As Michael Jordan Turns 50, I Reflect On What He Has Meant to Me

CLEVELAND - With today marking the 50th birthday of the great Michael Jordan, I could not help but reflect on the stunning excellence of his historic sports career and how watching him for many years forever affected my life. I also marvel at his continuing popularity, enormous, looming presence in today's NBA and the audacity of fans and media members, who seem over-eager to place LeBron James and Kobe Bryant anywhere near MJ's orbit of achievement and impact.

Wow!

For a decade, I allowed Chicago Bulls basketball games to become a sacred event for me, all because of Jordan. Whenever the Bulls played, I either watched on television or went to extensive lengths to try and pick up WMAQ on my radio. That was the Chicago radio station that aired Bulls games, and the quality of the radio reception was mostly awful, given the fact that it was a local broadcast and I lived some 350 miles from the Windy City. It didn't matter, though. Any faint sound I could hear of the action on the court was heaven for me. Neil Funk, who called the games, was always a delight to listen to as he described Jordan on offense.

"Michael with the dribble...wheels into the lane, dumps off to Scottie...Pip, throws back into Michael. MJ with three on the shot clock...hangs, falls, fires....SCORES!" Oh my! Michael with 40!"

Watching Jordan perform his artistry on television was even more breathtaking. I would always pump my fist whenever he made a basket, whether it be a 20-foot jumper, a post-up fadeaway J, or a spectacular, reverse layup in traffic. Jordan was not only the premier entertainment draw in the game, he was also a vicious assassin with a relentless level of focus, drive and killer instinct. His poetic style of play ran contrary to what the man was actually made of, which actually carried him to the stunning heights that he reached.

I remember vividly just how nervous I was whenever a Bulls game would get close in the final minutes, or if they were far behind their opponent. I would feel sick to my stomach because I always wanted Jordan to succeed and win. Thankfully, I didn't become aware of him until 1990, just a year prior to when he and the Bulls began their championship dominance. When he won his first title in 1991, I cried along with him and even got sick from the high emotional I felt for his most coveted accomplishment.

When he retired (for the first of three times) that awful day in October 1993, I was absolutely miserable. People came up to my locker at school and offered their support because they knew how strongly I felt for him. I avoided phone calls for days from my best friend because the moment was too painful. But when he suddenly returned to the game in March 1995, I was king of happy smiles! Let's be honest, everyone was a Jordan fan, but I was the one that went above and beyond and became obsessive about him.

I figured out a way to make small Air Jordan shoes out of paper and wore them as a necklace!

I will never forget the 1997-98 NBA season; Jordan's final one in Chicago. I was blessed with the opportunity to see him play in person for the first and only time ever. It was November 11, 1997 and the Bulls came to Gund Arena to play the Cleveland Cavs. I was totally blown away when I saw Jordan run onto the court from the locker room with his teammates right before game time. At the time, MJ was 34 years of age and was almost the only thing keeping the Bulls afloat in the early season. Scottie Pippen would be out injured until January '98 and Chicago struggled mightily in his absence.

They wound up losing this game in a rout, 101-80 with Michael getting a pedestrian 19 points in defeat. It was fascinating watching him in real life, real time without the sound of television announcers. On one play, Jordan caught a quick pass from Bulls center Luc Longley, drove down the lane and layed the ball in the basket dramatically. On another play, he went down the lane and dunked, and the entire arena oooh and ahhed.

As MJ neared the end of his reign in Chicago, I began developing a stronger appreciation for the man and what he ultimately stood for. People can say anything they want about him; call him arrogant, an asshole, egotistical, petty, cheap...compulsive. Whatever. All I know is, he is a sterling example of astounding determination and will, and those are the attributes that got him to where he is now. A man without action (and ego) will never fail enough to succeed repeatedly.

Salute Jordan.

I will also never forget how Michael ended his Bulls career, June 14, 1998 in Game 6 of the NBA Finals vs Utah. I was watching the nail biter game with my best friend at a sports bar and when MJ's legendary, final moment began to unfold (Jordan had just stolen the ball from Jazz star Karl Malone with Chicago down by a point), my friend lowered his head and said, "I KNOW [he's going to] make this shot."

Sure enough, MJ knocked in the championship winning basket with 5.2 seconds left and posed for posterity after the ball went through the net to give the Bulls a one point lead that held up. I could not have been more ecstatic than I was at that moment, arguably his crowning achievement on the court.

