Anything Fun

Various athletes, in a selection of sports are typically called exceptional. Of these athletes, only a tiny number rightly satisfy that tag, and when talking about real greats, most fall firmly into one of two unique categories.

Firstly, and easiest to understand are the stat demons, players whose total stats, whatever the game, call for instant recognition. Examples of this are Wilt Chamberlain and his phenomenal points per game stats, Bill Russell’s title rings tally, Walter Payton’s running yardage, Gretzky’s points tally, and so on.

The second faction is that of indescribable leadership, Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, John Elway. I am positive you boys know where I’m coming from here and may all name countless numbers of the guy who you believe is someone fitting of this category.

Michael Jordan is one of the only players, in any sport who is both, and yet he is more. He holds numerous records, statistics that make all conversation and evaluation pale into irrelevance. He additionally, by his governance, his will to win, his resolve to overcome the odds, sickness, injury and the opposition, lifted lesser teams to heights outside their limit.

He took a rock bottom team and made it one of the finest franchises in basketball. He took a diminutive middle-of-the-road sneaker corporation and made it the world’s most popular. He took a sport-with the help of Johnson and Larry Bird-that wasn’t even live on television for the Title and made it the highest watched of all US sports. He changed the game, he was the game.

You just KNOW you will see kids in his sneakers, kids with the baggy shorts he brought to popular culture, tongues hanging, sweatbands worn just below the elbow, supports on the left calf. Every court you look at, even currently, you see kids who never saw him play, in spite of this, trying to be just like Mike.