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Michael Jordan played and lived like no other
Player Magazine - Premier Issue 2004
At the end of his career Michael Jordan walked off the court in Philadelphia, 1 76ers fan held up a cardboard sign: "Michael Jordan: Simply The Best Ever." No one could have said it better. And what made this sentiment even more intriguing was the source: an average Joe who probably dropped a ridiculous wad of cash to attend the final bow of one of the most storied athletes in the history of sports. In the book Taking to the Air: The Rise of Michael Jordan, former Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach and current NBA analyst Fred Carter says, "When God decided to create the perfect basketball player and send him down here, he happened to send him to the Jordans." Only God could have known the mark that would be left by this one human being. People across the globe wear his shoes, have cheered his moves, and even forced themselves to stick out their tongues out "jus like Mike." Did anyone ever really name their son - or daughter - Jordan before MJ landed on the planet? "People just can't get enough of Michael Jordan," says Frank Farley, professor of psychology at Temple University and former president of the American Psychology Association. "Michael Jordan is a hero in the true sense of the term, and that's why people love him so much." According to Farley, who has dedicated much of his career to the study of heroes, the Jordan persona fits perfectly into the heroic tradition. "To be a true hero, one must possess courage, expertise, honesty, and be a risk taker," says Farley. "Others need to feel true affection toward a hero and believe that this person is a good individual. Michael embodies these traits. He's not a loud mouth, his work ethic is amazing, and his success is unsurpassed. On the one hand the average person can relate to him, but on the other hand they want so badly to be him." Jordan's rise to stardom is true Americana, a modern-day Hoatio Alger who began his career as a scrawny kid from North Carolina and went on to become the most recognizable professional athlete of all time. People loved (and continue to love) his flashy moves, his smile, and how the seemingly impossible became probable whenever he laced up his Nikes. And that's just the start. Says Farley, "There have been other great basketball players, other great athletes, but no one has ever gone from the hardwood to the boardroom the way Michael Jordan did and continues to do so. Proof of that came in 1998 when Fortune Magazine assigned Roy Johnson to determine the Jordan Effect, i.e. the economic impact of Michael Jordan on everything from ticket sales to endorsements. The magazine's conservative estimate? An astonishing $10 billion. Fortune estimated that the NBA saw attendance revenues jump by $170 million during Jordan's tenure. In 1991, NBA merchandise sales topped $1 billion. Five years later, when the league broke the $3 million mark, 30 percent was attributed to either Jordan or the Bulls. And what about Jerry Reinsdorf, who purchased the Bulls for approximately $9.2 million the year after Jordan turned pro? By the end of the decade, the franchise's value had increased to more than $200 million - a 2,000 percent return in less than 10 years. Jordan's financial clout extended away from the game, too. From 1990 through 1999, the value of his endorsements exceeded $400 million. Nike took in $2.6 billion in revenues from Jordan-endorsed products and another estimated$2.6 billion because of its affiliation with MJ. Hanes Underwear rakes in roughly $10 million a year from Jordan's line of underwear. Bijan reported world-wide sales of $155 million of Michael Jordan Cologne. Millions more can be traced to movies, books, and television programs that traded on his name. Jordan's accessibility is another crucial dimension to his universal appeal. Unlike many superstars, who shy away from discussing perceived weaknesses, Jordan is as frank about his failures and his fears as he is about his successes. At some point in every person's life, he or she doesn't make the cut - just like Mike. In his book Hang Time, Jordan described the day he didn't make the varsity basketball team. "I went through the day numb. (After school) I hurried to my house, and I closed the door of my room, and I cried so hard. It was all I wanted - to play on the team." This painful experience during his sophomore year fueled Jordan's competitive fire throughout his career and was apparent to those who played with him. Fellow Dream Team member Charles Barkley wrote in Memories of Mike, "You have to have that competitive nature in this game to stay on top. To win a couple of titles you have to have that killer instinct... and Michael has six titles." This was also the case in 1995 during his first comeback. Jordan realized he was not the young gun of yore. Rather than consistently attacking the basket with his trademark dunks, he began relying on fall-away jump shots and other outside scoring opportunities. Jordan took a realistic approach to the change in style when he told The New York Times Magazine, "I may not look as flamboyant as I was in the past, but the end result is basically the same. It's not always how you look - it's how you achieve." This trait even applies to his personal life, which took a tragic turn in 1993 when he and his family had to endure the murder of his father. The mourning star turned his anger and grief into a positive venture, creating a 41,000square-foot center for children complete with on-site health care and after-school activities. Chicago's James R. Jordan Boys and Girls Club and Family Center is a testament to the man who once said of Michael, his mother, and siblings, "My family is my life." Michael Jordan's life, however, has become part of the fabric of America. Although his days as a pro athlete have come to an end, his place in our psyches has been so deeply when it came time for Jordan to hang up his basketball shoes, he left his chosen sport when he was still competing as a champion, not a shadow of his former self. Jordan told Kent McDill of Sportsline USA,"If you want to leave the game, you don't want to leave the game limping. You