Letter From America
Michael Jordan, Basketball Megastar Calls It a Career
How often does the President of the United States call a press conference to extol the virtues of a retiring sportsman? How infrequent it is for The New York Times to heave excessive praise on the same star - in its lead editorial? All of the above happened on January 13, when basketball megastar, Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls announced his retirement from the game he has made synonymous with his name. Michael is that special.
What made Michael Jordan so great is his ability to single-handedly take over a game and will his team to victory. Physical attributes he had aplenty; but it was his mental toughness that defied odds and made mere mortals out of other superstars. Only last June, in the National Basketball finals, with his team down, Michael Jordan stole the ball from Utah Jazz's superstar Karl Malone, drove down the length of the court, faked clear of the guard guarding him and made the winning basket! Michael Jordan has made such heroics so common that sports fans consider it routine Michael Jordan.
The writer's most precious memory of Michael Jordan was in the final of the previous year (1997) against the same Utah Jazz team. He had eaten a bad pizza and fallen sick. Gasping for breath, barely able to walk and supporting himself on the shoulder of teammate Scottie Pippen, for the umpteenth time, Jordan single-handedly won a crucial game.
Here's part of what impeachment-distracted President Clinton had to say of Michael Jordan: " I think it is appropriate that the sports fans around America take a day or two to 'ooh' and 'ahh' and hold their breath again and be glad again. In my life, I don't know that I ever saw another athlete with such a remarkable set of qualities of mind, body and spirit as Michael Jordan."
Here is what Michael Jordan did in numbers: 29, 277 career points, in only thirteen seasons. Most points scored in a National Basketball Association (NBA) finals (246, in 1993 against Phoenix.) Highest number of field goals made in a NBA final series (101). An NBA a record 72 Chicago Bulls victories (only 10 defeats) in the 1995-96 season. Career high points in a game (69). Highest number of points per game in NBA finals (41 in 1993 against Phoenix). Scored over 50 points in a game 37 times. Highest number of points in a NBA final half (35, against Portland in 1992.) Highest career average in the playoffs (33.4 points per game.) Highest career scoring average in the NBA (31.5 points per game.) Highest number of consecutive points scored by a NBA player (23). Highest All star game scoring average (21.3 points). Six NBA championships, in all of which he was the series Most Valuable Player (MVP). Additionally, he was the regular season MVP six times, and won ten scoring titles.
Finally, he won two Olympic gold medals as a member of the US Olympic Basketball teams in 1984 and 1992 (the "Dream Team.")
Some praised Jordan's ability to soar gracefully over defenders nearly a foot taller. Others talked of his competitiveness, the trait that forced him to work tirelessly at honing skills that were already legendary. But among the all the words of homage for Michael Jordan was one constant theme: he was the greatest basketball player in the history of the game.
"Pound for pound he was the best ever", said Julius Ervying, who as Dr. J first brought to the NBA the high-flying wizardry that Jordan took to the next level. While Jordan possessed outstanding athleticism, the consensus was that his quickness, strength and leaping ability were not the only attributes that set him apart. It was his capacity to synthesize those qualities with superior work ethic, an incredible degree of mental toughness and a matchless desire to win at any cost.
The list of those Jordan conquered in winning titles in the last six full seasons he played is awesome: Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Isiah Thomas, Karl Malone, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley, and legendary coaches Pat Riley, Chuck Daly and Lenny Wilkins. Jordan's success on the court plus his engaging personality made him a hit with Madison Avenue. His ability to relate to Americans of all ages and color landed him lucrative deals with Nike, McDonald's, Gatorade, Hanes and Coca Cola.
The Air Jordan sneakers helped Nike become the world's leading basketball apparel.
Three years ago, the writer's family was lucky to dine in Michael Jordan's restaurant in Chicago. (Michael Jordan's voice greets diners calling for reservations.) The restaurant in full of Jordan's basketball paraphernalia, including relics of his ill-fated attempt to play baseball for two years. There were also copies of the science section of Chicago Sun-Times and Tribune, where scientist tried to come up with theories behind Jordan's gravity-defying moves!
So where in history does this 35-year old megastar belong? Jordan's appeal in not confined to North America or Northern Hemisphere. From the humble platform of a not-so-popular game, his athletic and commercial appeal has transformed him into a global hero and a cultural icon. In a different age and a different time, Michael Jordan is a Muhammad Ali.
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