Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Introduction
This blog is about Michael Jordan and his road to NBA
history. In this blog we will go over his life from his child hood, NBA career,
and after his NBA career. His life
story is a perfect example of what hard work can achieve because he started out
just playing basketball with his brother in the backyard. From there he grew
into, who is considered to be, the greatest basketball player in the history of
the game.(NBA.com) Michael Jordan
is an icon for young people everywhere because they all want to be like
Michael. Michael brought personality to the sport and played it in a different
way than anyone has before. He would make shots with his eyes closed. He would
always stick his tongue out when he was going to do a big dunk. He just played
the game as he wanted too that’s what made him special, and not to mention the
amazing basketball skills he has and led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA
championships. Now if that is not impressive I don’t know what is. Imagine one
man leading one team to six championships that’s nearly impossible to do. He
loved the game so much that he even came back a few years after his retirement
to try and help his team he owned to get better. Besides all of that the
meaning of this blog is to focus on Michael Jordan’s life and his
accomplishments during his life in the NBA and his personal life.
Early Life of Michael Jordan: Part One
Michael
Jeffery Jordan was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. He grew up
in Wilmington, North Carolina. Michael what taught by his parents, James and
Delores Jordan, to work hard for what you want and to focus on doing your best
at whatever you attempt. Unlike him his parents were not athletes, but
encouraged their five children to do their best in sports if they participated.
In those days Michael would play basketball against his older brother Larry, he
was known as the athlete of the family. Michael went to Laney High School in
Wilmington. During that time as a freshman he was considered too small and
didn’t make the basketball team that year. Since he didn’t make the team he
worked hard to get better for his sophomore year in hopes of making the team.
Then in his sophomore year he was cut even before the season had started.
Michael did more than just basketball at the time though; he participated in
football, baseball, and track for his school. At around that time he was
thinking he would be better off focusing on his baseball skills instead of
basketball. He grew four inches his junior year, he stood at that point 6 feet
3 inches. Since his sudden growth in height and his amazing strength in his
legs he decided to go with basketball instead of baseball. Michael then not
only made the varsity team his junior year, but impressed everyone especially
his coach, Clifton Herring, enough that Michael was able to go to a basketball
camp.
Early Life of Michael Jordan: Part Two
The
basketball camp was a five start camp in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This camp
was run by Howie Garfinkel, and this camp was known as the summer camp where
major college prospects were made. (EBSCO) During this camp Michael’s
confidence grew so did his skill. In the meantime he was being considered by
many college recruiters. Michael was accepted a basketball scholarship to the
University of North Carolina before he even started he senior year. (EBSCO)
With the help of his coach he was training harder than ever before to get ready
to play at a new level. He went to North Carolina in 1981. Then around that
time he had grown to a height of 6 feet 6 inches and was considered an
All-American from Laney High School. In his freshmen year of college basketball
he was in the starting line ups. He didn’t have the greatest statistics that
year but he was the go to guy for North Carolina in tight games. The highlight
of the year for him at UNC was the winning NCAA jump shot against Georgetown.
From that one shot UNC won the game by one point, and Michael was named the
Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Rookie of the Year for his freshmen year.
Although that was the only championship NC won with Michael the years that he
was there, Michael became the best college player in the country. Not to
mention he was named an All-American for his sophomore year. With the ability
to fly with his amazing jump he would amaze fans and experts of the NBA.
Early Life of Michael Jordan: Part Three
Michael’s
dunks improved along with his defense made him where all the professional
scouts wanted him. Michael helped the United States Pan-American Games team win
the gold medal in 1983. When North Carolina won the ACC title in the 1983-84
season, and The Sporting News chose Michael Jordan as the Player of the Year
again. Michael starred on the United States team that won the gold medal at the
1984 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles. Michael came out of college as the
one most valuable players by the NBA. Michael was picked by the Chicago Bulls
that had the third pick in the NBA draft.
The Bulls expected a lot from Michael Jordan in his rookie season since
the Bulls haven’t been in the playoffs since the 19981-82 season. Michael exceeded their
expectations of the team and the fans. In his first season in the NBA he was
awarded NBA Rookie of the Year and started in the All-Star game. He averaged
28.2 ppg, 6.5 rpg, and 5.9 apg. Michael made the Chicago Bulls a real
championship contender, but he wasn’t happy with what he had already
accomplished he wanted to be better than he was before. Everyone in the NBA
could tell he was a rising star athlete. He was a hard worker and always
competitive like he was in his childhood. In the season prior to his arrival and made it to the
playoffs. Jordan averaged 29.3ppg in the first round series, but the Bulls lost
all four games against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Early Life of Michael Jordan: Reflection
Michael
Jordan’s early life was really astonishing to me personally. I think it’s a
perfect example of what hard work and dedication and get you in life. Of course
Michael had obstacles to get through, but the one thing he never did was give
up. He didn’t make the basketball team as a freshmen or sophomore a lot of
people would be discouraged after even one failed attempt at it. It just shows
how much determination he has a player and as a person. If he doesn’t get it
the first time he will keep trying until he does get or understand it. Not to
mention what he became because of all of that determination and practice.
Because he worked so hard to get better he was one of the top picks in the NBA
draft. He got to do what he loved to do because of his hard work and continuous
determination to be the best there ever was.
NBA Career: Part One
In
Michaels 1985-86 season he broke a bone in his left foot just three games into
the season. He was forced to miss all but eighteen games in the regular season.
He was still voted to the All-Star team but could not play because of the games
he missed for his foot. Amazingly he did come back from his injury to score a
NBA playoff-record 63 points in a first-round game against the Celtics.
(NBA.com) Sadly in that game they lost 131-132 in double overtime. In that
series he average 43.7 ppg and now if there were any doubts about Michael
Jordan at that point they were gone. Going into the 1986-87 season he had
broken numerous records. For starters he scored 40 points or more in nine
consecutive games and 23 straight in one game to set an NBA record. (NBA.com)
They did make it to the first round of the playoffs that season but the
Celtics, like the season before, put them out of the run. The Bulls were going
to make sure this next season was going to be a good one they obtained a lot of
good players to compliment Michael and to help him on the floor. So that very
season they made it past the playoffs against the Cleveland Cavaliers and into
the semifinals against the Pistons. They ended up losing to the Pistons in the
playoffs. Each season though the Bulls were getting closer and closer to their
ultimate goal, a NBA Championship.
NBA Career: Part Two
The next season they went 55-27 that was the franchise’s best
record since 1971-72 season. That season Michael set a career high 69 points
against the Cavs in a 117-113 overtime win. The Bulls made it to the playoffs,
but they were defeated in a seven game series against the Pistons in the
Eastern Conference Finals. After so many lost games in the finals people were
starting to question if Jordan could lead his team to a championship. The very
next season he proved all of the people that were starting to doubt him wrong.
That season the Bulls only lost two games the entire post season leading them
to the franchise’s first NBA title. (NBA.com) To get to that title they beat
the pistons in a blow out in the conference finals. Then in the championship
series they went against Magic Johnson and the Lakers. The Bulls lost he first
game in the series, but came back to win four straight to win the championship.
Michael averaged 31.4ppg, 6.4rpg, and 8.4 apg earning one of the six MVP awards
he would be awarded. After that season he impressed his critics and they had
nothing to say, and they Bulls would go on to defend their title for two
consecutive years. By the three year run, Jordan had reached total stardom and
had a range of fans from young and old. They were amazed at his long hang time
when he jumps in the air for his dunks. That year he had a sports drink
commercial advertising the new drink “Be like Mike”.
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