want to leave with you still knowing, and other people knowing, you could play two more years.At the end of his career Michael Jordan walked off the court in Philadelphia, 1 76ers fan held up a cardboard sign: "Michael Jordan: Simply The Best Ever." No one could have said it better. And what made this sentiment even more intriguing was the source: an average Joe who probably dropped a ridiculous wad of cash to attend the final bow of one of the most storied athletes in the history of sports. In the book Taking to the Air: The Rise of Michael Jordan, former Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach and current NBA analyst Fred Carter says, "When God decided to create the perfect basketball player and send him down here, he happened to send him to the Jordans." Only God could have known the mark that would be left by this one human being. People across the globe wear his shoes, have cheered his moves, and even forced themselves to stick out their tongues out "jus like Mike." Did anyone ever really name their son - or daughter - Jordan before MJ landed on the planet? "People just can't get enough of Michael Jordan," says Frank Farley, professor of psychology at Temple University and former president of the American Psychology Association. "Michael Jordan is a hero in the true sense of the term, and that's why people love him so much." According to Farley, who has dedicated much of his career to the study of heroes, the Jordan persona fits perfectly into the heroic tradition. "To be a true hero, one must possess courage, expertise, honesty, and be a risk taker," says Farley. "Others need to feel true affection toward a hero and believe that this person is a good individual. Michael embodies these traits. He's not a loud mouth, his work ethic is amazing, and his success is unsurpassed. On the one hand the average person can relate to him, but on the other hand they want so badly to be him." Jordan's rise to stardom is true Americana, a modern-day Hoatio Alger who began his career as a scrawny kid from North Carolina and went on to become the most recognizable professional athlete of all time. People loved (and continue to love) his flashy moves, his smile, and how the seemingly impossible became probable whenever he laced up his Nikes. And that's just the start. Says Farley, "There have been other great basketball players, other great athletes, but no one has ever gone from the hardwood to the boardroom the way Michael Jordan did and continues to do so. Proof of that came in 1998 when Fortune Magazine assigned Roy Johnson to determine the Jordan Effect, i.e. the economic impact of Michael Jordan on everything from ticket sales to endorsements. The magazine's conservative estimate? An astonishing $10 billion. Fortune estimated that the NBA saw attendance revenues jump by $170 million during Jordan's tenure. In 1991, NBA merchandise sales topped $1 billion. Five years later, when the league broke the $3 million mark, 30 percent was attributed to either Jordan or the Bulls. And what about Jerry Reinsdorf, who purchased the Bulls for approximately $9.2 million the year after Jordan turned pro? By the end of the decade, the franchise's value had increased to more than $200 million - a 2,000 percent return in less than 10 years. Jordan's financial clout extended away from the game, too. From 1990 through 1999, the value of his endorsements exceeded $400 million. Nike took in $2.6 billion in revenues from Jordan-endorsed products and another estimated$2.6 billion because of its affiliation with MJ. Hanes Underwear rakes in roughly $10 million a year from Jordan's line of underwear. Bijan reported world-wide sales of $155 million of Michael Jordan Cologne. Millions more can be traced to movies, books, and television programs that traded on his name. Jordan's accessibility is another crucial dimension to his universal appeal. Unlike many superstars, who shy away from discussing perceived weaknesses, Jordan is as frank about his failures and his fears as he is about his successes. At some point in every person's life, he or she doesn't make the cut - just like Mike. In his book Hang Time, Jordan described the day he didn't make the varsity basketball team. "I went through the day numb. (After school) I hurried to my house, and I closed the door of my room, and I cried so hard. It was all I wanted - to play on the team." This painful experience during his sophomore year fueled Jordan's competitive fire throughout his career and was apparent to those who played with him. Fellow Dream Team member Charles Barkley wrote in Memories of Mike, "You have to have that competitive nature in this game to stay on top. To win a couple of titles you have to have that killer instinct... and Michael has six titles." This was also the case in 1995 during his first comeback. Jordan realized he was not the young gun of yore. Rather than consistently attacking the basket with his trademark dunks, he began relying on fall-away jump shots and other outside scoring opportunities. Jordan took a realistic approach to the change in style when he told The New York Times Magazine, "I may not look as flamboyant as I was in the past, but the end result is basically the same. It's not always how you look - it's how you achieve." This trait even applies to his personal life, which took a tragic turn in 1993 when he and his family had to endure the murder of his father. The mourning star turned his anger and grief into a positive venture, creating a 41,000square-foot center for children complete with on-site health care and after-school activities. Chicago's James R. Jordan Boys and Girls Club and Family Center is a testament to the man who once said of Michael, his mother, and siblings, "My family is my life." Michael Jordan's life, however, has become part of the fabric of America. Although his days as a pro athlete have come to an end, his place in our psyches has been so deeply when it came time for Jordan to hang up his basketball shoes, he left his chosen sport when he was still competing as a champion, not a shadow of his former self. Jordan told Kent McDill of Sportsline USA,"If you want to leave the game, you don't want to leave the game limping. You want to leave with you still