When Michael retired a second time in 1999, I was once again covered in tears and couldn't contain my constant sobbing. It may seem crazy, but I truly had an emotional connection to this man for a number of years. I was invested in him and his successes, which always made my days better. I was on the fence about him coming back in late 2001 to play for the horrific Washington Wizards. On the one hand, I was overjoyed at getting to see him play again after over 3 years away. On the flip side, I knew he was close to 39 years old and that is an age in pro hoops that may as well be 80 in the regular world. During his frustrating, two season stint as a member of the Wizards, MJ exhibited many moments of marvel, especially for a man inching towards and beyond 40 years of age. Mostly, his tenure in Washington was critically panned as Jordan faltered on things that he used to dominate in. Nonetheless, I knew that Michael showed something amazing in coming to such a lowly team; a willingness to put himself in a possible path of failure because effort is its own reward.

To me, he succeeded even as the Wizards failed.

When he retired for the final time, April 16, 2003, I was more at peace with his exit, though I still cried and cried. It was a depressing moment, but I was so grateful for having witnessed this remarkable man perform his special brand of magic night in and night out.

In the decade since Jordan's last NBA game, an entirely new crop of basketball megastars have evolved and made the league their own. From Bryant and James, to Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony, today's stars are awesome in their own right. But none of them will ever measure up to the seismic impact, cultural significance and unbelievable drive that was authored by and defined Michael Jordan.

Happy birthday, MJ, and many more to come. God bless you!

20 Years Ago Today: Jordan Was 'Star 69' Against Cavs

CLEVELAND - For all of his wondrous scoring feats over the years, Michael Jordan seemed to always save his best for the Cleveland Cavs. 20 years ago today, he unleashed his very best on them.

And it was no surprise.

Jordan was "in the zone" that night at the now-defunct Richfield Coliseum in Ohio. Just 27 years old at the time, his ethereal basketball talents were on full display as he registered career-highs with 69 points and 18 rebounds. His brilliance was second to none as he repeatedly hit pull-up jumpers and attacked the basket with searing impunity. For good measure, he dished off 6 assists and had 4 steals.

And his Chicago Bulls won, 117-113 in overtime.

MJ's ire had been drawn after he was fouled hard by the Cavs' John "Hot Rod" Williams in the first quarter. That is when Cleveland fans cheered the nasty takedown of Jordan, to which he took exception because he could have been seriously hurt. He responded by netting 31 points by halftime and continued to dominate all over the court as the game progressed. With the Cavs and Bulls being not only Eastern Conference rivals, but also Central Division ones, the game had added significance.

The phenomenal outburst was anything but a surprise given the fact that Jordan was always extra special when facing the Cavs. He led the Bulls to playoff series victories over them in both 1988 and 1989 and the '89 defeat featured the legendary "The Shot" game, which took place just 10 months prior to the 69-point game. Furthermore, Michael laid a giant 54-point statement on the Cavs to open the 1989-90 season and had several more high-scoring games against them leading up to 69. Add all that up, and it was anything but surprising that he did what he did on March 28, 1990.

He was in his prime, but still in his pre-championship days that season. But Jordan was always a marvel to behold and that game will forever stand as perhaps his grandest statement as an individual juggernaut.

Long live Air Jordan.

Jordan Turns 47 Still Full Of Drive and Confidence

CLEVELAND - Basketball icon Michael Jordan celebrates his 47th birthday today in the midst of relentlessly trying to purchase an NBA team. This is par for the course when it comes to being a man with an incomparable drive and insatiable will to win.

Happy Birthday, MJ.

Looking back at Jordan's searing, yet brutally honest Hall of Fame speech five months ago, it becomes very obvious that he remains the ultimate competitor. All of the elements that made him a basketball genius were on full display that night and with his current goal of trying to buy the Charlotte Bobcats from owner Bob Johnson, he continues to use his remarkable self-confidence to bend the world in his favor.

I love it.

Last Saturday, Michael's venerable Air Jordan basketball sneakers celebrated their 25th anniversary. Though he was just an NBA rookie with the Chicago Bulls when they debuted in 1985, the footwear helped catapult him to the forefront of American pop culture. Even now, a quarter century later, they remain a major identifier and symbol of MJ's superlative excellence in hoops. Given the fact that he's 7 years removed from playing and 11 years removed from his last NBA championship, that is an awesome accomplishment.

Happy Birthday, Michael.

The Air Jordan Legacy: Epic and Unprecedented

CLEVELAND - With the 25th anniversary edition of the Air Jordan basketball shoe hitting store shelves yesterday, I figured this is the perfect time to reflect on its legacy. The peerless footwear have emphatically and dramatically carved out a gigantic place in pop culture history, thanks in no small part to its namesake.

Michael Jordan.

