“God has disguised himself as Michael Jordan.”
Larry Bird said that, back when he played against Mike in the NBA — pretty high praise coming from the man who himself was once dubbed “the Basketball Jesus.”
Jordan, who just turned 40, has done little on the basketball court to prove Bird wrong.
He is still setting records. He recently became the first player in his forties to score more than 40 points in a game when he put 43 on the Nets, including the game-winning shot.
Most agree that Jordan is the greatest athlete ever to play any sport.
On that note, I have a confession to make: I used to think he was an average player. I would tell people that he was overrated and that he cheated (he did shove Byron Russell before launching “the shot” to end the ’98 Finals).
But recently, I have reversed my opinion. I was always a huge Jazz fan — I guess I was jealous.
For all the accolades he’s received on the court (10 scoring titles, an NBA-record 30.3 career scoring average, five League MVPs, six Finals MVPs), Michael Jordan will always mean so much more than that to the game of basketball.
When the members of our generation become parents, we will tell our children stories (myths, if you will) about the man who forever changed the way the game is played.
We will tell of the gliding shot across the lane at the buzzer to beat Craig Ehlo and the Cavs in 1989; his shrugging to the Blazers’ bench as if to say “Even I don’t know how I do it” in the ’92 Finals; the incredible, must-see-to-believe, switching-hands-and-changing-direction shot against the Lakers in the ’91 Finals; the time he played with the flu and torched the Jazz for 38 points in Game 5 of the 1997 Finals.
Now, the sun is beginning to set on his legendary career. I’m cheering for the Wizards to make the playoffs to see M.J. come through in the clutch one more time.
Because in these final days, Jordan deserves to be appreciated for what he’s done and what he can still do. I know it’s not the same Jordan as the one who dazzled in Chicago, but he can still perform.
I was lucky enough to see Jordan play against the Hornets in the Arena earlier this year.
He passed Wilt Chamberlain to become the third all-time leading scorer with a vintage Jordan move. He came across the lane and hung for what seemed like an eternity before releasing the ball. The crowd gave him a standing ovation; I could have clapped for the rest of the night.
Jordan, still the most recognizable athlete on the planet, will be forever engrained in the mindset of Americana with his tongue hanging out, ball in hand, knowing he’s about to take his defender to school.
For what seems like forever, everyone has been looking for the next Jordan. As if another player could compare with M.J.
The fact is, no one can be like Mike.
