Michael Jordans biography as a sportsperson as well as a non-sports person - Essay Example

Michael Jordan Born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York, Michael Jeffrey Jordan (MJ) is one of the most famous professional basketball players not only in America but also in the world. He has played around 15 seasons in the National basketball Association (NBA) in the 80s and 90s. Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards were the major clubs for which MJ had displayed his basketball skills and abilities. It is believed that no other professional basketball players are as popular as MJ. MJ was instrumental in popularizing basketball not only in America but also across the world. This paper analyses MJ’s biography as a sportsperson as well as a non-sports person. A brief discussion of MJ’s non-sport background Even though the popularity of MJ as a basketball player is unquestionable, his life is not free from controversies. It is believed that MJ was interested not only in sports activities but also in some of the other unacceptable social activities such as gambling. During the playoff season in 1993, Jordan was reported gambling in Atlanta just before one of the crucial matches of his club. He admitted in the same year that he had lost around $57,000 in gambling. Moreover, author Richard Esquinas claimed that he had won $1.25 million from Jordan on the golf course (Anderson, 1993). In short, the weakness of Jordan towards gambling is well recorded in the history. Apart from a great basketball player, MJ is a good businessman also. “Jordan is involved in a number of business ventures, including several restaurants. He also does a lot for charity, including hosting the annual golf event known as the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational” (Bio, 2014). A brief discussion MJ’s sport background After the completion of his college studies, MJ has joined NBA in 1984. Even during his early NBA careers (1984-87), MJ was able to command respect from opposite players. “During his first season in the NBA, Jordan averaged 28.2 ppg on 51.5% shooting” (Michael Jordan, 2011). The second season with NBA was not a good one for Jordan. He was forced to sit out for 64 consecutive games because of an injury. Upon his return, MJ was able to help Chicago Bulls to perform better in that season. His performances in his return match for Bulls against Boston Celtics team, is often considered one of the greatest in NBA history. Jordan managed to set the all-time record for points in a playoff game with 63 in that game (Top 10 Teams in NBA History, 2014). The most valuable player or MVP award was won by MJ many times during his basketball career. In the 1987–88 seasons he won this award for the first time and thereafter he won it many times. MJ has the history of announcing his retirement and coming back again as a player many times. At the end of the 1992-93 season, some unfortunate incidents took place in Jordan’s family which forced him to announce his first retirement. He announced that he will be concentrating on baseball. However, it was impossible for him to stay away from basketball for a longer period. He came back 1995 and joined Chicago Bulls again. He has proved that he had not lost any skills as a player during his second tenure with Bulls. Again MJ has announced his second retirement after the 1997-98 seasons. What is MJ’s defining moment? The murder of his father by some antisocial elements is clearly a defining moment in the life of Michael Jordan. Because of that unexpected shock, MJ decided to quit Basketball. However, he was able to return to the Basketball arena later and displayed his master class again. In March 18, 1995 he has is rejoined the Chicago Bulls and became the MVP in the 1996 NBA Finals. His performances as a player in that season was remarkable an many people believe that his father’s death made him mentally stronger. What is MJ best known for? MJ as a basketball player is best known to everybody in this world. Even though Jordan was able to score many points in basketball games, his skills as defending players were outstanding. He had the won many prizes as the best defending player along with the most valuable player. In man to man defending, MJ’s skills were unmatchable. He played as a lockdown defender many times and was able to lockdown the opponent's most productive and best players many times, with the help of quality defense (Mihajlovski, 2010). Who admires this person? Basketball lovers all over the world admire Michael Jordan. Many of them believe that it is impossible to create a substitute for MJ. MJ was both mentally and physically stronger than any other basketball players during his playing times. I do admire MJ purely because of his skills as an all-rounder rather than a defender. It should be noted that MJ was successful in locking down many of the key players of the opponent teams. At the same time, he was able to score at will when the team needs his services as a forward. In other words, MJ was a flexible player who can be used at any positions. There are/were many great basketball players. But none of them matches the all-round abilities of MJ as a basketball player. Michael Jordan: Motivational Climate MJ parents definitely helped him in becoming the greatest players in Basketball game’s history. MJ has once said that “My heroes are and were my parents. I can’t see having anyone else as my heroes” (Scheidies, 2014). In the case of most of the other sports persons, coaches or other greatest players might have served as a motivation. However, in the case of MJ, parents played a big role. His parents were instrumental in shaping his career. They encouraged him even during his childhood it continued until he became a renowned sportsperson in the world. Because of the greatest influence upon his career by his parents, MJ was even decided to retire from basketball when his father was murdered. In short, parents played as the greatest motivators in MJ’s life as a sports person. Michael Jordan: Self-Efficacy Self-efficacy can be defined as one’s belief in his abilities to complete tasks and reach goals. Michael Jordan had immense belief in his abilities as a basketball player. That is why he returned to NBA even after announcing his retirement. Instead of setting long term goals, he set short term goals. Moreover, he approached everything in a structured manner. In other words, he performed every activity based on the perception that this activity would help him somehow in future. The following words of Michael Jordan are relevant here: “As I look back, each one of the steps or successes led to the next one.  When I got cut from the varsity team as a sophomore in high school, I learned something.  I knew I never wanted to feel that bad again....So I set a goal of becoming a starter on the varsity.  That’s what I focused on all summer.  When I worked on my game, that’s what I thought about”(Harper San Francisco, n.d.). MJ never tried to do many things at a time. He never believed in the volume of things done, but he believed in the effectiveness or value of the things done. When he plays as a defender, he was concentrating only one defence. When he plays as an all-rounder, he concentrates both on offense as well as defence. Michael Jordan: schema-driven perceptions Unlike many other players, MJ never tried to verbally assault others players in the field. He had immense faith in his capabilities as a player and he never tried to intimidate his opponents in order to win a game. MJ once said that “If your goal is to become a doctor...and you’re getting Cs in biology then the first thing you have to do is get Bs in biology and then As.  You have to perfect the first step and then move on to chemistry or physics” (Harper San Francisco, n.d.). These words clearly sum up MJ’s approach towards game. He never tried to cash on the weaknesses of the opponents. He tried to polish his skills as a player in order to win matches. References Anderson, D. (1993). "Sports of The Times; Jordan's Atlantic City Caper", The New York Times, May 27, 1993. Bio (2014) Michael Jordan. Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/michael-jordan-9358066 Harper San Francisco (N.d.). Michael Jordan, http://www.gifted.uconn.edu/siegle/selfefficacy/jordan.html Michael Jordan (2011). Retrieved from http://www.databasebasketball.com/players/playerpage.htm?ilkid=JORDAMI01 Mihajlovski, D. (2010). Michael Jordan and the Greatest Lockdown, Man-To-Man Defenders in NBA History Retrieved from http://bleacherreport.com/articles/519666-lock-down-defensethe-greatest-man-to-man-defenders-in-the-nba-history Scheidies, N. (2014). How to Be Like Mike: 20 Life Lessons from Michael Jordan. Retrieved from http://www.incomediary.com/how-to-be-like-mike-20-life-lessons-from-michael-jordan Top 10 Teams in NBA History, (2014). National Basketball Association. Retrieved from http://www.nba.com/history/ Read More