I continue to marvel at the mega sensational popularity that the sneakers have enjoyed for decades. In their prime, the Air Jordan was a major force of fashion that its potential owners just had to have. They debuted in the Spring of 1985, just months into Jordan's rookie season in the NBA and days prior to his 22nd birthday. From the start, the red and black kicks created a commotion. Due to their color scheme, the NBA banned them for not having enough white in them. Jordan, who was garnering constant headlines of praise for his brilliant and stylish play on the basketball court defiantly continued wearing the shoes in games. The NBA fined him, and Nike Inc. gladly paid the $5000 per game fine since the controversy gave the epochal footwear oodles of priceless publicity that resulted in a huge spark in public interest and sales.

The Air Jordan was the first sneaker to successfully become a major fashion accessory. Until the release of the first shoe, sneakers were regarded as an afterthought; something worn leisurely or to perform chores in. The look of the shoe didn't matter as much as its comfort. Even as NBA superstars Larry Bird, Dr. J and Magic Johnson starred in ads for Converse in the early 1980's, athletic shoes continued having a low profile. By 1990, the Air Jordan was a certified icon which matched Michael himself, who by then had been the most dominant and dazzling hoopster in the game for six seasons.

This is when I became fascinated by the shoes.

In 1988, 25-year old Michael Jordan won his 2nd straight NBA Slam Dunk title. His quickness, creativity and phenomenal skills gave him an even higher profile and popularity than he already had. This resulted in higher sales of the high-priced sneakers and augmented their reputation. The Air Jordan III introduced visible air, colloquially known to urban America as "air pockets." The shoes also featured a new Jordan logo to replace the initial basketball-sprouting-wings insignia. The new design was simple yet dramatic; a silhouette of MJ jumping into the air, legs spread and his left arm extended with a basketball in his hand.

The golden age of Air Jordan was 1988 to 1998. During that time, Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to 6 NBA championships and he personally won NBA Finals MVP all six times. He also won 9 of his record 10 NBA scoring championships and became an international icon. The Air Jordan IV was famously given a scene in the 1989 Spike Lee film, Do the Right Thing and the design of the Air Jordan V was inspired by the "bat boot" in Batman.

It remains an indelible memory of mine watching dozens of guys (and girls) discuss the "new Jordans" back in junior high-school and high-school. Guys used to deal drugs just to be able to afford the controversial and outlandish price tag of the shoes. They'd cut school or come late just to be at the mall to drop $125 for the "new J's" as they were popularly called. I wanted a pair so bad, but my mother couldn't afford them. Even still, I found ways to get a few pair...legally, and I always felt awesome wearing them which remains true to this day. That was an interesting quality of the shoes: they had the power to boost a person's morale or self confidence...and they were always gawked at and fawned over. People wanted to know what the bottom of the shoes looked like! That's mostly because of the 1990 edition, which featured a clear rubber outsole with the ubiquitous Air Jordan logo encased inside, which acted as sort of a window. Will Smith famously wore that edition in the opening credits of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" and throughout the series' first season. He also wore ensuing editions of Jordans as the show progressed.

Nike revolutionized the athletic footwear industry in a way that its rivals could not. Because of their ingenious advertising strategies coupled with Michael's stunning accomplishments in pro basketball, the Air Jordan possessed an awesome aura. The shoes had style and personality. They were brash and intimidating. They were mythical and elite. Since Michael wore them all the time, they became co-stars in all of his historic sports moments. "The Shot" in 1989 over the Cavs' Craig Ehlo featured Jordan knocking in a double-pump jumper at the buzzer, but on his feet are the black and gray Air Jordan IV. He's wearing the Air Jordan V 10 months later in the same building against the same team when he flew for a career best 69 points and 18 rebounds.

It's the Air Jordan VI that MJ rocked while leading the Bulls to their 1st NBA title in 1991. In the 1992 U.S. Summer Olympics, Jordan sported a special edition, white, red, blue and gold version of the Air Jordan VII. It was during his comeback from a brief retirement in 1995 that Michael first unveiled the instantly fawned over Air Jordan XI six months before their official release. That model was a simple, white sneaker trimmed in black patent leather. Nearly 15 years later, that edition is considered to be the best ever installment. When the Bulls capped off their historic 72-10 season with their 4th NBA title of the decade in 1996, Jordan collapsed to the floor of the United Center in unbridled jubilation, mobbed by teammate Randy Brown and clutching the historic basketball. Very prominent in the scene is the snazzy black with polished black patent leather Air Jordan XI's with a clean white and red midsole on his feet.

They look...beautiful!

