Michael Jordan is the great basketball player of all time. Hands
down! Kobe Bryant is the closest athlete to ever reach Jordan’s status. When he
passes Jordan on the all-time scoring list this year, he still won’t be able to
gain the status as Michael. LeBron may catch him, but it’s hard to tell at this
time. Maybe in a few years. Michael Jordan is such a great athlete, role model
and business man. His highlights and the way he changed the game speaks for his
self. His swagger, his athleticism, and most of all his shoes. Did I mention
the shoes? Mostly every kid I knew at a young age wanted to be like Mike. Not
just black kids, kids of all races and backgrounds. But his business may be the
most impressive. Even as me and my friends grow older, we still want to be like
Mike. But this time in a different way, the business way. Just in Jordan’s six
years in the NBA, he made the NBA revenue increase by 1.5 billion. That’s
billion with a B. also whatever Jordan comes out with, it sells. All across the
country and the globe, people stand outside in lines for hours just for a Jordan
release. Every time he releases a shoe it’s out as well. It’s not just the
shoes though, Jordan has a cologne and is the face of Hanes underwear. Let’s
not even mention Space Jam (arguably the best kids movie ever). Jordan also
represents many athletes in the NBA and other sports. He also sponsors some
colleges (North Carolina for example). Hip hop artist wear Jordan’s and people
in business attire wear even Jordan’s. Michael Jordan is like the King Midas of
the business world. Whatever he touches turns to gold. Well in this case it
would turn green. The Jordan Effect is real and will live on until the end of
time. . . Did I mention the shoes?
Anthony,
ReplyDeleteI agree, I think Michael Jordan is the best basketball player of all time. I also think that someday LeBron James will surpass Michael, as long as he stays healthy and keeps putting up the numbers and championships he has recently. I am Bulls fan, and keep track of everything Bulls related. The very reason I am a Bulls fan is because of Michael Jordon; he was my idol when I was a kid. As we talked about in class today Michael has always made smart choices in the media. I agree with you about how successful Michael’s endorsements have been, but in all the good he has done in the media and in the public image, even Michael can sometimes struggle. Michael currently being the Owner of the Charlotte Bobcats can be looked at negatively because of how unsuccessful he has been. This can demonstrate that players after retiring from basketball who get jobs as higher ups and coaches are not as successful as they had been in there playing careers. Do you think this will effect Michaels over all image when looked at as a player or a person? In saying everything he touches turns to gold, I would have to disagree with you. As I stated above, his current position at the Bobcats and how dreadful it has gone for him does not demonstrate how great he is, it shows for once that he is human like the rest of us and can be unsuccessful at something.
Tyler Crellin
I agree with Tyler that Michael Jordan has failed so far with the Bobcats but I do not think how he handles business will be how he is remembered. Jordan will be remembered for his integrity and work ethic out on the court. Besides being known as basketballs best trash talker, Jordan has set the standard for an athlete’s commitment to a game he/she loves. He has shown what it takes to come out every game with the same mentality. Jordan has shown what it takes to be a winner. The money, fame, and brand name products are all apart of the life of being a super star. Jordan never got fame and basketball mixed up, and that is why he will be remembered as the best to play the game. He will be remembered for his talent in basketball and not all the perks that came along with him as he conquered the game.
ReplyDelete-Jay Clark
Whitney Pellham posted the following comment:
ReplyDeleteFrom a perspective outside that of a professional basketball fan, I do not feel that any current players have or will reach the same status as Michael Jordan. Growing up I did not follow basketball, but I knew who Michael Jordan was, his number, his team and his story. While I know there are many big name, talented players now, you do not see any that have reached the same depth in the market that Michael did. Also, outside of basketball, today's superstars are not as well-liked or beloved as Michael was and still is. Although a lot of current big-name basketball players (Kobe, LeBron, etc.) may be succeeding well in a financial sense and also on the court, I believe they have timed-out in terms of being deemed the greatest players of all time. In order for someone to overshadow Michael Jordan’s accomplishments, they will need to break into the game and outplay all of the current dominant players, be an extremely likable person, and have a story that the general public can identify with to help take that player above Jordan’s level.
Anthony,
ReplyDeleteI would undoubtedly agree with what you said about Michael Jordan being an iconic figure not only in basketball, but in the business world as well. He has transcended sports to become a social icon on multiple levels and his legacy will live on long after he's gone. The main comparison I think of when I think of Michael Jordan is Jay-Z. Both men are or were icons in their respective industry (Jordan in basketball and Jay-Z in hip-hop) but expanded their influence into other areas of business. Jordan brand shoes sell out within hours and sometimes minutes of when they are released and the Roc Nation brand has expanded from hip-hop into fashion and now even the sports agency business. Both men have capitalized on the opportunities to grow their brand and both men can be seen as role models of how black men can overcome the adversity society puts in front of them to become successful, wealthy businessmen.
Ben Mathey