knowing, and other people knowing, you could play two more years.At the end of his career Michael Jordan walked off the court in Philadelphia, 1 76ers fan held up a cardboard sign: "Michael Jordan: Simply The Best Ever." No one could have said it better. And what made this sentiment even more intriguing was the source: an average Joe who probably dropped a ridiculous wad of cash to attend the final bow of one of the most storied athletes in the history of sports. In the book Taking to the Air: The Rise of Michael Jordan, former Philadelphia 76ers assistant coach and current NBA analyst Fred Carter says, "When God decided to create the perfect basketball player and send him down here, he happened to send him to the Jordans." Only God could have known the mark that would be left by this one human being. People across the globe wear his shoes, have cheered his moves, and even forced themselves to stick out their tongues out "jus like Mike." Did anyone ever really name their son - or daughter - Jordan before MJ landed on the planet? "People just can't get enough of Michael Jordan," says Frank Farley, professor of psychology at Temple University and former president of the American Psychology Association. "Michael Jordan is a hero in the true sense of the term, and that's why people love him so much." According to Farley, who has dedicated much of his career to the study of heroes, the Jordan persona fits perfectly into the heroic tradition. "To be a true hero, one must possess courage, expertise, honesty, and be a risk taker," says Farley. "Others need to feel true affection toward a hero and believe that this person is a good individual. Michael embodies these traits. He's not a loud mouth, his work ethic is amazing, and his success is unsurpassed. On the one hand the average person can relate to him, but on the other hand they want so badly to be him." Jordan's rise to stardom is true Americana, a modern-day Hoatio Alger who began his career as a scrawny kid from North Carolina and went on to become the most recognizable professional athlete of all time. People loved (and continue to love) his flashy moves, his smile, and how the seemingly impossible became probable whenever he laced up his Nikes. And that's just the start. Says Farley, "There have been other great basketball players, other great athletes, but no one has ever gone from the hardwood to the boardroom the way Michael Jordan did and continues to do so. Proof of that came in 1998 when Fortune Magazine assigned Roy Johnson to determine the Jordan Effect, i.e. the economic impact of Michael Jordan on everything from ticket sales to endorsements. The magazine's conservative estimate? An astonishing $10 billion. Fortune estimated that the NBA saw attendance revenues jump by $170 million during Jordan's tenure. In 1991, NBA merchandise sales topped $1 billion. Five years later, when the league broke the $3 million mark, 30 percent was attributed to either Jordan or the Bulls. And what about Jerry Reinsdorf, who purchased the Bulls for approximately $9.2 million the year after Jordan turned pro? By the end of the decade, the franchise's value had increased to more than $200 million - a 2,000 percent return in less than 10 years. Jordan's financial clout extended away from the game, too. From 1990 through 1999, the value of his endorsements exceeded $400 million. Nike took in $2.6 billion in revenues from Jordan-endorsed products and another estimated$2.6 billion because of its affiliation with MJ. Hanes Underwear rakes in roughly $10 million a year from Jordan's line of underwear. Bijan reported world-wide sales of $155 million of Michael Jordan Cologne. Millions more can be traced to movies, books, and television programs that traded on his name. Jordan's accessibility is another crucial dimension to his universal appeal. Unlike many superstars, who shy away from discussing perceived weaknesses, Jordan is as frank about his failures and his fears as he is about his successes. At some point in every person's life, he or she doesn't make the cut - just like Mike. In his book Hang Time, Jordan described the day he didn't make the varsity basketball team. "I went through the day numb. (After school) I hurried to my house, and I closed the door of my room, and I cried so hard. It was all I wanted - to play on the team." This painful experience during his sophomore year fueled Jordan's competitive fire throughout his career and was apparent to those who played with him. Fellow Dream Team member Charles Barkley wrote in Memories of Mike, "You have to have that competitive nature in this game to stay on top. To win a couple of titles you have to have that killer instinct... and Michael has six titles." This was also the case in 1995 during his first comeback. Jordan realized he was not the young gun of yore. Rather than consistently attacking the basket with his trademark dunks, he began relying on fall-away jump shots and other outside scoring opportunities. Jordan took a realistic approach to the change in style when he told The New York Times Magazine, "I may not look as flamboyant as I was in the past, but the end result is basically the same. It's not always how you look - it's how you achieve." This trait even applies to his personal life, which took a tragic turn in 1993 when he and his family had to endure the murder of his father. The mourning star turned his anger and grief into a positive venture, creating a 41,000square-foot center for children complete with on-site health care and after-school activities. Chicago's James R. Jordan Boys and Girls Club and Family Center is a testament to the man who once said of Michael, his mother, and siblings, "My family is my life." Michael Jordan's life, however, has become part of the fabric of America. Although his days as a pro athlete have come to an end, his place in our psyches has been so deeply when it came time for Jordan to hang up his basketball shoes, he left his chosen sport when he was still competing as a champion, not a shadow of his former self. Jordan told Kent McDill of Sportsline USA,"If you want to leave the game, you don't want to leave the game limping. You want to leave with you still knowing, and other people knowing, you could play two more years.