The Air Jordan XII was on Michael's feet a year later during the famous "flu game" on June 11, 1997. A year after that, Michael sported a pair of J's from the future when he knocked down the title winning jumper over Utah's Byron Russell. From the future in this case means he was wearing the Air Jordan XIV a year early, possibly because he knew he'd never get to wear them in an actual game due to his expected retirement. Indeed, Michael hit the winning shot in those 1999 edition shoes, then retired before the start of the lockout-shortened '98-'99 season.

Jordan's immense popularity and the financial windfall it created for both he and Nike was enough to convince the athletic footwear company to give MJ his own division. In 1997, the Jordan Brand debuted and made its presence even more prominent in the NBA and other sports. Its signature sneaker remained the Air Jordan and admittedly, the designed and popularity of them waned as the 2000's commenced. I attribute much of that to Jordan's absence from the court and mostly to a major drop off in "sexy design." Early on, the Jordan's had a very edgy and stylish aesthetic. In the past decade, they have flopped consistently in the design department even as their inner technology has become more sophisticated.

Even when Michael returned to the league in the autumn of 2001, the shoes appeared uninspired and washed up. The Air Jordan XVII debuted in February 2002 in all white and trimmed in blue and black. They were based on the team colors of the lowly Washington Wizards, whom MJ returned to play for. They also came in an aluminum brief case and retailed for an astounding $200. The 20th edition, released in 2005 seemed to "try too hard" and it ended up being a laugher. I actually liked the XXI's and XXII's and I even own a pair of each. They both amaze me at the ambitious and intricate craftsmanship that they possess. I wanted a pair of the XX3's, but I never got them. They wound up being the final, numbered pair of Air Jordan's since "23" was his uniform number. Beginning with the 24th edition in 2009, the iconic sneakers would be identified by year. The '09's were by far the worst edition in history and looked nothing like an Air Jordan shoe.

Now the 2010 model.

From the beginning, I loved the look of the 2010 Air Jordan. I even had to drive 100 miles round trip to get mine yesterday because nowhere local had any in stock. Michael and his team have decided to use a current NBA star to wear the shoe in games just as Michael himself would do if he were still playing. Currently, Miami Heat star guard Dwyane Wade is the designated "wearer." Jordan, who turns 47 this week remains closely involved with the shoe's design and development and continues to embody greatness, even a dozen years removed from his last championship.

Over 25 amazing years, the Air Jordan has personified elegance and ambition in the subtlest of ways. They long ago became a cultural phenomenon, which is just one more touchstone of Michael Jordan's legend that will never go away as long as people continue to have feet.

And I'll always treasure them.

Jordan Was Royalty For America's Urban Youth

CLEVELAND - With Michael Jordan being selected for induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame a couple days ago, it made me reflect on his gigantic impact on the urban area that I grew up in and the colossal dreams he inspired.

He was the ultimate role-model.

In my early years, I cared nothing about sports. My friends and other neighborhood peers were always playing basketball, baseball and football, but not me. I had more important things to care about. It was very odd though, that I noticed a growing "sports" trend while I was a third grader in 1985.

Many of my fellow eight and nine year old (boys) would take a piece of paper, crumple it into a ball and toss it at a wastebasket. If the paper ball made it into the basket, the kid would punctuate it by shouting, "Jordan!" I didn't know who this Jordan guy was, but of course, I later found out. 

It wasn't until I attended middle school (1989-90) that I finally fell in love with the basketball god that every other boy was already enamored with. I was in the middle of my 7th grade year in the Spring of 1990 and I noticed another growing trend; countless Chicago Bulls starter jackets and a litany of Air Jordan basketball shoes on the feet of dozens of students.

According to the chatter, you were something special if you had a pair of the vaunted, mega high-priced footwear. I took an interest in the unique and sleek design of the shoe and eventually asked other guys about them. Most people were still wearing the Air Jordan IV, which had initially been released in the fall of 1988, but spawned a few different colorways throughout 1989. Since I was just getting hip to the shoes in early '90, a new edition was about to hit stores.

I hated them at first!

The latest pair of "Jordans" were released with an ever bigger than usual price tag; $125. This was such a steep price for my mother to digest, that I didn't think I'd ever get a pair of the shoes that I just had to have. Good thing I didn't like them -- I wanted the '88-'89 edition, which were now being sold for some thirty-five bucks less. I ended up with the white, red and black AJIV, and I treated them like a newborn baby!

I eventually fell in love with the Air Jordan V which led to me falling in love with Jordan himself, then basketball (which I started watching on TV and learned how to play solely because of him) and finally, a fan of the NBA period. When I couldn't afford the shoes, I began making three-dimensional replicas of them out of paper and wore them as necklaces. This became my calling card in Junior High and High School, and even now --nearly 20 years later, folks still ask me if I still make them!

