Michael Jordan ranks third all-time in N.B.A scoring and second in steals. He would finish his career with five NBA Most Valuable Player awards. Jordan was a 14 time NBA All-Star, a three time NBA All-Star game Most Valuable Player, a 10 time NBA First Team selection, nine time NBA All-Defensive Team selection, two time NBA Slam Dunk Competition winner, and was named NBA Defensive Player of the Year in 1998. Michael Jordan led his Chicago Bulls to capture six NBA World Championships and would earn six NBA Finals Most Valuable Player awards. He was named to the NBA’s 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. ESPN has awarded him with an ESPY for 1990s Male Athlete of the Decade Award. In 2000, Jordan garnered ESPN’s ESPY for Athlete of the Century. His basketball talents are well noted and will be a unanimous selection to the Basketball Hall of Fame on his first attempt in 2009.
Michael Jordan has been regarded by many as the greatest player in NBA history and has helped to lead the NBA into the 21st century. During his career, he helped to lead the NBA transfer from an American sport to a global powerhouse. Michael Jordan continues to be one of the faces of basketball and the business world far after retiring from basketball.
Works Cited
Jordan, M. (1998). For the Love of the Game: My Story. Chicago, IL: Crown Publishers, INC.
Halberstam, D. (2000). Playing for Keeps. New York, NY: Random House.
Jordan, M. (2005). Driven From Within. New York, NY: Atria Books.
I am not a sports aficionado, but I do admire Michael Jordan’s athletic ability. Michael Jordan has worked extremely hard to become a great basketball player. His skills have made him a leader both on the court and off. He has been honored with many different awards. He has also given back to his sport and many different charities.
ReplyDeleteMichael Jordan is involved in organizations such as: the Boys & Girls Club of America, UNCF/College Fund and Special Olympics. He also donated 1 million dollars for the creation of the Jordan Institute for Families; that was opened in 1996 at his alma mater—University of North Carolina. The Michael Jordan Official Site quotes from his speech at the opening of the Jordan Institute, "I feel very blessed and fortunate to have had a family structure which nurtured and provided a positive influence for myself and my siblings.” (2001) I find it admirable that he recognizes the importance of family and the impact it can have on one’s life.
The Michael Jordan Official Site. (2001). Retrieved February 19, 2009 from http://ferrarikorea.com/charities.html
Both Michael Jordan and Steve Jobs have become symbols for their respective industries. As Jordan delivered the excitement of basketball to the masses, so too did Jobs deliver “easy-to-use” technology (to the masses). As fiercely determined individuals, both have experienced tremendous successes and have been able to “adapt to changing business environments over time” (Fullan, 2008). Those who might not follow basketball still recognize Jordan the athlete, Jordan the product spokesperson, and Jordan product logo. Jobs, also ever-evolving, has essentially had three or four careers. He was first involved with desktop applications on personal computers, later the Internet, animated movies, the music business and currently personal digital devices.
ReplyDeleteReferences:
Fullan, M. (2008). The Six Secrets of Change: What the Best Leaders Do to Help Their Organizations Survive and Thrive. San Francisco, CA: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.