September 12, 2009

Yikes. I loved Jordan, the player, but if he faded into the sunset as a person, I'd not miss him at all.

posted by dfleming at 08:48 AM on September 12, 2009

This report doesn't do a good job of explaining why Jordan's speech was obnoxious. The stories in the Washington Post and Boston Globe make it more clear.

There are two ways of looking at Jordan's speech. On one hand, it's remarkably ungracious to give the appearance that you are settling old scores by mentioning so many personal slights that bothered you during your athletic career. It makes you look small.

On the other, Jordan enters the Hall of Fame as the greatest basketball player ever, and his speech demonstrates exactly why he achieved that goal. He coupled an immense talent with an exaggerated response to criticism that never let him rest on his accomplishments.

Jordan's career brought him six NBA championships, one NCAA championship and a current net worth of $555 million. The fact that he's still upset by being left off a Sports Illustrated cover in Nov. 30, 1981, says an enormous amount about him.

posted by rcade at 12:33 PM on September 12, 2009

I can see, perhaps, that its's difficult for athletes who have had so much acclaim to let go of it and just settle into the role of retirement, and to realize that you can no longer play at the level that you once did. (Many would argue that Brett Favre is at the front end of that road). Too bad he couldn't settle into our collective memories of being a member of the elite class who are considered the greatest ever at their sport, with grace. Hopefully, one day, someone like Tiger Woods can show him how it should have been.

posted by txsoccermom at 02:36 PM on September 12, 2009

Has there ever been a sportswriter who retired at the top of his game?

posted by rcade at 03:02 PM on September 12, 2009

Im glad someone already posted this. No class.

posted by firecop at 03:38 PM on September 12, 2009

Why is it any surprise that Jordan is a pompous douchebag? The competitive spirit and ego he displayed during the speech is why he is being inducted into the Hall as the best ever. Why some people expect these players to roll over and be humble on command is ridiculous.

Hopefully, one day, someone like Tiger Woods can show him how it should have been.

That was a joke, right?

posted by BoKnows at 04:07 PM on September 12, 2009

Nobody will ever argue with Jordan being the best player ever to play the game. This speech is still a poorly stated rant at an inappropriate time. Whether the guy is a dick, personally, or whatever, this was the time to realize that he's representing the entire sport of basketball and to show some class and dignity. Why he had to come across in this manner, I don't know. Some say it's just his "competitiveness," but I think he's someone who refuses to accept the idea basketball goes on without him. Oh well, Mr. Competitive, the Bobcats are a joke, I don't miss you, and this makes it all the better you're gone. The fact the guy only mentions his family as an afterthought points to the fact he's a self-absorbed, ego-maniac with no class at all. Just because he played well in a game with a ball doesn't make him a decent person in any way, shape or form.

And why is it Jim Brown never tried to make Jordan more of a voice among blacks? Maybe he did, but I don't remember. Maybe Brown found out Jordan was a jerk and said, "Screw him." Actually, I guess Brown did once say that Jordan is "full of shit." Well put.

posted by dyams at 05:21 PM on September 12, 2009

Why some people expect these players to roll over and be humble on command is ridiculous.

We expect it because it's the norm. Almost all Hall of Fame induction speeches are gracious. I can't recall one that quite compares with Jordan's.

posted by rcade at 05:32 PM on September 12, 2009

The fact that you can be a great (or the greatest) in your sport and a total jerk is why I've always found the whole "hall of fame" concept, and the various controversies surrounding admission and exclusion, fairly tedious. Perhaps Jordan feels the same. And it's not as if he has problems with the Hanes advertising contract portraying him with a giant stick up his rear.

posted by etagloh at 05:57 PM on September 12, 2009

We expect it because it's the norm. Almost all Hall of Fame induction speeches are gracious. I can't recall one that quite compares with Jordan's.

Yeah, that was strange. I'm not sure if he was trying to do something that didn't really work, or if there's still bitterness in him and this was his chance to really let it go. Most superstar athletes hide the underlying anger a little better.

I don't think the fact that he was told NO so much explains everything. I mean, Stockton is a short white guy. I'm sure that's all he ever heard.

posted by justgary at 07:08 PM on September 12, 2009

Greatest. Basketball. Player. Ever!

Debatable. The man who presented him wasn't too shabby.

