Michael Jordan

Air Jordan's (sportsmonarch.com)

Have you ever had someone inspire you so much that you would call them your hero? That person can be anyone in the world. It can be family, common people, actors, or even professional athletes. Michael Jordan is a hero because he inspires people to do the impossible, and to dream big through basketball. Through his determination and integrity to win he became one of the greatest basketball players of all time.

Slam Dunk (ducksters.com)

He did not start off as the best player. In fact, he was not always on a team. Michael Jordan was born February 17, 1963 in Brooklyn, New York. He always dreamed of being the best basketball player that he could be. When Michael Jordan was younger he tried out for the Varsity basketball team for his High School but did not make the cut. That made him willing to try harder to get what he wanted. He practiced and put in more work than others and had extraordinary determination to be the best player. At this time he began to stick his tongue out when shooting. He said he began playing with his tongue sticking out because he watched his father stick out his tongue when he concentrated on an important task. When he finally made it to the NBA (The National Basketball Association) his signature look was sticking out his tongue when concentrating on any shot.

Jordan (allfamouspeople.com)

John Edgar Wideman wrote, "Perhaps MJ is proof there are no rules about race, no limits to what a black man can accomplish in our society." (Aldridge, Marion. "Jordan, Michael (1963-)." American Decades 1990-1999. Ed. McConnell) In one of the most famous NBA championships, Michael Jordan played with a stomach virus. Because of his determination and willingness to do his best he almost single-handedly won the game for the Chicago Bulls. His team won their fifth NBA Championship that year. He also became the tenth NBA player to score 25,000 career points and was awarded six MVP awards. Michael Jordan was also known as an all around nice guy. He is a hero and sports icon due to his morals, courage, poise and charisma.

superman (nicekicks.com)

Michael Jordan set the standard for the impossible. He has earned a special place in spectators' hearts and basketball history for his spectacular style of play and athletic creativity. Michael Jordan is able to stay airborne, four feet in the air, for an impossible amount of time to make the perfect shot. When Jordan came out with his own shoes “Air Jordan’s”, the name fit perfectly because of his ability. Teammates and fans started calling him “Superman” and “last shot” for his ability to do the seemingly impossible.

space jam (cyber-cinema.com)

He could make the impossible seem easy to all that watched. He not only played well on the court but he showed a great amount of sportsmanship to all teams he played with or against. Jack McCallum wrote, "no one in history has played the game of basketball as spectacularly well as Michael Jordan. Game after game, year after year, the man was better than his hype. And that is his most enduring accomplishment." ("Jordan, Michael (1963-)." DISCovering U.S. History. Online ed) Many state that Michael Jordan has set the standard not only for skill but with heart and character. Michael Jordan wanted others to be able to achieve their goals and dreams. To help them accomplish this he gave back to the world of basketball and started the Michael Jordan Foundation with the Boys and Girls Club. He is not only a basketball player with many awards but he crossed over into playing in movies (Space Jam) and professional baseball. Michael Jordan’s integrity has helped him touch many people’s hearts and minds. Integrity in the game as well as in life is an important aspect of Michael Jordan’s character.