FREE ESSAY ON MICHAEL JORDAN

MICHAEL JORDAN

When someone says the name Michael Jordan, the first thing that comes to mind is
basketball, The Chicago Bulls and Nike shoes. Through the years, Michael Jordan has
proved time and time again that he is the greatest basketball player ever, and by
performing in this rapidly expanding sporting field, he has gained tremendous popularity
throughout the world. People of all ages and from all nationalities have gathered to
watch him play. A journalist states 'even your Aunt Matilda might not know nothing about
basketball, liked watching him play' (Jonathon 1999:58). Jordan has become more than just
an entertainer. He is a hero and a role model amongst basketball spectators. Johnson
claims that 'he is the most famous American in the world' (ibid.). Perhaps he was born to
be the best.
Even though he is a star, Michael's childhood had been very distressing. In fact, Michael
Jordan was nearly miscarried by his mother. His nose bled from birth till he was five, he
nearly suffocated when he fell behind the bed as a baby and nearly killed himself when an
electrocution threw him three feet. In Jordan's own words, he exclaims 
I mean my girlfriend got swept in a flood and drowned when we were in college. Another
time, I was swimming with a friend when both of us got pulled into the ocean by a strong
undertow. I was able to get free and make it back to land. He never made it back (Jordan
1998:96).
Additionally, after going through so many traumatic and distressing times, not many
people would have been able to live their dreams. But Jordan performed the task of living
his dream exceptionally well.
Despite a somewhat desperate childhood, Michael Jordan enjoyed his time at school. He did
his first years of schooling at D.C. Virgo Junior High School and later graduated to
Lanley High School where he began practicing intensively on his basketball skills. He was
accepted in the University of North Carolina through a basketball scholarship. At the
university, Michael took on the challenge of driving his teammates to a level of
performance that they might never have achieved on their own. He scored the winning
basket in the National Collegiate Athletic Association championship game in 1982. A
sportswriter describes 'the relentlessness with which Michael Jordan prodded and cajoled
the other players in leading them to championship season after championship season'
(Lazenby 1996:37).
The glorious moments achieved by Michael Jordan were soon vaporised by a permanent
shadow. In 1993, an agonising incident shattered Jordan's excitement after winning his
third championship. Moments after the game, Michael's father, James Jordan, was brutally
murdered by two ruthless teenagers. This was a severe tragedy in Michael's life; his
father was gone. For this reason, Michael decided to retire from Basketball and play
Baseball in memory of his father. This was because James Jordan adored Baseball (Jordan
1998:112). He signed a minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox, but was
unsuccessful (Encarta 1999). Hence Jordan returned to his favorable professional sport of
basketball. Allison exclaims 'at a press conference, Michael only said two words, I'm
back!' (Samuels 1999). The ball started to roll again.
But the anxiety of the spectators only lasted till the end of 1997. By far, the Chicago
Bulls had been hit the hardest with the news of Jordan's retirement. The breakup arose
when the management refused to pay Phil Jackson, coach of the Chicago Bulls, what he
deserved after bringing six NBA championships to the Bulls. When Jackson abandoned the
team, Jordan refused to play for a new coach. After Jordan officially announced his
retirement, basketball great, Scottie Pippen was traded to the Houston Rockets. Only four
players of the previous year's team still remained on the Chicago Bulls. Stein considers
'many have made the prediction that the bulls will lose mare games in this shortened
season than they did all last year' (Stein 1999).
The die-hard Chicago Bulls fans will always hold a special place in their heart for
Michael Jordan. They will tell their sons and daughters about him, they will get out the
old VHS tapes of games that they have recorded and they will pass along basketball cards
that will be worth hundreds of dollars. Those of us who have seen him play will always
remember him and what he has done for the game of basketball. For those who haven't will
have to settle for the endless highlight reels and Nike commercials to keep his memory
alive. 
Bibliography
* * * * * * B I B L I O G R A P H Y * * * * * *
? Daniel, J (1999) 'The One and Only', People Magazine, January 25, pp. 58
? Greene, B (1995) 'Rebound: The Odyssey of Michael Jordan', New York, Viking
? Jordan, M.J. (1998) 'For The Love of The Game', Chicago, Viking
? Lazenby, R (1995) 'Blood on the Horns', New York, Nelson
? Michael Jordan (1999) Encarta 99 Encyclopedia, (CD-ROM) Microsoft Corporation
? Samuels, A (1999) 'MJ's Court', Newsweek, January, pp. 46
? Starr, Mark (1999) 'Basketball Looks at Life After 23', Time Magazine, January
? Stein, J (1999)'Splitting Bulls', Time Magazine, (WWW)
http://www.cgi.pathfinder.com/time/magazine/articles/0,3266,18727,00.html, (accessed 18
May 2000)