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.