Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan on the court before a gameNBA.comSome say he's a god dressed in human clothes, many doubt he is human, he is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. Michael Jordan did many great things in his life and overcame many things. He was born in Brooklyn New York in 1963. As a freshman, sophomore, and junior, he was cut from the basketball team. But that didn't stop him. He kept on working hard and made the team his senior year.  From there he went to college in Carolina and got rookie of the year as a freshman. He continued playing basketball and easily one gold in the LA Olympics and then drafted to the Chicago Bulls  and got three consecutive titles, three playoff titles. He got multiple MVP awards, and seven scoring leader awards in nine years of playing basketball for the Bulls. He became one of the best basketball players. People think you have to risk your life for people, but in reality many characteristics can define a hero. In reality people don't have super powers  so real life heroes are everyday people or people that make a difference no matter how big or small. Michael Jordan is a hero for what he accomplished in his basketball career through his strong mindset,  ability to overcome obstacles, and cares for others.

Michael Jordan driving down the court for a layupCNN.comMichael Jordan has a strong mind set which helps him accomplish incredible things and never give up.With his mind set he was able to become rookie of the year after being cut from the high school basketball team three times, “He did not make the high school basketball team as a sophomore in his native Wilmington, North Carolina, but did make the team as a junior. [...] In his first season at Carolina he became only the second Tarheel player to start every game as a freshman and was named Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Rookie of the Year (1982)” (“Michael Jordan,” encyclopedia). Heroes have a strong mind set, they never give up despite all odds. Jordan was cut from the high school basketball team three times. At that point many people would give up but for Jordan all that did was motivate to become even better and soon go to the Olympics and become a Chicago bull. Heroes often go through tough times and have many struggles. In order become a hero they must become better and get past the situation. The people that don't have the mind set to get past struggles often don't become heroes and because Jordan got past this he was therefore capable of becoming a hero. Jordan has accomplished many things in his basketball career bringing the bulls with him to glory: “The intensely competitive guard for the Chicago Bulls dominated the National Basketball Association (NBA) for more than a decade, most notably in the eight-year span from 1991-98 during which the Bulls won six NBA championships” (“Michael Jordan” American Decades). Before Jordan came to the bulls their team had no chance of making it to the finals once. Then Jordan came and the bulls number of wins skyrocketed. He could have given up with a team like that but instead he stayed and in doing so he became even better and then bring the bulls to the finals six times. Jordan stayed with the bulls even though nobody thought they could make it and made their team even better and soon brought them to the finals. He didn't just become a hero to the fans for bringing their favorite team to what they thought was impossible but also a hero to his teammates. Jordan became a hero to many people along his journey but he would have never been able to do that if he gave up. However his mind set isn't the only thing that makes him a hero.

Michael Jordan going for a layuppsacard.comA strong mind set isn't the only thing needed for a hero. Throughout his career Jordan went through many tough times and struggles and if he never overcame them he would have not gotten to where he is. Jordan was cut from the basketball team 3 years in a row.  When his best friend made it, it broke him and he became determined to be the best: “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”(“Michael Jordan,” American Decades). When he was cut for the third time he was done with being cut. He was determined to be better than everyone imagined. He soon came back to the basketball world after endless training and practice and and was too good for anyone to cut him. He could have given up after the third cut. Instead he trained harder and harder until he was more than ready to make the team. He could have stopped there and never overcome this challenge and never have been the hero he is today if he haven't overcome his obstacles.

Not only that but his father's death destroyed him. It took a long recovery period but he came back better than ever: “Then, unexpectedly, tragedy struck. Jordan's father, James, was murdered by two men during a robbery attempt [...] It had been a long time since anyone who knew Jordan thought--or dared ask--could he cut it [...] he returned with fierce determination to prove any skeptic that he had what it took to get back on top” (“Michael Jordan,” Encyclopedia). After Jordan retired he decided to try out baseball. He made the team but was just a mediocre. After a few seasons he realized how much basketball mattered to him. He decided to come back to bulls but people thought he wouldn't be able to cut it. He proved everybody wrong and came back better than ever. Once again he was given another chance to give up, to quite. However he didn't, it took him awhile but he came back . Despite his most motivating fan was gone and missed out on years of practice he still made the team. If he didn't overcome this he wouldn't have been able to bring the Bulls to three more finals and wouldn't be as inspiring as he is today. It takes the ability to overcome obstacles to be able to become a hero, he could have given up and been a nobody who was cut from the high school team.

