[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Michael Freaking Jordan (Page 1 of 3)
Posted: 11/15/2007 2:56:16 PM EDT
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I know there are a lot of youngins here, and you may not know who that man is - if so, I encourage you to look at his wikipedia entry. Many, if not most, think he was the best basketball player who ever played the game. While you think folks like LeBron James are "superstars", those are only shadows of Michael Jordan. Larry Byrd once said "There's Michael Jordan, then theres the rest of us". Larry Byrd was a superstar in his own right. When Jordan scored 63 points against the Celtics, Byrd was heard to say "God was playing basketball, disguised as Michael Jordan" So, for you young folks all caught up the hype as todays tatooed thugs run on around on the court, I encourage you to read about his accomplishments, and watch some of the videos I link to below. You will see the man seemingly suspend the law of gravity and do things midair that many physicists would believe to be impossible. Rated in one poll as the top North American athlete of the twentieth century, he is, the truest sense of the word, a legend. Wikipedia Entry: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_jordan Some "educational" videos Top Ten Spectacular Shots www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQVOxHI8Q_g Top Ten Dunks www.youtube.com/watch?v=zeJM7iwKFlA Top Ten Buzzer-Beaters www.youtube.com/watch?v=VKdqu3GPb3E Slam Dunk Contest www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqPRdzrjWpU Jordan scores 64 points against Shaquille O'Neill www.youtube.com/watch?v=6mjwyLp6OiM Thirteen field goals in a row, made the last one dramatic to prove a point www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBseRlgoSLc |
I was in Chicago and saw one of the Bulls vs Utah championship games. It was like he was a man playing among children. |
There is a poster out there where he outlines a number of failures .... "and that is why I succeed"
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What tickles me is that lame high school coach who told him he wouldn't amount to anything or something. |
Byrd himself consider Jordan better, and the stats and awards and records broken prove it. And Byrd was very, very good. |
BIRD damn you! BIRD! |
| The only time I watched the Bulls (and any NBA) was during the Jordan years, it's like the same reason I watch the Packers now for Favre. Both incredible athletes and a sheer wonder to watch. I have alwasys watched the NFL and will continue to do so, never again for basketball though. |
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Awards 14 time All-Star Olympic Gold Medalist—1984, 1992 Five time MVP—1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, 1998 7 time The Sporting News MVP Rookie of the Year—1984 Defensive Player of the Year—1988 11 times All-NBA—10 times first team, 1 time second team 9 time All-Defensive First Team Sports Illustrated "Sportsman of the Year"—1991 Named one of the 50 Greatest Players in NBA History in 1996 Records Most scoring titles—10 Most NBA Finals MVP awards—6 Highest career scoring average—30.12 Highest career scoring average playoffs—33.45 Most consecutive games scoring in double figures—866 Highest single series scoring average NBA Finals—41.0 (1993) |
Yes, he was one of Dean Smith's disciples. Dean Smith probably prepared him for the pros more than anyone. |
funny thing is that he only averaged 18 points per game at UNC, not bad, but not spectacular. Most scouts had projected him to be a very good NBA player, but nobody knew he would turn into the legend that he was. |
MJ was to basketball as Mozart was to music, a true prodigy. After making six consecutive three pointers, he shrugged, and the commentator said "Its like he said, I can't believe I'm doing this" |
Dean Smith was big on "team" and did not encourage "hot dogging". It helped Jordan later on in seeing the importance of working with other players like Pippen and Rodman. |
 Burd was good, but he was no Jordan! eta:fixed again! |
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Wilt Chamberlin. More records and MORE CHICKS. Once scored 100 points in a game. Once got 55 rebounds in a game Averaged over 50 points per game for the season. Averaged over 20 rebounds per game career. Once led NBA in assists as a center. Only player to be Rookie of the Year and MVP in history. Never fouled out of a game. "Took Magic to school" in his 40's As Oscar Robertson put it in the Philadelphia Daily News when asked whether Chamberlain was the best ever, "The books don't lie." |
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When I was a teen I was a Georgetown supporter and MJ and UNC were the enemy. I enjoyed hating him even when he went to Chicago. I would not admit that he was a great as Larry Bird or Magic. But then reality settled in. He really did elevate the level of play above the masters who preceded him. |
Yes, he won the NCAA Championship over Georgetown, which was led by Patrick Ewing, the last few seconds of the game. I can see how that would rile a Georgetown fan. 
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