Yeah, I happened to catch most of John Stockton's speech and was impressed with how genuinely gracious and down to earth he seems. He spoke individually about each of his children and pointed out each one's strongest personality characteristic and what they bring to the family.

Exactly.

It's just sad (or maybe ridiculous is a better word) that a person who accomplished all that Jordan did in basketball can't figure out (or at least fake) the "gracious" thing.

That says it all.

We all expected better... Michael, your excursions into golf and baseball
exposed you for what you really are, that being a human being. Sorry you didn't notice.

He was great on the floor. He ain't much off it. And I hate sayin' that.

posted by mjkredliner at 10:45 PM on September 12, 2009

I don't care about this. I still like Mike. I have seen him in hundreds of McDonald's trick shot commercials with Larry Bird and underwear commercials. My belief in his likability cannot be shaken. He brought us the no-tag undershirt, for God's sake. Show some respect.

I also use his flu game as inspiration to play through any illness.

posted by rcade at 11:19 AM on September 13, 2009

Who isn't too good for Charlie "Disease Ridden" Sheen?

posted by apoch at 11:44 AM on September 13, 2009

Debatable. The man who presented him wasn't too shabby.

Nothing to debate, the man is arguably the greatest to ever play the game, "gracious" HoF speech or not.

Who the hell really cares what MJ said in his speech? At least he didn't put up a front and attempt to be something he's not. There were 4 other great people that were inducted into the HoF but in all actuality, this was his night and he let it be known that he wanted to thank all of his non-believers for giving him the motivation to become great.

During his playing days he had people that hated him for being so damn good and even being inducted into the Hall, it seems there still are people that hate him for being great.

And his shoe line sucks.

Is that why after 20-odd years, MJ's shoe line is still bringing in millions of dollars and still one of the more popular sneakers availiable? Isn't that an ad for Air Jordans at the top right of this page as well? Interesting.

posted by BornIcon at 03:38 PM on September 13, 2009

Say his name and I simply think great basketball player.

So you agree that he's a great basketball player, I just happen to think that he's the greatest player to ever lace up a pair of sneakers.

Of course I put arguably in my second sentence but not because I think there's a debate, simply because people will argue who they believe is the greatest. Some will say Chamberlain, others will say Russell or Magic or Bird and the list goes on but IMO, there's only one man that deserves that title and that's Michael Jordan. I never saw Chamberlain or Russell play and I only saw Bird and Magic play towards the ends of their respective careers. Jordan on the otherhand, I can remember watching, pretty much his entire career and saw him win all of his 6 championships. Hell, I even remember his 1st retirement and playing baseball for the Chicago White Sox minor league team, the Birmingham Barons. I never saw Babe Ruth play but he's considered to be the greatest baseball player to ever play the game but that's another story.

I know you tend to give every athlete the benefit of the doubt

You say that like it's a bad thing. Everyone deserves the benefit of the doubt regardless if that person is an athlete or not since no one is perfect and we all make mistakes, we just don't make those mistakes with the world watching to scrutinize our every move.

...you really should rethink your premise that everyone that criticizes an athlete is hating on him.

I never said everyone, I said "it seems there still are people that hate him for being great". Nothing wrong with a little criticism but when people throw out words like: douchebag, obnoxious, dick or how about mixing it up with pompous douchebag to describe the guy, what would you call it?

If not hate, then why not go with the obvious: "I always hated, but respected, Michael Jordan during his playing days..."

posted by BornIcon at 05:22 PM on September 13, 2009

Some will say Chamberlain, others will say Russell or Magic or Bird and the list goes on but IMO, there's only one man that deserves that title and that's Michael Jordan.

I feel exactly the same way. Whether you like him or not, the man absolutely changed the game. People say no one can be bigger than the game, but guess what.......MJ pulled it off......bigger than the game. People actually watched the game based on whether or not he was playing. Look at the ratings for his comebacks.

