Zack Jeppsen
Ms. Garcia
English
April 10, 2014
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is considered, by many, to be the greatest basketball player of all-time. However many do not know who he is as a person, or what he has contributed to basketball. Michael Jordan may be the greatest basketball player of all-time, but he is much more than a basketball player. He has contributed to many different charities, he was a baseball player, and he is a golfer. He is a champion off the court just as much as he was on the court to many people who receive donations from him. Jordan was a champion on the basketball court, but he is still a champion in the hearts of many off the court.
Michael Jordan was born on February 17th, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York. He is the fourth youngest of five kids. Once Michael was born, his parents did not want to raise their family in the streets of Brooklyn where there was violence and drugs. They thought this would be too much temptation for their kids to not fall into. They then moved to Wilmington, North Carolina, a small, laid back town. Mr. and Mrs. Jordan showed all their kids how to work hard and make things happen rather than sit around and wait for things to happen. Although most of their kids stuck to hard work, Michael had some tendencies to be lazy when playing sports. He was always discouraged because he could never compete in sports with his older brother, Larry.
An athletic career was never in the career path for Michael growing up. Baseball was more of an initiative than any other sport through middle school and some of high school. He was always named the top player of the league in baseball. When Michael was in tenth grade, he was 5’10”. Two inches taller than his dad, and three inches taller than his...
... middle of paper ...
...champion ever since he left the NBA. It might not be the NBA champion we all know, but it is a champion in the eyes of all those who he has supported. Not many athletes would be willing to donate and help this many foundations or institutes for kids or those who are in need like Michael has and will continue to.
In 2008, Michael Jordan made his 200th wish to Make-A-Wish foundation. The CEO of the Make-A-Wish foundation even stated that, “Michael Jordan is one of the all-time greatest athletes, but he is an even better person,” said David Williams, “He has changed the lives of hundreds of wish kids and their families for the better, and for that, we are forever grateful” (Christensen). If the CEO of Make-A-Wish can say that Michael Jordan is a better person than a basketball player, and then he must be quite the person considering how dominate of a player Jordan was.
Michael played in a completely different era than LeBron James. It was an era of short shorts, not the baggy ones seen on today’s players. Because of the differences in competition and style of play, it is not possible to tell who the better player is. Both players should be recognized as some of the greatest to ever play the game of basketball for their individual, unique abilities. It’s not about comparing apples and oranges.
Michael Jordans talent is so amazing. “Maybe this guy is God disguised”, former Boston Celtic Larry Bird said about Jordans talent. This really shows how people viewed his talent and liked the way he played the game of basketball. Michael Jordans talent is so amazing , he’s so incredible and beyond unreal. The things he did and accomplished in the basketball league shows his true talent. In 1984, at 21 years of age, Jordan made the United States Olympic Games basketball team under coach Bobby Knight. Averaging a remarkable seventeen points a game, Jordan led the team to a gold medal in eight straight wins! The Olympic win brought Jordan to high visibility in basketball circles and made him a household name in America. Jordan continued soaring new heights , even when he fractured his ankle early in the 1...
He was also selected to be an NBA all-star as he averaged 30 to 40 points per game. While when it came to Michael’s second year in the NBA he broke his foot early in the season and was forced to sit out. While having his year off from the game, he decided to go back to school to finish his final year of college. His 3rd year wasn’t all so great either as the Bulls had another losing season, but they still made it to the playoffs. Michael would also score 63 points to set an NBA playoffs record. As the 1989 season approached the Bulls had plenty of players to help Michael on the court. The Bulls would lose in the second round of the playoffs, though to an eastern powerhouse in the Detroit Pistons. As for the next three seasons, the Bulls would lose to the Pistons in the playoffs. The pistons had a great plan to keep Michael from being a terror on the court by something called the “Jordan Rules.” The Jordan Rules invented by the Pistons meant to rough him up or play him tough. Michael was pushed around by the Pistons because he wasn’t very hefty. While in the 1991 and 92 season the Bulls blew by the league not even the Pistons could stop them as the Bulls would go back to back beating the Suns and the Trail Blazers. While in between the two seasons Michael and many other star NBA players took place in the 1992 Olympics the team later became known as the NBA Dream Team. There was no chance of anyone
Michael Jordan’s parents are James and Deloris Jordan. James began work as a forklift operator for General Electric, rose to dispatcher and retired as a supervisor. Deloris took a job after her children were in school at a drive-through window for United Carolina Bank. She worked her way up to head teller and retired as chief of Customer Service. Jordan has two brothers and two sisters; James Ronald, Larry, Deloris and Roslyn. He married Juanita Vanoy. Juanita, who was a loan officer at Chicago Bank before marring Jordan, Michael and Juanita, have two sons; Jeffrey Michael and Marcus James.
To begin with, I would like to tell how Michael Jordan is the most well known athlete throughout the U.S. First off, mike has many endorsements that are popular in American society like Nike and Mc Donald?s. ?According to the bureau of food and drugs?, one and four Americans eat at a fast food restaurant each day. That shows how much Mc Donald?s has an affect on U.S. With Michael Jordan, advertising and supporting McDonalds then everyone will notice him and realize who he is. Nike is a footwear company, which thousands of Americans purchase there shoes each day. When Jordan came to the NBA, he signs a contract with Nike worth $30mil (Jordan Michael Bio). He created the shoes called ?Air Jordan?s? and created a line of shoes called ?Jordan?s? which made him very famous. Nike?s profits upped 20% through 1984-1986 helping them to be the dominate shoe company in America (?The Best Frequent Flyer?). Still in 2007 His brand of shoes are still making money in stores everywhere around the U.S. Nike sold more Air Jordan?s than any basketball shoe ever made (?Sports Illustrated For Kids?).
