Posted on 09/17/2009 4:48:27 AM PDT by rhema
Michael Jordan's Hall of Fame talk was the Exxon Valdez of speeches. It was, by turns, rude, vindictive and flammable. And that was just when he was trying to be funny. It was tactless, egotistical and unbecoming. When it was done, nobody wanted to be like Mike.
And yet we couldn't stop watching. Because this was an inside look into the mindset of an icon who'd never let anybody inside before. From what I saw, I'd never want to go back. Here is a man who's won just about everything there is to win -- six NBA titles, five MVPs and two Olympics golds. And yet he sounded like a guy who's been screwed out of every trophy ever minted. He's the world's first sore winner.
In the entire 23-minute cringe-athon, there were only six thank yous, seven if you count his sarcastic rip at the very Hall that was inducting him. "Thank you, Hall of Fame, for raising ticket prices, I guess," he sneered. By comparison, David Robinson's classy and heartfelt seven-minute speech had 17. Joe Montana's even shorter speech in Canton had 23. Who wrote your speech Mike? Kanye West?
Not that Jordan's speech wasn't from the heart. It was. It's just that Jordan's heart on this night could give you frostbite. Nobody was spared, including his high school coach, his high school teammate, his college coach, two of his pro coaches, his college roommate, his pro owner, his pro general manager, the man who was presenting him that evening, even his kids!
"I wouldn't want to be you guys if I had to," he said as they squirmed in their seats.
He even mocked his own brothers, calling them maybe 5-foot-5 and 5-6. Actually, they're about 5-8 and 5-9. Michael was the one blessed with the height
(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...
Sad.
But, if this was a cringefest, just wait until Brat Favre gives his HOF speech.
Some people don’t do funny well. This appears to be especially true of people who become surrounded by yes men and psychophants.
I’ve seen people try to do sharp wit before that was just nasty, and everyone cringed. We all need a little reality once in a while to keep us between the lines.
Some people don’t do funny well. This appears to be especially true of people who become surrounded by yes men and psychophants.
I’ve seen people try to do sharp wit before that was just nasty, and everyone cringed. We all need a little reality once in a while to keep us between the lines.
I still wonder if “gambling issues” were the reason why in 1993, his Airness ‘retired’ from the NBA.
As competitive as he was, this would not surprise me at all.
When the world worships the ground you walk on, it’s not hard to believe you’re doing them a favor kicking a little dirt in their faces.
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For all of the poor personal life decisions he made off the court, Magic Johnson was more of a professional than Michael Jordan. Magic Johnson was the special kind of player who inspired everyone around them to excel.
I'll never forget game 7 of the 1988 playoff series against the Utah Jazz of which I had the privilege to view inside the Forum. By the 2nd quarter the Lakers were trailing, the crowd deadly silent, the players listless. Then, Magic grabbed a rebound and started a Showtime!(tm) fast break with a pass down court that started a run of points that eventually led to the game going into "garbage time" in the 4th quarter. Magic was magic because he could excite both his teammates and the crowd and all would excel.
Michael Jordan was more of a Kareem or Wilt Chamberlain sort. Wilt, as great of a player as he was, could not carry an entire team. Bill Russell who both had a great team and was more of a team player dominated that era. Kareem was unsuccessful until he got Johnson on his team. Jordan was overshadowed by Magic Johnson and Larry Bird early in his career for the same reason. Once the Chicago Bulls started putting together a good team around him, he started winning championships. There are five people on the court for a reason - it's a team sport.
What is it about Chicago that causes it to produce narcisstic "heroes" (or messiahs)?
I don’t care about his speech- he’s still the best that ever was (until better comes along).
“There is no “I” in team.”
“No, but there his “me”.”
But he learned from the greatest ass of all time. Dean Smith.
Both are libtards.
Jordan is Kanye West is Barack (”I won”) Obama is Serena Williams is “Professor” Henry Louis Gates.
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