As far as his comments, who cares? I never knew him not to be arrogant and cocky. That's how I want to remember him. That's part of what I loved about him. It's his "I'm Michael Jordan and Your Not" attitude that makes him sort of special.

posted by kcfan4life at 05:43 PM on September 13, 2009

True. He's a jerk. That's how he acted, that's how he came across

And that doesn't take away from him being the greatest basketball player to ever play the game. Sometimes to be great, you have to make sacrifices. That reminds me of a quote made by Rosalynn Carter, "A leader takes people where they want to go. A great leader takes people where they don't necessarily want to go, but ought to be"

that's not hating...He hasn't made this big an ass of himself since he pretended he could play baseball

You're first observation wasn't hating but you're second sentence is absurd. The only thing MJ pretended when he was playing was to pretend that those other teams he murdered in the playoffs actually had a chance.

posted by BornIcon at 07:34 AM on September 14, 2009

My bad, yes I did. Recieved some bad news over the weekend and was trying to keep my mind off things by talking sports and misread that. My apologies.

posted by BornIcon at 09:47 AM on September 14, 2009

And that doesn't take away from him being the greatest basketball player to ever play the game.

Once again, who is arguing that point? Not me. It's just disappointing being a great basketball player doesn't translate into showing some class on what was supposed to be one of the biggest, most memorable (for the right reasons) nights in his professional career.

Why do I get the idea Kanye West is running around sporting a Michael Jordan jersey today?

posted by dyams at 07:11 PM on September 14, 2009

Ever read the book 'The Jordan Rules' by Sam Smith? That makes his speech sound pretty tame IMO.

A book is where classless bullshit like what he spewed for much of his speech belongs, not on the podium when he's being inducted to the Hall of Fame.

Jordan needs to step back and realize he's an aging ex-athlete now. Bringing "competitiveness" to a speech doesn't get too many people pumped except individuals clinging to his past exploits, like Jordan continues to do himself.

posted by dyams at 10:27 PM on September 14, 2009

So Jordan didn't meet your expectations of class. So what. I doubt this will be the last time we are disappointed by an athlete. Do fans need some sort of confirmation that the guy they have been cheering for for years is a "good guy"?

I never understand this kind of response when an athlete is the butt of criticism. It assumes that our relationship with a star athlete is entirely emotional and stems from own needs, as if we're all looking for the superstar athlete who will complete us.¹

I don't need Jordan to be a heel or a hero. I reacted to his speech because it was interesting to watch him break the Hall of Fame score-settling record and I can't fathom what the hell he was thinking. I'm neither disappointed nor elated at his actions.

^{1. Katarina Witt completed me during the 1984 Winter Olympics.}

posted by rcade at 11:55 PM on September 14, 2009

A book is where classless bullshit like what he spewed for much of his speech belongs, not on the podium when he's being inducted to the Hall of Fame

That wasn't the point that I was making. The book 'The Jordan Rules' was written around the 1992 season and shows a candid view of how Michael Jordan is as a person and was during his playing days. For people to make a big deal out of Jordan's HoF speech, maybe they need to go pick up a copy of that book so they can see an in-depth look at the real Michael Jordan and then tell me what they thought about the speech.

Bringing "competitiveness" to a speech doesn't get too many people pumped except individuals clinging to his past exploits, like Jordan continues to do himself.

Jordan went off the cuff, he had no prepared speech so he just spoke his mind. He spoke about how winning all those titles, Scottie Pippen was always there. How as a kid, he was born into a competitive family and had to deal with not only his older brothers but also his younger sister on a competitive level. He also went on to explain why he was so competitive as a person and a player which is more than what we expected to hear. As Jordan said at the start of his "speech", 'what don't we know about Michael Jordan?'.

This wasn't the ol' tried and true, let-me-pretend-to-be-something-im-not-type of Hall of Fame speech. This was the Michael Jordan that I remember reading about in the book 'The Jordan Rules' and he explained thoroughly as to why he was so cut throat when he was at the top of his game.

posted by BornIcon at 08:08 AM on September 15, 2009

For those arguing about whether or not he is the greatest ever, in an espn interview earlier the same day he was inducted, he said that such a comment was unfair & potentially disrespectful to guys like Wilt & a couple others b/c Jordan never had the chance to play against him.

I know this doesn't prove anything by itself; just some food for thought.

posted by brainofdtrain at 09:25 PM on September 15, 2009

Babe Ruth never had an at-bat against Nolan Ryan but Ruth is still considered the greatest baseball player of all time

Huh? Not even the greatest Yankee, as far as I'm concerned.

posted by tommybiden at 11:44 AM on September 16, 2009

Mickey Rivers

posted by BornIcon at 03:42 PM on September 16, 2009