Michael Jordan
Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York) is a former National Basketball Association player, considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time. A remarkable force at both ends of the floor, Jordan ended a career of 15 full seasons with a regular-season scoring average of 30.12 points per game, the highest in NBA history (ahead of Wilt Chamberlain's 30.06). He won six championships, notched 10 scoring titles, and was league MVP five times. He was named to the All-Defensive First Team nine times, and led the league in steals three times. In 1991, he was on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and was named the magazine's "Sportsman of the Year." These and other achievements have persuaded many fans and several basketball legends[1] (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/features/jordan/news/2001/08/22/jordan_greatest/) that Jordan was the best ever to play the game. (Others call Jordan overrated [2] (http://airjudden2.tripod.com/jordan/index.htm) and point to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, and Shaquille O'Neal.) His jumping ability -- he could once dunk from the foul line -- earned him the nicknames "Air Jordan" and "His Airness." University of North CarolinaAs a UNC freshman, Jordan was an exciting but not dominant player. He ended the 1982 year in grand style, hitting the winning shot in the 1982 NCAA championship game against Georgetown, led by future NBA rival Patrick Ewing. By his sophomore year, he was clearly the team's biggest star; as a junior, he was named the national player of the year. He was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 1984 NBA Draft as the third pick overall. Chicago BullsJordan played 13 seasons for the Bulls, generally as a shooting guard, but his height (6'6", or 1.98 m), skills, and physical conditioning also made him a versatile threat at point guard and small forward. He won six NBA Championships (1991-1993 and 1996-1998) and was league MVP five times (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996 and 1998). He was also named Rookie of the Year (1985) and Defensive Player of the Year (1988), and won the Finals MVP award every year the Bulls reached the Finals -- a feat not likely to ever be duplicated. He also earned the elusive MVP triple crown (league, finals, all-star game) twice when he won All-Star MVP in both 1996 and 1998 (he also won in 1988). Only Willis Reed (1970) and Shaquille O'Neal (2000) have won all three MVP awards in the same season. In 1997, he also recorded the only triple-double in an All-Star game. Jordan's coach was Phil Jackson. He had the following to say about Jordan:
Perhaps weighed down by the August 1993 murder of his father, Michael retired from basketball two days before the 1993-94 NBA season, and the Bulls retired his #23 jersey. Baseball careerMichael Jordan on the Birmingham BaronsJordan spent the next year pursuing a childhood dream: professional baseball. He had an unspectacular professional baseball career for the Birmingham Barons, a Chicago White Sox farm team, batting .202 with 3 HR, 51 RBI, 30 SB (tied-5th in Southern League), 11 errors and 6 outfield assists. He led the club with 11 bases-loaded RBI and 25 RBI with runners in scoring position and two outs. He was never called up to the majors. Many consider this brief stab at baseball the only tarnish on his athletic career. Back To The BullsHe ended his basketball retirement on March 19, 1995 by rejoining the Bulls. Because jersey #23 had been retired, he wore #45, his Barons number. Jordan led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Semifinals that year. As he struggled with unaccustomed playoff difficulty, he broke out his old #23 jersey during a second-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic. The switch did not immediately bring him luck, and the Magic prevailed. But it was back to winning ways the following year, the Bulls won three consecutive NBA titles between 1996 and 1998, with Jordan becoming the first and only player to win six NBA Finals MVP Awards. Jordan retired again on January 13, 1999. Washington WizardsIn 2001, he came out of retirement a second time to play for the Washington Wizards, though his skills were noticeably diminished by age. Yet despite an injury-plagued 2001-02 season, he still averaged nearly 23 points per game. Playing through pain, especially in his knee, he was still an important player for the Wizards. He returned for the 2002-03 season and averaged 20 points. He played in his 13th and final NBA All-Star Game in 2002-03. The 2002-03 season was heralded from the beginning as Jordan's final goodbye to his fans and he retired for the third time at the season's conclusion. At the beginning of the 2001-2002 basketball season, Michael Jordan donated his $1 million salary to help the victims of the September 11 attacks. Out of respect for Jordan's legacy, the Miami Heat retired his #23 jersey on April 11, 2003, even though he never played for the Florida team. It was the first jersey the Heat