Michael Jordan dunking in one of his gamesNBA.comThough the other two criteria are critical he would be a hero if he didn't care for others and wasn't humble. Jordan set up charities to help you kids instead of using money for his own personal benefit: “He personally established several charities, including the Jordan Institute for Families and Night Ministry. After his father was murdered, Jordan and the Chicago Bulls established the James Jordan Boys and Girls Club and Family Life Center, which aids Chicago-area youth” (“Michael Jordan,” business leader).  Even though Michael Jordan was rich and could have used money for his own personal benefit instead he set up charities. He helped kids in need and took advantage of his money in ways that benefits society. He did not abuse his money like other people but instead help others with charities. Because he did this he helped society and not only became a basketball hero but a real world hero. Jordan isn't equal to others but in his eyes he just like everybody else: “The combination of Jordan's natural charms and his extraordinary basketball prowess brought the likable star millions per year in revenues” (“Michael Jordan,” American Decades ). Even though Michael Jordan was a star he never took it for granted or thought highly of himself. He never thought he was better than everyone else. Even though he was rich he always saw himself as an equal to others. People never would have supported him if he was snob and only cared for himself. If one didn't care for others and didn't see each other as equals what kind of a hero are they? He could have been a snob but instead decided to use his money for good. If somebody isn't humble and doesn't care for others there not much of a hero in other people eyes. That's why these characteristics are very important.

Michael Jordan shooting a free throwPintest.comMichael Jordan is a hero for many reasons but most importantly its who he is made him hero to many people. It's his strong mind set, ability to overcome obstacles, and him caring for others and being humble. Throughout his career Jordan brought the bulls to six finals, got multiple MVP awards and scoring leader awards and multiple gold medals. He has also gone through tough times before and during his career. Before he was superstar we know he was cut three years in row form the high school basketball team. Also during his career his father's death destroyed him. He then tried out baseball and realized how much basketball meant to him. Once he returned he brought the bulls to three more finals. When his career ended he set up multiple foundations and charities for young boys and girls.Michael Jordan wasn't just a great basketball player but an inspiration to many people: “Three-times retired and twice returned to the world of the National Basketball Association (NBA), Michael Jordan is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. His status as a basketball legend is equaled only by his global celebrity status”(Michael Jordan” Business leader).  throughout his career he had many struggles but he still pushed through and did incredible things. What he did inspired people not only to become a great basketball player but do what they want to and work hard for it. He inspired me to work hard at everything I do and to never give up. Some people think he's a god dressed in human clothes and he can be considered the best basketball player of all time but in reality he's just like everybody else. The only difference is he worked hard for want he wanted. He didn't give up when everybody else did. He's a hero because of what he taught the world; work hard and never give up.

Works Cited

"Michael Jordan," American Decades, edited by Judith S. Baughman, et al., Gale, 1998. Student Resources in Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1602000601/SUIC?u=powa9245&xid=ba580212. Accessed 30 Jan. 2018.

"Michael Jordan," Business Leader Profiles for Students, edited by Sheila Dow and Jaime E. Noce, vol. 2, Gale, 2002. Student Resources in Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1604000354/SUIC?u=powa9245&xid=d6e56087. Accessed 30 Jan. 2018

"Michael Jordan." Encyclopedia of World Biography, Gale, 1998. Student Resources in Context, https://link.galegroup.com/apps/doc/K1631003449/SUIC?u=powa9245&xid=f23faabf. Accessed 30 Jan. 2018.