Michael Jordan

http://www.midwestsportsfans.com/2012/02/on-michael-jordans-birthday-a-celebration-of-his-legacy-greatest-moments-and-the-best-mj-mix-tape-ever/ (Midwest Sports Fans)

Only from failing and learning from his mistakes did Michael Jordan become a world-famous basketball star. Spending his childhood in North Carolina, Jordan grew up to be one of the most well-known athletes to ever live. Drafted by the Chicago Bulls in 1983, Jordan went on from a successful college career to succeed from there in the National Basketball Association, winning six NBA Championships and 5 MVP awards. In his life, Jordan displayed three main characteristics: hard-work, mental strength, and self-confidence. On and off of the basketball court, Jordan constantly showed these characteristics. Jordan is a person whom people can look up to because of his display of hard-work in everything he did, confidence in every step he took, and strength to continue life even in times of the deepest desperation.

http://www.phoenixrealestateguy.com/what-we-can-learn-from-michael-jordan-hard-work-dedication-failure/ (Jay Thompson)

Michael Jordan shows he is hard-working by persistently doing the best he can possibly do in everything he does. Even at a very young age, Jordan expressed his ability to adjust to difficulties in order to work hard and achieve whatever goals he had in mind. "Neither of Jordan's parents was tall, nor his brothers and sisters beyond average height. Michael himself seemed destined to be short, an unlikely candidate for the professional basketball career he dreamed about. In backyard games with his friends and brothers, he tried to compensate for his height by playing harder; thus was born his fierce desire to win, especially against the odds" ("Contemporary Black Biography"). Jordan went against all odds in order to devote all of his effort to everything. His short height at a young age completely fought against his dream of being in the NBA to play basketball for a living. Even in a friendly game between friends and siblings, Jordan grasped his "fierce desire to win, especially against the odds" by working exceptionally hard to make up for his lack of height. Jordan's hard work did not finish after his childhood. He continued to display his hard work by doing the best he could to make his school's varsity basketball team, and perhaps a little more. "Needless to say, he finally earned his berth on the varsity squad and with his burning ambitions in tow, he became one of the most widely-recruited high school athletes in the country. He accepted a full scholarship to the University of North Carolina" ("Encyclopedia of World Biography"). It wasn't through magic that Michael Jordan made his high school basketball team, but it was through his hard-work and determination. Not only did he make the school basketball team, but he also received a full basketball scholarship to the University of North Carolina. Full scholarships are not awarded to just anyone-Jordan's hard work is shown all throughout his life in whatever he did, from a young age with a height difficulty to a spring of success, accepting a full scholarship to a life of basketball.

http://www.eurweb.com/2010/08/michael-jordan%E2%80%99s-dad%E2%80%99s-death-unresolved/ (Wordpress)

Jordan has shown his mental strength by displaying his ability to maintain control and coolness during times of hardship and deep struggle. Even though people today know Jordan as one of the greatest-or perhaps-the greatest basketball player of all time, he actually failed to even make his high school basketball team multiple times. "As a freshman at Wilmington's Laney High School, Jordan tried out for the varsity basketball team and was cut. The next year he was cut again soon after the season began, while his best friend, Leroy Smith, made the team" ("Contemporary Black Biography"). For as much success as he had, Jordan often failed on his pathway to prosperity. Even something like trying out for a school basketball team may seem so simple in the midst of Jordan's future success, but history shows that Jordan struggled many, many times. But mental struggles aren't only about failure, they are also about loss. "The Jordan family faced tragedy in the summer of 1993 when Michael's father, James, was brutally murdered in North Carolina. Jordan fought tears and tried to dodge the press during his father's funeral and the subsequent police that uncovered two teenaged suspects and an apparent motive of car theft. His father's untimely death was yet another severe blow to Jordan" ("Salem Press"). Along with Jordan's failures in life, he faced a tragic loss of a loved one.  Fighting this loss of a loved one is hard enough, but Jordan had the perseverance to continue to do what he did best: to play basketball. Jordan demonstrates his tenacity with his willingness to fail and fail but try and try again, and also dealing with terrible loss, but continuing to show his greatness on the basketball court.

http://blog.sneakerpedia.com/2011/12/16/sneaker-spotlight-air-jordan-14-last-shot-2/ (sneakerpedia)

Michael Jordan shows his self-confidence by displaying actions that show that he believes in himself. Jordan built enough confidence to thrive for his basketball dream by opposing how his parents wanted Jordan to live his life. "Against his parents' wishes, Jordan decided to go professional in 1984. He was drafted third in the first round of the 1984 NBA draft by the Chicago Bulls" ("Salem Press"). In reality, Jordan's parents did not support Jordan's desire for basketball. It was a matter of time before his parents realized his true greatness as a basketball player. Jordan possesses the self-confidence to believe that he could obtain a spot in the NBA and become a prodigious athlete. After succeeding to make the NBA, Jordan faced injuries during Playoff time, but managed to believe that he could play through the injury, which he did: "A foot injury sidelined Jordan for most of the 1985-86 season. At the very end of the season, he convinced the Bull's coach and owner to allow him to play. With his help, the team surged to win a trip to the playoffs" ("Contemporary Black Biography"). Even amidst his injury, Jordan managed to squeeze his way through slips and cracks that he had created in order to play basketball and accommodate his team. He consolidated enough confidence to approach his coach and team owner to tell them that he was able to play and that he would do his best to get the Chicago Bulls to the playoffs. Jordan displays much self-confidence, despite personal hardships and physical problems and, correspondingly, was able to succeed at becoming a world famous inspiration.

http://anastaciomartinez.wordpress.com/2012/02/24/inspirational-video-of-the-week-26-listen-to-what-michael-jordan-has-to-say-about-failure/ (Anastacio Martinez)

Jordan is truly an inspiration to all people, showing his greatness in diligence, confidence, and strength. Lacking height and success growing up, Jordan became a basketball phenomenon, winning six NBA championships and earning a rightful spot in the NBA Hall of Fame. Even after failing many times in the basketball world and losing his beloved father, Jordan still thrived to be the best he could be by working hard, being confident, and maintaining strength during hardships. "I failed over and over and over again in my life, and that is why I succeed" ("Michael Jordan"). It struck me in the heart hearing about Jordan's tragic, inspiring, yet warm life story, and how he proved to the world that he could do anything as long as he possessed exertion, spirit, and fortitude. Through hardship and determination, Jordan didn't let anything get in his way of pursuing success. And by doing so, he managed to encourage others to pursue success in the midst of despondency.

Works Cited

"Great Athletes." Salem Press. P. 3. EBSCO Publishing. September 2009. 

"Jordan, Michael." UXL Encyclopedia of World Biography. Ed. Laura B. Tyle. Vol. 6. Detroit: UXL, 2003. 1034-1037. Gale Virtual Reference Library. Web. 27 Mar. 2012.

"Michael Jordan." Contemporary Black Biography. Vol. 21. Detroit: Gale, 1999. Gale Biography In Context. Web. Mar. 2012