some conspiracy theorists say that his first retirement was actually forced upon him by the NBA as a result of his gambling problems. The figures are mind blowing, but when you are worth the better part of a billion bucks, it’s probably not sending you broke.
22. Is it the Logo?
Inspired by the legendary free-throw line All Star Dunk Competition slam, the ‘Jump Man’ logo is one of the most recognisable marks in the world. It is now the figurehead of an enormous range of shoes and apparel, and is adorned by a huge family of endorsing athletes, including Carmelo Anthony and Roy Jones Jr.
23. Is it the Greatest Ever?
Stupid Question.
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