For the love of the game...
As much as I hate to say it, the Washington Wizards' season is over. So is the illustrious career of Michael "Air" Jordan, on the basketball court at least. It saddens me how the man who raised the bar of excellence to the highest level in the game of basketball will not make a final playoff appearance. It's just not right... This man was destined for the fairy tale ending, whether it be in the waning seconds of a game, in a toilsome game of a playoff series, or in the end of a majestic dynasty. But not this time...
I don't blame the man for coming back to the game of basketball. He loved the game and even loves it today. To the point of obsession, this man passionately pursued to be the best, and he was the best EVER. Sure, the man has his faults and sometimes he says things that make people question his character and his motivation. But NO ONE can deny the fact that this man was and is in love with basketball. That's what drew me first to Jordan: his willingness to succeed in something that he loved. There was no compromise with him, just hard work and fine-tuning of his skills. The man failed time after time, but he soon learned and understood what it meant to be victorious.
Sometimes I get goose bumps when I watch old footage of Michael Jordan in action. Those glorious years in Chicago are like a pleasant memory of the good ol' days, how things should always be. With Michael Jordan, there was always hope even when things looked insurmountable. "Double digit deficit in the fourth quarter? Not a problem. Mike's just getting ready to take over." The man was simply amazing and I'm glad I was able to witness his magic.
Sometimes the man moved me to tears. When Michael Jordan and the Bulls won the NBA Finals in 1996 on Father's Day, he fell to the ground, clutching the ball, and sobbed in remembrance of his father. Basketball wasn't just a game; it actually meant something. The sheer will and determination of this man astonished me. Battling the flu (and it was obvious because you could see it in his eyes), the man dropped 38 points to beat the Jazz in a crucial NBA Finals game, displaying what it means to have HEART.
I admit that lately, however, all I've felt is pain and disappointment in how things are coming to an end. The reality of it all is very disheartening. There are no fairy tale endings in life, not even for Michael Jordan...
But there are the memories of the good times...
One day, I'm going to visit Chicago's United Center and behold the Michael Jordan statue that stands in front of the arena. I will take a long and hard look at his statue. And if I can, I'm going to put a piece of my gum on his shoes. (I probably can't, but I'd like to...) That'll be my special way of paying homage to the best basketball player that ever lived...
As much as I hate to say it, the Washington Wizards' season is over. So is the illustrious career of Michael "Air" Jordan, on the basketball court at least. It saddens me how the man who raised the bar of excellence to the highest level in the game of basketball will not make a final playoff appearance. It's just not right... This man was destined for the fairy tale ending, whether it be in the waning seconds of a game, in a toilsome game of a playoff series, or in the end of a majestic dynasty. But not this time...
I don't blame the man for coming back to the game of basketball. He loved the game and even loves it today. To the point of obsession, this man passionately pursued to be the best, and he was the best EVER. Sure, the man has his faults and sometimes he says things that make people question his character and his motivation. But NO ONE can deny the fact that this man was and is in love with basketball. That's what drew me first to Jordan: his willingness to succeed in something that he loved. There was no compromise with him, just hard work and fine-tuning of his skills. The man failed time after time, but he soon learned and understood what it meant to be victorious.
Sometimes I get goose bumps when I watch old footage of Michael Jordan in action. Those glorious years in Chicago are like a pleasant memory of the good ol' days, how things should always be. With Michael Jordan, there was always hope even when things looked insurmountable. "Double digit deficit in the fourth quarter? Not a problem. Mike's just getting ready to take over." The man was simply amazing and I'm glad I was able to witness his magic.
Sometimes the man moved me to tears. When Michael Jordan and the Bulls won the NBA Finals in 1996 on Father's Day, he fell to the ground, clutching the ball, and sobbed in remembrance of his father. Basketball wasn't just a game; it actually meant something. The sheer will and determination of this man astonished me. Battling the flu (and it was obvious because you could see it in his eyes), the man dropped 38 points to beat the Jazz in a crucial NBA Finals game, displaying what it means to have HEART.
I admit that lately, however, all I've felt is pain and disappointment in how things are coming to an end. The reality of it all is very disheartening. There are no fairy tale endings in life, not even for Michael Jordan...
But there are the memories of the good times...
One day, I'm going to visit Chicago's United Center and behold the Michael Jordan statue that stands in front of the arena. I will take a long and hard look at his statue. And if I can, I'm going to put a piece of my gum on his shoes. (I probably can't, but I'd like to...) That'll be my special way of paying homage to the best basketball player that ever lived...
