Why Michael Jordan Just Might be The Greatest Athlete Ever

Why Michael Jordan just might be the greatest athlete the world has ever seen

I first encountered the mesmerizing genius of Michael Jordan when I was 12. Already having a faint interest in basketball and hearing about the 1992 NBA playoffs happening at the time, I decided I was going to tune in and watch the most happening team with the most happening player in the world – Michael Jordan of the Chicago Bulls. What I witnessed changed my life (that is not an over-statement) and my love for the game, forever. I watched a man transcend the very sport he played. I had never seen that before and neither had history at the time.

It is no secret that I am, have been and always will be a true Michael Jordan fan to the core. Ever since I watched him single handedly demolish a rising Portland Trailblazers and take the championship and the NBA league by storm, I knew who was going to be my role-model to emulate in my game. I had to do everything like him – drive to the basket, mid-drive cross over, fake and fade-away, even my facial expression (stick my tongue out) just like him. His ability to raise his game on call, whatever the crunch, demoralize the opponent and win the game at the buzzer, was more excitement than a 12 year old could handle. Today 18 years later, I’m still just as captivated and awe-struck by the legend and legacy of this man. Here are some reasons why I think Michael Jordan was bigger than basketball could ever be:-

1.       Poetry in motion: – Of course what first caught my attention was his ability to score or even move in what seemed like a humanely impossible, gravity defying manner. His ability to penetrate the defense, jump almost over the heads of his nearly 7 foot opponents and score with a thunderous jam, could make even a new-comer to the sport drop his jaw. He seemed to be able to make moves that made me love the feature of slow-motion replay. The no-look pass, the under the hoop hand switch layup and his ability to ‘hang in the air’ before he made his shot, are still the main features of his highlight videos. Even the way he moved had an element of theatric beauty to it. Michael Jordan was a joy to watch even if you had never seen him or the game of basketball ever before.

2.       Epitome of determination: – In the fall of 1997, I watched as the Chicago Bulls took on the Utah Jazz in the play-offs. The bad news – Jordan had a stomach virus and was sick as a dog. The game was to be a crucial one as losing this would add pressure to the next one, giving the Jazz home court advantage. Jordan, numerous times during play, looked like he was about to pass out. The Bulls won the game, led by Jordan with 40 something points. The game went down in history as one of the greatest performances in the history of the league. Add to this his numerous buzzer-beaters, winning against impossible odds and marshalling his team in crisis situations, he would be one of the greatest living examples of human determination. My drive to push myself against the odds was fueled by the on court battles that I watched this man fight.

3.       Changing the landscape of the sport: – After taking 3 championships to his name, Jordan retired from the game in pursuit of another goal. His departure left a huge void in the team and the Bulls struggled through the next two seasons, losing it in the process. Jordan’s return ignited a global pandemonium that suddenly energized the franchise of expectations of a magnificent come back. At age 33, Jordan was about to achieve the impossible. He went on to take the Bulls to three more consecutive championships and sealed whatever doubts were left, that he was the greatest player the game had ever seen.

4.       Million-Dollar Persona: – According to a 1998 estimate by CNN, Michael Jordan’s total effect on the global economy was $10 billion. The important breakdown however would be the $165 million effect on NBA attendance and a $366 million dollar effect on TV revenue alone. His product endorsements were numerous – Gatorade, Hanes, Chevrolet, Wheaties and most importantly, Nike. The sport icon had the Midas touch of the century. His personal charisma and magnetic personality, both on-court and off-court, made him a brand ambassador that literally changed the future and face of whichever product endorsed him. It is no surprise then, that Michael Jordan was dubbed the most recognizable face on the planet.

Jordan has long since retired, elevated to the basketball hall of fame and just recently was awarded his life time achievement trophy in a ceremony that was watched by millions. Having watched his meteoric rise to sporting stardom as a starry eyed 12 year old, it was hard not to break down when he got up to give his acceptance speech. As yet another NBA playoff draws near, I look at the accolades and credentials thrust upon today’s players, a far cry from being the basketball genius that was Jordan. I see myself someday, when I’m playing a one on one with my own son, telling him about a great player who single handedly, not only changed the face of the most popular league in the world – the NBA, but also transcended the sport of basketball itself.