Another popular trend for the hood boys was to skip school on the day a new pair of Air Jordans were released (this resulted in a change to weekend-only releases years later). This was often done by the adolescent drug dealers who happened to think spending $133.75 (the exact price with tax) three or four times a year was chump change for a brand new pair of the super popular J's. Anytime someone in school or in the neighborhood had on a pair of the latest edition or colorway, we all scrambled to get a glimpse and or give our critique of them.

"Dem bitches look hard! I'ma get 'dem tomorrow!!"

Jordan's mythical popularity found its way into television and film too. In the 1986 film, She's Gotta Have It, the film's writer, director and co-star Spike Lee outfitted his character Mars Blackmon with a pair of the very first Jordans, the Air Jordan I which caused heavy fines to be levied against the Bulls superstar, but was paid by the sneaker's creators Nike Inc.

Then, in Lee's 1988 film School Daze, the Air Jordan III (the first with the visible Air, and colloquially known as the "air pocket") made an appearance. But the Air Jordan IV got an entire scene dedicated to it in the seminal Lee flick, 1989's Do the Right Thing. That film, set in the Bed-Stuy area of Brooklyn, N.Y. completely reflects the obsession and love-affair that young black men had with their own pair of Jordan's basketball shoes.

Other key examples of MJ's unmatched aura was illustrated subtly by actor Will Smith during the first several seasons of his television series, The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. Smith, 22 at the time famously sports a pair of the Air Jordan V's in the opening credits of the series. He also wore all three original colorways during season one and religiously rocked every subsequent new edition in following seasons. Smith's real-life admiration for Jordan was revealed at the 2005 BET awards, when the Academy Award-nominated actor (who hosted the program with his wife) acknowledged as much during a short shout-out to MJ, who was present in the audience with BET founder Robert L. Johnson. Smith's gesture earned a smiling Jordan a standing ovation.

Malcolm Jamal-Warner's Theo Huxtable sported a pair of the Air Jordan II's during a couple episodes of the 1986-87 season of The Cosby Show. Kadeem Hardison's Dwayne Wayne, a geek in every other way on TV's A Different World, was ultra cool when it came to his shoe game; he was a diligent wearer of the Air Jordans as was his buddy Ron.

Michael Jordan's remarkable brilliance, style and confidence undoubtedly contributed mightily to the popularity of his eponymous sneakers. He endeared himself to us kids in "the 'hood" because he seemed to be just another one of us -- a young, black kid that simply liked to hoop. It was in fact how he started. The fact that he grew into an international, multi-billion dollar basketball immortal was well, just the residue of his superior work ethic and determination.

Beyond the stats, skills and awards, Jordan's seismic impact on America's culture is the true measure of his legacy.

He IS the Hall of Fame.

Big Surprise: Jordan Among Hall of Fame Finalists

CLEVELAND - Michael Jordan's professional basketball career was so legendary and remarkable, that nearly 11 years after he last won a championship and six years since he actually played a pro game...his impact, image and name continues to manifest themselves in today's NBA as if he were a current player.

Not surprising.

Jordan, 46 next week was selected today by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame as one of 16 finalists for possible enshrinement into the vaunted Hall of Fame. Former point guard extraordinaire John Stockton and super center David Robinson were also a part of the elite group as were former stars Chris Mullin, Dennis Johnson and Bernard King. NBA coaches Jerry Sloan and Don Nelson and Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer also made the list out of 164 nominees.

But Jordan is the obvious headliner.

The basketball icon had an historic career with the Chicago Bulls from 1984 until his sudden retirement three and a half months after leading the team to their 3rd consecutive championship in the 1993 NBA Finals. He then returned in 1995 and spearheaded three more NBA titles in 1996, '97 and '98. When the NBA lockout ended in January 1999, he retired once more until an even more stunning return in late 2001 with the lowly Washington Wizards. After two tumultuous seasons, MJ retired for good in April 2003.

Jordan's glittering resume makes him a master lock for enshrinement later this year. He amassed a league record 10 scoring titles to go with 10 All-NBA First Team Selections, 9 All-Defensive First Team Selections, 6 NBA championships, 6 NBA Finals MVP's, 5 NBA MVP awards, 3 Steals Titles, 2 U.S. Olympic Gold Medals, was the 1985 NBA Rookie of the Year and helped lead the UNC Tarheels to the 1982 NCAA championship. He also has the highest scoring average in NBA history (30.1 ppg in 1,072 games) and in NBA Playoff History.

The election announcement will be made on April 6 and the official enshrinement will take place in September at the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Mass.

Talk about a sure thing.