On Michael Jordan: "It's not enough for him to beat you. He wants you dead."(sports.espn.go.com)
sports.espn.go.com
On Michael Jordan: "It's not enough for him to beat you. He wants you dead."
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=reilly_rick&id=4477759
13 comments
I remember that even when Jordan was making a $ million a week from advertising alone, he'd stay after practice and do that turn around jump shot for two hours, like he was some raggedy-ass kid who was going to wind up bagging groceries if he didn't make the team.
He did that because he wanted to be, and was the best in the world at what he did.
Spot on, but at this point it borders on a personality disorder. He was genetically fit for his job in both the way his mind was wired and his physicality.
Oddly enough, all my coworkers and I felt it was one of the most heartfelt and funniest Basketball HoF acceptance speeches we'd heard in awhile. And, by the laughter, I think Charles Barkley would have to agree.
Anyone who knows anything about Jordan knew he was competitive. The speech matched his personality perfectly.
Anyone who knows anything about Jordan knew he was competitive. The speech matched his personality perfectly.
This was a terribly written article. In an article about Jordan's acceptance speech there was only one quote that I can find. This one (directed at his family)...
"I wouldn't want to be you guys if I had to," he said as they squirmed in their seats.
Other than that, nothing. Was he just playfully ribbing people? Was he outright insulting them? I have no idea after reading this article.
(For the record I wouldn't be surprised if Jordan is a prick, many great people are coughSteveJobscough)
"I wouldn't want to be you guys if I had to," he said as they squirmed in their seats.
Other than that, nothing. Was he just playfully ribbing people? Was he outright insulting them? I have no idea after reading this article.
(For the record I wouldn't be surprised if Jordan is a prick, many great people are coughSteveJobscough)
You can find the speech on YouTube. I watched about half, and thought it was nowhere near what was characterized in this column.
The media had nothing else to write about . . . they decide to make it into a "Jordan is still bitter and disrespectful" show. If you've been competitive in any sport, you recognize how Jordan worked, What made him tick. So he used anything slightly negative as a motivator. If you listened to the beginning of the speech, he was walking us through things we never knew about him.
It came off as funny and heartfelt and it sounded like people were laughing and smiling from the camera views of the audience. I can only see having this impression of Jordan if someone didn't watch the video all the way through or only listened to sound bites. The story reads like Rick is still holding a grudge against Jordan from denying his second comeback.
The videos of the speech I found on YouTube seem to be edited and missing some of the quotes mentioned in the article.
You can see the full speech (approx. 23 minutes long) here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/15/michael-jordan-hall...
You can see the full speech (approx. 23 minutes long) here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/09/15/michael-jordan-hall...
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Balderdash. Watch the speech. This article is pure nonsense.
terrible article from a terrible writer.