retired in their then-15-year history, and it was half Wizards blue, half Bulls red. The OlympicsJordan played on two Olympic gold medal-winning American basketball teams: as a college player in the 1984 Summer Olympics, and in the 1992 Summer Olympics as a member of the original "Dream Team," with other legends such as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. It is often rumored that Jordan kept guard Isiah Thomas off the roster due to personal differences. Nonetheless, it was a star-studded roster that cruised through pool play and the medal round, restoring America to its place atop the basketball world. Personal lifeJordan spent his childhood in Wilmington, North Carolina. He attended Emsley A. Laney High School, where he was a standout in football, baseball, and basketball. At UNC, he majored in geography. Jordan is notoriously competitive, and is rumored to have lost enormous amounts of money playing golf and gambling. Michael Jordan has two older brothers, Larry and James R., one older sister, Delores, and one younger sister, Roslyn. James R. Jordan is a Sergeant Major in the 35th Signal Brigade of the XVIII Airborne Corps in the U.S. Army. James gained certain celebrity when he announced, at the age of forty-seven, that he intended to stay in Iraq until the U.S. occupation ended. Michael Jordan currently lives in Highland Park, Illinois. Father's murderJordan's father, James, was murdered in August 1993. While returning from the funeral of a friend, he pulled over onto the side of an interstate highway in North Carolina for a nap. Two local criminals killed him and stole his Lexus, a gift from Michael. The perpetrators made several calls from James' cell phone and were quickly captured. But James' body was not immediately identified. Michael and family did not immediately file a missing persons report, because the elder Jordan frequently took long trips by himself. By the time a report was filed, James' body had been cremated per local health laws as a John Doe. BusinessmanJordan is one of the most marketed sports figures in history. He has been a major spokesman for such brands as Nike, Gatorade, Hanes, McDonald's, and MCI. He first appeared on Wheaties boxes in 1988, and acted as their spokesman as well. Nike created a signature shoe for him, called the Air Jordan. The hype and demand for the shoes even brought on a spat of "shoe-jackings" where young boys were robbed of their sneakers at gunpoint. The innovation of designer Tinker Hatfield spurred the basketball shoe industry to new heights. Subsequently Nike spun off the Jordan line into its own company. Athletes who endorse the company include Ray Allen, Michael Finley, Derek Anderson, Gary Payton, and Jason Kidd. It has even crossed over into other sports, with athletes such as Randy Moss, Derek Jeter, and Roy Jones Jr. wearing Jordan apparel. Michael Jordan with Bugs Bunny in "Space Jam."He has also been connected with the Looney Tunes. A Nike commercial in the 1991 Super Bowl where he and Bugs Bunny played basketball against some Martians inspired the 1996 live action/animated movie Space Jam, which also starred Michael and the Looney Tunes in a fictional story set during his first retirement. They have subsequently appeared together in several commercials for MCI. After his second retirement, Jordan formed the MVP.com sports apparel enterprise with fellow sports greats Wayne Gretzky and John Elway in 1999. Unfortunately, it fell victim to the dot-com bust, and the rights to the domain were sold to CBS SportsLine in 2001. Awards
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Unfortunately, it fell victim to the dot-com bust, and the rights to the domain were sold to CBS SportsLine in 2001. He has also made guest appearances on the television shows Lizzie McGuire and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. After his second retirement, Jordan formed the MVP.com sports apparel enterprise with fellow sports greats Wayne Gretzky and John Elway in 1999. His latest work is a starring role as the voice of the Zebra, Stripes, in the 2005 film Racing Stripes. They have subsequently appeared together in several commercials for MCI. He had starring roles in the film Agent Cody Banks (2003), as well as the sequel Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004). A Nike commercial in the 1991 Super Bowl where he and Bugs Bunny played basketball against some Martians inspired the 1996 live action/animated movie Space Jam, which also starred Michael and the Looney Tunes in a fictional story set during his first retirement. He was also part of the ensemble for the 2002 gang film Deuces Wild. He has also been connected with the Looney Tunes. He had a moderate-sized hit with the 2002 release Big Fat Liar, which teamed him with Amanda Bynes as a pair of students seeking revenge on a sleazy movie producer (Paul Giamatti) who steals their idea. wearing Jordan apparel. Dolittle 2 (2001). It has even crossed over into other sports, with athletes such as Randy Moss, Derek Jeter, and Roy Jones Jr. Muniz then