Everybody knows Michael Jordan; the man was called “His Airness”, and he became one of the greatest basketball players the world has ever known. Before he became the player that he is, there were two things that shaped Michael Jordan: his father’s admonition to stay away from the street life, and his failure to make the high school team in his second year. He persevered, until he made the team the next year, and the rest is history.
Early Life
Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 17, 1963. His parents were James and Deloris Jordan, hardworking folks who provided for Jordan and his four other siblings. James Jordan always reminded his son of the virtues of working hard, at the same time telling him to stay off the streets and not be influenced by bad elements, while his mother taught him diligence through house chores.
It is through these experiences that Michael Jordan quotes: “Success is not something you pursue. It is the one thing that you have to work for consistently; then maybe things will happen when one does not expect it.”
Michael Jordan’s Main Career
After his initial failure to join the high school basketball team, Jordan didn’t stop trying, and he made the cut the following year. What followed was a stellar career in North Carolina that culminated in the game-winning shot that he made against Georgetown University.
After winning the Olympic gold for the US team in 1984, Michael Jordan was drafted third overall by the Chicago Bulls, and averaged an astonishing 28.2 points as a first year player. He spiked his scoring average the next season and went on to win six NBA championships and a host of scoring records before retiring as a Charlotte Bobcat.
Why He Matters
Among the famous Michael Jordan quotes, one stands out: “Doing things half-heartedly (is) something I do not do. Moreover, if I did that, then half-hearted results are something that I should expect.” It is this attitude that drove him to become the most successful player in NBA history. Even after he retired, Michael Jordan stayed active in the game, by becoming a part-time owner of the Charlotte Bobcats.
Furthermore, as the poster boy of the shoe giant Nike, Michael Jordan has shown that his relevance even in retirement cannot be overlooked. The Michael Jordan name represents excellence both as a former athlete and as a lover of the sport. His mass appeal makes him an icon for both white and black people, and his passion for basketball made it easy for people from all walks of life to relate to him just by picking up a ball and shooting some hoops. Lastly, as an educated African-American, he is able to speak eloquently on several issues concerning poverty, ethnicity, and racism.
A soaring legacy
The legacy of Michael Jordan continues to this day. Beyond the endorsements he makes for Nike, Wheaties, and Gatorade, to name a few, the greatest player in NBA history is indeed a true hero—even if his few detractors say otherwise. Perhaps what defines his legacy is that he carries himself very well, avoiding the pitfalls that his fellow players often commit. Michael Jordan is the ultimate symbol of excellence and he will continue to be a force inside the court, and outside of it as well.
This guest post is a courtesy of David, marketing director of Famous Quotes Index, a website containing close to 30,000 famous quotes and citations from renowned authors.