When you hear the name Michael Jordan what do you think of?
Some think of the six NBA titles he won, others think of the five MVP’S he has won, while the rest may think of the 62 point effort he put up while managing a 103.4 degree fever.
But when the name Michael Jordan comes to my mind, I think of how he is the only player ever to have the hunger to win every single time he stepped on the court.
Whether it was the first game of the year, or game seven of the NBA finals, you knew Michael was going to come out with a chip on his shoulder and bring his team to victory.
Michael hated to lose, this separated him from the guys who loved to win. His sense of energy and his desire to be better than others made him rise to the top. He didn’t want to match you, he wanted to be better than you, and he wanted to make you look like a fool, even if it meant not scoring for a whole game.
But Michael's biggest difference between him and the rest of the pact was his swagger. The Michael Jordan swagger. His cockiness made him better, his head nod when he knew the game winning shot was in, the ice in his veins when all of America was doubting.
Players feared him, kids wanted to be him.
But Michael didn’t get caught up in the nonsense and material that the media portrays star athletes today. A game that has transformed into contracts, flash, and how many points you put up, otherwise known as modern day basketball.
Back then, money was a second option. What really mattered at the end of the day was if you won or lost. The game of basketball mattered. It wasn’t about who wore the more expensive suit, or who could fit more diamonds on their watch.
Back then, players didn't take the game for granted, they made sure people got what they paid for. Michael Jordan never took a possession off. If he got fouled, he got right back up, it made him better, he loved that every player in the NBA hated him.
He loved being better.
There was no question that every night you showed up to the arena, Michael was going to put on a show. Whether it was scoring 30 and dishing out ten or waving a towel from the bench in support of his teammates. Michael was part of the team, he shared the ball.
Michael knew every night that someone new was watching and he wanted to be dang sure that the new people watching were impressed. His ego was small and his knack to win was huge.
No one will ever play the game of basketball like Michael did. Yes Lebron and Kobe are very talented, but no one has showed me the work ethic and love for the game more than Michael Jeffrey Jordan.
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about 1 month ago
Sorry
messed up on the title
A SWAGGER UNLIKE ANY OTHER
about 1 month ago
Money was a second option? I don't think so. I'm always wary of article that use the phrase "back then" and then describe a glorified universe that supposedly existed in the past.
about 1 month ago
You know how to write
from about 1 month ago
lol
about 1 month ago
What do you mean Jay?
Thanks for the comment by the way
Lets discuss
about 1 month ago
Yo man
Listen up
This by far is one of the best ariticles i have read on this site
I couldnt agree with you more
I am a old school kind of guy and this is some good stuff
No one will ever be as good as MJ
And you obviously know that man
good shit bro
about 1 month ago
Look, I'm not disputing Mike's position. He is the best player of all time. He did hate losing, he was Mr. Clutch, and he was a great showman while also delivering the goods. I just think that it is a stretch to say that money was his second option. The man was always very aware of his brand and I think that money was one of the things that motivated him. He knew that winning was the one thing that would would certainly increase the value of that brand. I don't know, maybe you are right. That being said, even though Jordan worshippers will come after me for saying that, I don't think that these things take away from his legend or persona in any way.
Clearly, money became less of an issue after he won three titles, but then again, so did winning, as he decided to leave the game.
about 1 month ago
Look, I'm not disputing Mike's position. He is the best player of all time. He did hate losing, he was Mr. Clutch, and he was a great showman while also delivering the goods. I just think that it is a stretch to say that money was his second option. The man was always very aware of his brand and I think that money was one of the things that motivated him. He knew that winning was the one thing that would would certainly increase the value of that brand. I don't know, maybe you are right. That being said, even though Jordan worshippers will come after me for saying that, I don't think that these things take away from his legend or persona in any way.
Clearly, money became less of an issue after he won three titles, but then again, so did winning, as he decided to leave the game.
about 1 month ago
Look, I'm not disputing Mike's position. He is the best player of all time. He did hate losing, he was Mr. Clutch, and he was a great showman while also delivering the goods. I just think that it is a stretch to say that money was his second option. The man was always very aware of his brand and I think that money was one of the things that motivated him. He knew that winning was the one thing that would would certainly increase the value of that brand. I don't know, maybe you are right. That being said, even though Jordan worshippers will come after me for saying that, I don't think that these things take away from his legend or persona in any way.
Clearly, money became less of an issue after he won three titles, but then again, so did winning, as he decided to leave the game.
about 1 month ago
Look, I'm not disputing Mike's position. He is the best player of all time. He did hate losing, he was Mr. Clutch, and he was a great showman while also delivering the goods. I just think that it is a stretch to say that money was his second option. The man was always very aware of his brand and I think that money was one of the things that motivated him. He knew that winning was the one thing that would would certainly increase the value of that brand. I don't know, maybe you are right. That being said, even though Jordan worshippers will come after me for saying that, I don't think that these things take away from his legend or persona in any way.
Clearly, money became less of an issue after he won three titles, but then again, so did winning, as he decided to leave the game.
about 1 month ago
Look, I'm not disputing Mike's position. He is the best player of all time. He did hate losing, he was Mr. Clutch, and he was a great showman while also delivering the goods. I just think that it is a stretch to say that money was his second option. The man was always very aware of his brand and I think that money was one of the things that motivated him. He knew that winning was the one thing that would would certainly increase the value of that brand. I don't know, maybe you are right. That being said, even though Jordan worshippers will come after me for saying that, I don't think that these things take away from his legend or persona in any way.
Clearly, money became less of an issue after he won three titles, but then again, so did winning, as he decided to leave the game.
about 1 month ago
Look, I'm not disputing Mike's position. He is the best player of all time. He did hate losing, he was Mr. Clutch, and he was a great showman while also delivering the goods. I just think that it is a stretch to say that money was his second option. The man was always very aware of his brand and I think that money was one of the things that motivated him. He knew that winning was the one thing that would would certainly increase the value of that brand. I don't know, maybe you are right. That being said, even though Jordan worshippers will come after me for saying that, I don't think that these things take away from his legend or persona in any way.
Clearly, money became less of an issue after he won three titles, but then again, so did winning, as he decided to leave the game.
from about 1 month ago
I think his point here is that Jordan didn't worry about how much money he was making playing basketball as much as players today. MJ knew how to make money, the JORDAN logo is as recognizable as the Nike swoosh or any other brand. Jordan didn't have to worry about not getting paid in his contracts because he knew the way he played ended any dispute of how much he is worth. When you see guys making ludacris amounts of money* when they are mediocre at best players, you see his point.
* See article "The NBA All-Hoover Team" written by myself.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/17916-The-NBA-All-Hoover-Team-150408
about 1 month ago
I don't doubt that Jordan is in the top 3 all time (probably behind Wilt andBill Russell), but saying that Jordan was any less of a media monger is ludicrous.
More so than any other athlete in the league now, or ever, Jordan IS a brand product. Shoes, clothes, a Looney Toons movie for chrissakes. He was every bit as much a businessman as he was a player. As well, why would he dispute contracts like modern players? He was paid over $30 million a year, the highest bar ever reached in the NBA.
from about 1 month ago
Jordan is number one of all-time without a doubt.
about 1 month ago
I agree Marcus
No one was as good as MJ
he was the best competotor and could score at will
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