contributed a voice to the animal cast of Dr. Athletes who endorse the company include Ray Allen, Michael Finley, Derek Anderson, Gary Payton, and Jason Kidd. Muniz's first starring role on the big screen was as Willie Morris in the family period piece My Dog Skip (2000), released right around the time of the Malcolm pilot. Subsequently Nike spun off the Jordan line into its own company. He was twice nominated for Golden Globes in 2000 and 2001, and was honored with the Hollywood Reporter Young Star Award for his work in the series. The innovation of designer Tinker Hatfield spurred the basketball shoe industry to new heights. Matriarch Jane Kaczmarek may have received the lion's share, but it was Muniz's job to anchor the show with his narration and his central role in many of the dysfunctional, envelope-pushing plots. The hype and demand for the shoes even brought on a spat of "shoe-jackings" where young boys were robbed of their sneakers at gunpoint. Fox premiered Malcolm in the Middle as a mid-season replacement in 2000, and the show was quickly swamped with accolades. Nike created a signature shoe for him, called the Air Jordan. A small role in Lost & Found (1999) led up to the breakthrough that would make him a familiar face in millions of households. He first appeared on Wheaties boxes in 1988, and acted as their spokesman as well. He next appeared in the CBS Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of What the Deaf Man Heard (1997). He has been a major spokesman for such brands as Nike, Gatorade, Hanes, McDonald's, and MCI. Muniz made his television debut in the made-for-TV movie To Dance With Olivia (1997), starring Lou Gossett Jr. Jordan is one of the most marketed sports figures in history. Productions of The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz, and Our Town fleshed out his regional theater resumé. By the time a report was filed, James' body had been cremated per local health laws as a John Doe. He was soon cast as Tiny Tim in a local production of A Christmas Carol, a role he reprised the next two seasons. Michael and family did not immediately file a missing persons report, because the elder Jordan frequently took long trips by himself. Muniz found his interest in acting ignited by watching his older sister in a play. But James' body was not immediately identified. His mother is of mixed Italian/Irish ancestry, and his father is Puerto Rican. The perpetrators made several calls from James' cell phone and were quickly captured. Muniz was born Francisco James Muņiz IV (whose middle name is uncomfirmed) in Ridgewood, New Jersey and was raised in Knightdale, NC. Two local criminals killed him and stole his Lexus, a gift from Michael. He currently resides with his family in New Jersey. While returning from the funeral of a friend, he pulled over onto the side of an interstate highway in North Carolina for a nap. He has also starred in several movies. Jordan's father, James, was murdered in August 1993. Thursday, December 5, 1985) is an American actor better known as the star of the popular Fox Network television situation comedy, Malcolm in the Middle. Michael Jordan currently lives in Highland Park, Illinois. Frankie Muniz (b. James gained certain celebrity when he announced, at the age of forty-seven, that he intended to stay in Iraq until the U.S. occupation ended. Racing Stripes (2005). Jordan is a Sergeant Major in the 35th Signal Brigade of the XVIII Airborne Corps in the U.S. Army. Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London (2004). James R. Agent Cody Banks (2003). Michael Jordan has two older brothers, Larry and James R., one older sister, Delores, and one younger sister, Roslyn. Big Fat Liar (2002). Jordan is notoriously competitive, and is rumored to have lost enormous amounts of money playing golf and gambling. Dueces Wild (2001). At UNC, he majored in geography. My Dog Skip (2000). Laney High School, where he was a standout in football, baseball, and basketball. He attended Emsley A. Jordan spent his childhood in Wilmington, North Carolina. Nonetheless, it was a star-studded roster that cruised through pool play and the medal round, restoring America to its place atop the basketball world. It is often rumored that Jordan kept guard Isiah Thomas off the roster due to personal differences. Jordan played on two Olympic gold medal-winning American basketball teams: as a college player in the 1984 Summer Olympics, and in the 1992 Summer Olympics as a member of the original "Dream Team," with other legends such as Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. It was the first jersey the Heat retired in their then-15-year history, and it was half Wizards blue, half Bulls red. Out of respect for Jordan's legacy, the Miami Heat retired his #23 jersey on April 11, 2003, even though he never played for the Florida team. At the beginning of the 2001-2002 basketball season, Michael Jordan donated his $1 million salary to help the victims of the September 11 attacks. The 2002-03 season was heralded from the beginning as Jordan's final goodbye