Jordan Essay, Research Paper

The early years. Michael Jordan was one of five children born to James and Delores

Jordan. He was born February 17, 1963 in Brooklyn. The Jordans’ felt that the streets of

Brooklyn were unsafe to raise a young family of five children. Instead of trying to endure

the streets of Brooklyn, the Jordan family moved to Wilmington, North Carolina. James

got a job in Wilmington as a mechanic and Delores got a job as a teller at United Carolina

Bank. The Jordan’s always stressed the value of manners to their children. The above

examples typified Michael Jordan’s early years. Michael’s first love. Michael always had an

eye for baseball. He played as an outfielder and as a pitcher. When he was twelve, he was

the top player in his league. Michael had his picture placed in the Morning Star, which is

Wilmington’s newspaper. By the age of fifteen, he wasn’t the star in baseball he once was.

He was still very good, but he had lost some of his focus. Later, in his high school career,

he dropped baseball to pursue another interest. Basketball and Michael. When Michael

was younger he adopted the game of basketball. Mike used to work with his father in the

garage. While working with his father, Michael picked up the habit of sticking his tongue

out in an intense situation. When Michael reached the ninth grade, he tried out for

basketball. Coach Lynch, Michael’s coach, cut Michael which in turn may have made the

best player alive today. Michael then took practicing basketball to another level. He played

his brother Larry whenever he could. Michael never expected what would come in the

near future. The College Years. Michael Jordan went to the University of North Carolina

as a basketball recruit. Even though Jordan at 6′5″ was a man with potential, he still

studied very hard in an attempt to get a good education, while competing in sports. Mike

wasn’t expected to be a star of the Tar Heels, since they had players such as James

Worthy, Sam Perkins, and Al Wood. By the end of the 1981-82 season, Jordan, as a

freshman, was an everyday starter. Carolina reached the Final Four with the help of

Jordan, who had sixteen points and led the team with nine rebounds. In the final twenty

seconds, Michael made a title winning shot from the left baseline. In Michael’s sophomore

and junior seasons, he was voted College Basketball’s Player of the Year. Through

Michael’s three years at Carolina, he average 17.7 points per game, while maintaining a

“B” average. The Rookie Season. After a great college career, Michael was drafted by the

Chicago Bulls as the third pick of the 1984-85 season. Michael quickly signed a $6.15

million contract. Michael made a huge impact in the National Basketball Association. He

made such an impact that he was selected to be an alternate on the Eastern Division

All-Star squad. During his rookie season with the Bulls, companies started picturing

Jordan on posters and on television. Jordan led the Bulls to a 38 win and 44 loss season.

Jordan averaged 28.2 points per game, while setting a team record with 2,313 points. He

won the Schick Pivotal Player of the Year Award, Seagram’s NBA Pivotal Player of the

Year Award, and the honor of Rookie of the year. Michael and Endorsements. With

Michael’s growing success in the NBA, more and more companies wanted to use the “Air

Jordan” name. One of the first companies to use his name was Nike. Nike paid Michael

$2.5 million, so they could begin a line of shoes known as “Air Jordan’s.” Nike sold 2.3

million pairs for $65. Other companies would attempt to endorse Jordan. These companies

include Coca-Cola, Wilson basketballs, McDonald’s, Excelcior Internantion (Time Jordan

watches), Wheaties and Gatorade to name a few. Most Valuable Player. During the

1987-88 season, Jordan raised his game to another level. The Bulls status was also raised

to another level with the additions of Scottie Pippen and Horace Grant. Michael was

having another great season and this was evidenced when he started on the Eastern

Division All-Star squad. During the All-Star games Jordan won the slam-dunk contest. He

then finished the season, leading the Bulls in scoring for 81 games out of the 82 game

season. Michael averaged 35 points per game. For his efforts, Jordan was selected as the

Most Valuable Player and as Defensive Player of the Year. The First Championship.

During the 1990-91 season, Chicago went on a rampage. The Bulls had 61 wins and 21

losses, which was the best record in franchise history. Michael averaged 31.5 points which

won him his fifth scoring title. The Bulls reached the NBA finals for the first time in

Jordan’s career. The Bulls faced the Los Angeles Lakers which was called a dream

matchup between Michael and Magic Johnson. Chicago won the series rather easily.

Jordan was voted Most Valuable Player of the finals. Jordan Quits Basketball. Michael

Jordan announced after winning his third consecutive NBA championship, that he was

stepping down from the game he loved. He said that he was tired of the pressures. Some

people believe that Jordan’s gambling debts caused Jordan to quit. Others believe that the

slaying of his father which happened on August 15, 1993 caused Jordan to quit. There is

one final theory. The theory is that Michael wanted to pursue one of his childhood dreams,

professional baseball. Michael and Baseball. Michael Jordan announced that he would

pursue his dream of playing baseball. Jordan joined the Chicago White Sox organization.

The White Sox gave Jordan a tryout and then decided that he would be best playing with

the Birmingham Barons. When Mike hit his first home run on July 30, he pointed to the

sky honoring his father. However Jordan struggled in baseball, with a horrible average.

Jordan would soon be back to the game he loved. He’s Back. After spending 17 months

away from the game he loved, Michael Jordan came back on March 18, 1995. Although

he was back, number 23 was not back. Jordan came back as number 45. In his first few

weeks back, Jordan’s shot was off, although his superb leadership was back. In one game

Michael showed flashes of his old self. Michael scored 55 points in a game at Madison

Square Garden in New York. A few weeks later, Michael, a very superstitious man,

switched his number from 45 to 23. Although the Bulls were defeated by the Orlando

Magic in the playoffs, the Bulls went on their best winning streak of the season.

Accomplishments. Michael Jordan has been called the best basketball player ever by Magic

Johnson. Jordan has led the NBA in scoring an amazing seven times. Jordan is only the

second player to score 3000 points in one season, with the other being Wilt Chamberlain.

Mike was voted Defensive Player of the Year in 1988. Jordan has been Most Valuable

Player of the NBA finals three times. He was Sports Illustrated Sportsman of the Year in

1991. Jordan has also received three MVP awards between 1988 and 1992.