The retired American basketball player, Michael Jeffrey Jordan, was born in February 17, 1963. The National Basketball Association biography on Michael Jordan says that, Michael Jordan by acclamation is one of the greatest players in basketball for all time. Jordan is well known as a person who has effectively marketed the game of basketball and athletes during his generation. He is viewed as an instrumental individual in popularizing NBA across the world during the 1990s and 1980s. Jordan’s nickname is “His Airness”. He has made history to be rewritten and has changed the modern-day basketball. He has mainly influenced sports, the worlds’ population, and economics.
Observations based on Jordan’s humanity deeds and basketball skills
In America, Jordan single handily, saved basketball, and the game is now sold overseas. In remembrance of his late father, Jordan established the “James Jordan Boys and Girls Club” charity foundation. He was also involved in countless humanitarian activities and most importantly he managed to capture the attention of his audiences of different racial groups, people of all ages, and of all gender because of his basketball skills. His humanity has been acknowledged by all, even among individuals who know nothing about the basketball sport, but, they know about his 23 numbers, and name. During his 15 years in the NBA Basketball profession, Jordan was involved in constant limelight.
In the book, the Odyssey of Michael Jordan, the author indicates that Jordan mainly utilized the media in showing his selfless way on supporting the good things in life. Jordanmanaged to be the most popular athlete on the worldwide scale level. He basically surpassed all forms of standard of gauging fame (McCallum, 1991). His value and popularity as a commercial spokesman was seen to be far beyond comprehension. What we learn from Jordan is that it is important for top athletes to strive towards improvement and be focused even under intensive pressures. The athletes should also have the power of positive thinking. This means ability to think like a winner and be determined.
Comparison to my world view and experience
In comparison to my own experience and worldview, I consider Jordan’s positive thinking as one of the greatest characteristics that he has. I sometimes wonder how he managed to sink a foul shot in the presence of thousands of people who are shouting, and waving their arms to him, without being distracted. This is one of the positive values that I have learned from Jordan, in that, he fully concentrated on the game, and his main aim in the field was to score and make NBA win. I do fail to concrete and have positive thinking at times, especially, when faced with an unplanned interview or examination test. Jordan’s actions teach me to all times be at my best and to think positively of the outcomes of my actions.
My Role Model
I would consider Michael Jordan to be my role model because he was committed on a journey to discover who he really was. Through basketball, he managed to find the true meaning of his life, and to fulfill the dream that his father had. With the number 23, he made himself well known in America and all around the world. This means that the long time he had spend lying to himself on he was gone. He knew that he was just pretending to be what he was not, and he made a decision to make his life role forward. He engaged himself in various humanitarian activities such as anti-drugs efforts and charity work, which all enabled him to leave behind his own legacy (Leerhsen, 1990). I admire this kind of attitude, and it always reminds me to keep pressing on until I realize what my role is in this life.
Reference
National Basketball Association (2007) Michael Jordan. Retrieved from
http://www.nba.com/history/players/jordan_bio.html
On July 31, 2012
Leerhsen, C. (1990) this year’s role model. Heroes, Vol. 115 Issue 23, p 44. Retrieved from
http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?sid=96e8da2d-67b6-4661-9750-b6ef3faf9d4c%40sessionmgr115&vid=1&hid=115&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d
On July 31, 2012
Gelman, D & Springen, K (1993) I am not a role model. Vol. 121 Issue 26 p56. Retrieved from
http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?sid=d6c8f785-ed49-42b8-8ee1-155b9738c955%40sessionmgr114&vid=1&hid=115&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d
On July 31, 2012
McCallum, J (1991) He’s am everywhere man. Retrieved from
http://ehis.ebscohost.com/eds/detail?sid=96e8da2d-67b6-4661-9750-b6ef3faf9d4c%40sessionmgr115&vid=1&hid=115&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d
On July 31, 2012
