With March Madness getting ready to start and the NBA season in full swing, basketball has been on my mind lately. I’ll admit I don’t often keep up with all of the latest college teams until March and I only watch highlights of NBA games. Once March comes around for the NCAA and the NBA playoffs near, however, I get hooked. Why is that? Well I think it comes down to competition.
I grew up idolizing basketball players. Growing up in Phoenix I often watch KJ (Kevin Johnson) Sir Charles (Charles Barkley) and Thunder Dan (Dan Majerle) put on a show. I would watch John Stockton thread the needle on a pass to The Mailman (Karl Malone). Above all others though, Michael Jordan was my hero.
Michael Jordan was the epitome of hard work, determination and competition. He soared through the air better than any super hero you saw on TV. He made dreams come true with buzzer beaters that always seemed to get nothing but net. He even collaborated with one of my favorite cartoon characters growing up, Bugs Bunny.
MJ retired and I moved on to other sports until players like Steve Nash revitalized my love of basketball. And I thought that would be it. Michael Jordan a distant memory of my childhood. I would tell my kids about the greatest player to ever play the game and I’d feel like it was a myth. It would be like trying to tell people about Babe Ruth. All of the cigars, booze and home-runs were great I’m sure but to me it’s only a legend.
Recently however, I re-stumbled upon Michael Jordan’s Hall of Fame induction speech (which was ironically 23 minutes long). He spoke of competition. From his family, to being told he wasn’t good enough, all of it simply added fuel to the fire. He called out coaches and former players, holding everyone accountable for ever doubting him. All his success, all his championships, MVPs, scoring titles because he believed he was better than everyone else, and wanted to prove it through competition.
If you haven’t seen it I suggest you watch it, and if you’ve watched it, I sure hope it inspired you. Personally after watching this video I realized in order to be successful in life you must believe you are the best, then prove it on the court (the metaphorical court that is). That drive, and total lack of the hesitation, fear or doubt made MJ unstoppable and if you can emulate that in your life you can be too.
Then you hear things like former Bull teammate, Scottie Pippen saying that LeBron James will be better the Jordan (basically). Comparisons will be made throughout his career and statistically yes, he may surpass Jordan. As far as the type of person they are, the commitment and determination they show, and the impact they have on the game is concerned, it’s not even close in my book. In fact just the other night after making a clutch 3 to tie the game, LeBron gets a chance for the game winner and waves over Dwyane Wade to take the ball. LeBron will (at this pace) be a hands down hall of famer, but in my eyes he will never surpass Michael Jordan.
I don’t know about you but I’ll be dusting off my basketball shoes for the next few months, imitating that game 6, final seconds shot over Bryon Russell. So that's sports: from the fan's perspective.
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