Jordan Becomes Most Deserving Hall of Famer Ever

CLEVELAND - Nothing is ever a sure thing in sports. Too many variables, too much adrenaline and too many hungry competitors fighting for the same thing.

On second thought, there was one sure thing in sports; Michael Jordan becoming a member of the Hall of Fame.

As I mentioned in February, Jordan was a finalist for sport's highest honor. Today, he was officially elected as a unanimous, first-ballot member into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame along with John Stockton, David Robinson, Jerry Sloan and C. Vivian Stringer. Jordan however, is the clear-cut headliner after an NBA career that played out almost as a fairy tale.

Jordan, 46 gave much credit to his former coach at the University of North Carolina. "Without Dean Smith, you never would have seen Michael Jordan," he said at the announcement of his highly expected election. The official induction takes place in September.

The basketball icon was far more than a giant in his sport. He transcended the very nature, popularity and competitiveness of athletics and became the embodiment of insatiable drive times an uncompromising work ethic equals gargantuan brilliance.

Congratulations, MJ.