Anyways, Michael was listed as one of the greatest players in all time NBA history, and I think by everything I’ve told you in this essay is some pretty good proof of why he is known as a so called legend. If you had watched one of his games in his prime time, you would know why he is now known as the G.O.A.T. Even though he had a hard life with his dad dying and other worries, he has done some great things. It doesn’t matter what happened in your life, because you can still accomplish many things, but it is up to you to choose how hard you will work. So, what will you
Although Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York, he attended Emsley A. Laney high school in Wilmington, North Carolina. Jordan’s basketball career started playing for the Emsley A. Laney high school basketball team. In addition to basketball, Jordan played baseball and American football during his high school years. In comparison, LeBron was born in Akron, Ohio. He attended St. Vincent – St. Mary high school in Akron, where he also played for the school’s team. LeBron was highly publicized as a future NBA superstar by numerous national media outle...
When I began my report I didn’t know much about Michael Jordan, but I did know that he was “undoubtedly the greatest player in the history of the NBA'; (“Michael Air Jordan'; 1). It seemed like every time I heard the word basketball I also heard the name Michael Jordan. There’s just no avoiding him. If you are watching television you might see him playing basketball or golf. If you were reading a magazine there will probably be an advertisement with his picture. If you were walking down the street you might see a kid wearing Air Jordan shoes or a Bulls jersey with “JORDAN'; on the back of it. This man is probably as recognizable as the Pope.
Thesis Statement: Michael Jordan set records and has set the example of what the greatest basketball player can accomplish and really set the standards of what a hall of famer basketball player looks like.
Michael Jordan can say he has had an amazing career and accomplished many things in his life. From his childhood to adulthood, he has done remarkable things. Most people hope to have a life and career like
Michael Jordan, in his prime, was thought of as one of the greatest basketball champions of all time. A shooting guard, standing at six-six, Jordan was able to out play anyone in his position. He started his career at the University of North Carolina, where he helped his team win a national championship. He then was drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the 1984-85 season. While playing for the Bulls, Jordan received many awards such as, MVP, five championships, Olympic gold medals, slam dunk contests, and many more defensive and offensive awards. Jordan simply dominated the nineties and left the game as a NBA Finals winner in 1998.
Michael Jordan, portrayed by Jim Naughton in the biography Taking To The Air: The Rise of Michael Jordan, is well regarded as not only the greatest basketball player of all time but also the face of a generation. During the mid to late 1980s NBA basketball was simply treading water. As a result of the lack of a marketable superstar, the NBA was losing popularity to the National Football League and Major League Baseball. Following Jordan’s emergence, the NBA’s attendance rose dramatically and it’s worldwide popularity skyrocketed. Michael Jordan returned basketball to its past popularity in the United States and revolutionized the way the world viewed the game of basketball. (Harriman) Michael Jordan’s life is succinctly depicted in Taking to The Air: The Rise of Michael Jordan. Jim Naughton focuses on Jordan’s influence on worldwide sports and culture as one of the most publicized and marketed athletes of all time. Naughton explains the circumstances in Jordan’s upbringing that gave him the ability to be a humungous star. This biography is examined by Kirkus Reviews. They describe Naughton’s biography: “Besides offering a solid chronological biography and record of Michael Jordan’s basketball career, here Naughton also gives an astute assessment of this superstar’s impact on society.” (“Taking to the Air”) The article in the Kirkus Review explains that this biography investigates Jordan’s impact on marketing while telling the story of his life. Like Kirkus Reviews, I too believe that Naughton’s work goes into great description about Jordan’s upbringing and later career while also examining his cultural impact. Throughout his life, Michael Jordan has topped the sports and entertainment worlds by becoming the greatest basketball pl...
For many years Michael Jordan has been seen as one of the greatest players to ever play the game of basketball. Michael Jordan was first drafted into the NBA by the Chicago Bulls as the third pick in the first round of the NBA draft of 1984, after finishing his college career at the University of North Carolina. Michael Jordan has been known for his high flying and stylish dunks ever since he first stepped into the basketball scene, but there is more to Michael Jordan than his ability to dunk.
Jordan foerver change the way basketball has been played. He accopmplished feats many athletes had never dreamed of attempting. Even though Michael is finished playing basketball on the profesional level, he still involved with the game. He hold camps for young aspiring basketball players. He also is part owner of the Charolette Bobcats.
The "G.O.A.T.", is coming used term in the sports world meaning, The Greatest of All Time. In the National Basketball Association, when you mention the term, the "G.O.A.T., everyone assumes of one name and one name only, Michael Jordan. Michael Jordan was an innovator of the basketball work and influenced many different people and players that inputted & mimicked Jordan’s style of play and implicated it into their own game. In today's generation, there are several players that many average day people would consider these players on the road to becoming a Jordan type of player, potential or maybe even greater; players that may be able on road to sharing a Michael Jordan type of legacy includes Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and LeBron James.