to his fans and he retired for the third time at the season's conclusion. He played in his 13th and final NBA All-Star Game in 2002-03. He returned for the 2002-03 season and averaged 20 points. Playing through pain, especially in his knee, he was still an important player for the Wizards. Yet despite an injury-plagued 2001-02 season, he still averaged nearly 23 points per game. In 2001, he came out of retirement a second time to play for the Washington Wizards, though his skills were noticeably diminished by age. Jordan retired again on January 13, 1999. But it was back to winning ways the following year, the Bulls won three consecutive NBA titles between 1996 and 1998, with Jordan becoming the first and only player to win six NBA Finals MVP Awards. The switch did not immediately bring him luck, and the Magic prevailed. As he struggled with unaccustomed playoff difficulty, he broke out his old #23 jersey during a second-round playoff series against the Orlando Magic. Jordan led the Bulls to the Eastern Conference Semifinals that year. Because jersey #23 had been retired, he wore #45, his Barons number. He ended his basketball retirement on March 19, 1995 by rejoining the Bulls. Many consider this brief stab at baseball the only tarnish on his athletic career. He was never called up to the majors. He led the club with 11 bases-loaded RBI and 25 RBI with runners in scoring position and two outs. He had an unspectacular professional baseball career for the Birmingham Barons, a Chicago White Sox farm team, batting .202 with 3 HR, 51 RBI, 30 SB (tied-5th in Southern League), 11 errors and 6 outfield assists. Jordan spent the next year pursuing a childhood dream: professional baseball. Perhaps weighed down by the August 1993 murder of his father, Michael retired from basketball two days before the 1993-94 NBA season, and the Bulls retired his #23 jersey. He had the following to say about Jordan:. Jordan's coach was Phil Jackson. In 1997, he also recorded the only triple-double in an All-Star game. Only Willis Reed (1970) and Shaquille O'Neal (2000) have won all three MVP awards in the same season. He also earned the elusive MVP triple crown (league, finals, all-star game) twice when he won All-Star MVP in both 1996 and 1998 (he also won in 1988). He was also named Rookie of the Year (1985) and Defensive Player of the Year (1988), and won the Finals MVP award every year the Bulls reached the Finals -- a feat not likely to ever be duplicated. He won six NBA Championships (1991-1993 and 1996-1998) and was league MVP five times (1988, 1991, 1992, 1996 and 1998). Jordan played 13 seasons for the Bulls, generally as a shooting guard, but his height (6'6", or 1.98 m), skills, and physical conditioning also made him a versatile threat at point guard and small forward. He was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the 1984 NBA Draft as the third pick overall. By his sophomore year, he was clearly the team's biggest star; as a junior, he was named the national player of the year. He ended the 1982 year in grand style, hitting the winning shot in the 1982 NCAA championship game against Georgetown, led by future NBA rival Patrick Ewing. As a UNC freshman, Jordan was an exciting but not dominant player. (Others call Jordan overrated [2] (http://airjudden2.tripod.com/jordan/index.htm) and point to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, Bill Russell, and Shaquille O'Neal.) His jumping ability -- he could once dunk from the foul line -- earned him the nicknames "Air Jordan" and "His Airness.". In 1991, he was on the cover of the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, and was named the magazine's "Sportsman of the Year." These and other achievements have persuaded many fans and several basketball legends[1] (http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/basketball/nba/features/jordan/news/2001/08/22/jordan_greatest/) that Jordan was the best ever to play the game. He was named to the All-Defensive First Team nine times, and led the league in steals three times. He won six championships, notched 10 scoring titles, and was league MVP five times. A remarkable force at both ends of the floor, Jordan ended a career of 15 full seasons with a regular-season scoring average of 30.12 points per game, the highest in NBA history (ahead of Wilt Chamberlain's 30.06). Michael Jeffrey Jordan (born February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York) is a former National Basketball Association player, considered by many to be the greatest basketball player of all time. NBA All-Star Dunk Contest Champion: 1987, 1988. ACC Men's Basketball Player of the Year: 1983-84. Adolph Rupp Trophy: 1984. Wooden Award: 1984. John R. Naismith College Player of the Year: 1984. NBA Rookie of the Year Award: 1984-85. NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award: 1987-88. NBA Finals Most Valuable Player Award: 1990-91, 1991-92, 1992-93, 1995-96, 1996-97, 1997-98. NBA Most Valuable Player Award: 1987-88, 1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96, 1997-98. |