Here’s what’s fantastic about MJ”s speech. The fact that I’m even writing about it means there will likely be comments. Even if I make it clear that I have no problem with the speech, his supporters will say he shouldn’t be criticized. Even if I laugh openly (and I am) about how much of a complete classless jackass he looked like last night (and he did), people will find fault with not condemning his speech. But I’m doing neither.
I asked Trey about it, and he summed it up nicely.
“100% Jordan. Human, but vindictive assh*le. And pretty funny. I loved it.”
And that’s what it comes down to. If you’ve spent your whole life worshipping Michael Jordan and having shielded yourself from the fact that Jordan as a human being is as fault-filled as the rest of us (and probably a little more so if you dig judgment), you’re not going to suddenly throw out your jerseys, posters, and shoes just because it’s become blatantly obvious that Jordan’s kind of a ruthless SOB. You’re going to support him, because what he gave you was an icon, and the greatest basketball player of all time. That’s what the enshrinement was about. Him as a player. And in that regard, his speech perfectly reflected his career. And it shouldn’t, and won’t change anyone’s perception of him.
I mean, look no further than KD’s brilliant tome yesterday about what MJ means to his fans. He’s everything to them. And Dwyer (wisely) didn’t watch the HOF speeches. But I have a hard time believing, as the criticism of Mike’s “Half-Baked-esque” speech starts blooming across the web, that anyone’s opinion of Jordan will change if they did care enough to watch. He’s still the icon, the smiling face in Space Jam, the guy that you’re supposed to look up to because he was so awesome at basketball, the hero to millions. What he means to people won’t change. Nor should it.
There was no revelation last night. This is who he is, who he’s always been. I’ve long thought that there are two types of competitiveness. There are those that seek to be the absolute best at what they do. They strive for greatness, for glory, to accomplish the most they possibly can. And there are others whose entire universe is built around destroying their opponent. There’s being the best, and there’s “being better than everyone else.” And they are different, though the separation is subtle. This is who Jordan is. It’s why he shrugged. It’s why he reveled in moments when he not only buried the last second game-winner, but did it in his defender’s face. It’s why the tongue wagged and he walked with more swagger than anyone. He loved beating people. So it’s no surprise that on his night, he chose to celebrate his career by shoving it in everyone’s face. Last night he put a clinic on Pat Riley, Byron Russell, John Starks, Isiah Thomas, and Jerry Krauss. “IN YOUR FACE, PEOPLE THAT ANGERED ME TWENTY YEARS AGO!”
The reason I have no problem with this is that the Hall isn’t about him as a person. It’s startling that the greatest player in league’s history is such a jackass, and not so awesome for all of the glorification of him as not only a player but as a cultural entity, but his play is honestly worthy of all that praise. He deserves his own room at the hall. And he deserves to be end his career in the public eye in whatever way he chooses. And he chose to end it by shoving it in people’s face and saying “Sucks to be you” to his kids. That’s just how the Greatest Player of All Time rolls. I’m not going to tell him differently, are you?
It’s his night, let the man have his fun. We’ve been falling over ourselves for so wrong, what’s wrong with doing it one more night on the precipice of his final ride into the sunset?
I mean, sure, it sucks that John Stockton and David Robinson, who seem to counter Jordan’s entire attitude throughout their entire careers much less Friday night had to spend it being overshadowed by MJ, but I’m sure they take it as an honor to enter next to the GOAT. If you respect the man’s game first, which is the context we’re talking about, everything else is secondary.
This is not to say that he doesn’t deserve attention for it. We’ve so long brushed off the rather sad mess his life has become and the continued bursts of attention from him that seem to indicate that he still wants to get back out thee, not because he actually can (ask Wizards fans), but because it’s everything to him. And it’s admirable that he’s that devoted to the game he loves. But it’s also pretty sad that this is what defines him. It’s sad to look at that on this level. It stunned me last night to realize that Ron Artest probably has more going for him than Michael Jordan as far as a complete life goes. Try and wrap your brains around that.
But like I said, nothing should or will change after last night. The Greatest went into the Hall, his fans love how human and honest he was, the rest of us are kind of uncomfortable and a little put off by how bitter and sad he seemed, but hey, he scored a lot of points and won a ridiculous amount of games, so it’s cool. But something else changed for me last night.
I’ve long despised Kobe because of what I perceived as his arrogance. He always seemed so smug and so absolute in his confidence about his game. But the first thing I thought after the video ended on my little screen? “Kobe would NEVER do that.” When Kobe enters the Hall, he’s going to thank his coaches, especially Jackson, even after their problems. He’s going to thank his teammates. He’s going to thank his family, and while there are certainly jokes to be made in that arena, there’s no question he loves his daughters and his wife. This isn’t to say Kobe’s any more or less of a good teammate than he was yesterday. He’s still got selfish tendencies, and is still an amazing leader and an incredible passer. But to look at Kobe’s actions which are much more honest thank Jordan’s were when he was playing, and to say they are arrogant when compared to what Jordan showed of himself last night. I can’t imagine when it’s time to close the book on Kobe’s illustrious career, that there will be anything in him but humility and graciousness.
The lesson, as always, is to only view these players for what they do on the floor, and to not spend your time looking at them as people too deeply, unless they’re putting themselves out there for good deeds. A few weeks ago I watched the Tracy McGrady doc, 3-Points. This is a guy who is constantly ragged on about his work ethic, leadership, character, and value because he gets hurt a lot and hasn’t been on a team that advanced to the second round. This is also a guy who has given an insane amount of his time to a cause that doesn’t get near enough attention. These issues are all either more complicated or simpler than they seem, and I wrestle with which it is.
In closing, IN YOUR FACE, HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER WHO SAID I WOULD END UP WORKING IN A GAS STATION!
Rate this post!
Well said. I did not have the chance to follow MJ’s career in its entirety, as I was too young, but always held up in very high regard since the mass public always proclaimed him as God as a person and player.
After the speech I lost some respect for MJ. Kobe and MJ are in the same class in terms of competitive instincts, and sure Kobe has been arrogant and selfish through his career similar to MJ. You were right on point when stating your first thought after the speech regarding Kobe.
I wish he would have channeled his passion and competitiveness more towards the LOVE of the game like he briefly mentioned. The game itself should have been the focal point rather than the words and actions of others that added to fuel to his fire.
jordan loves to talk trash – always did, always will! jordan loves to win all sports – i wish i had his life! now or then! word!!!!
My favorite part was when they cut to Stockton while MJ was talking about Byron Russel… Stockton’s face said “Mike, you are being an asshole man, c’mon.”
My own feelings on the speech are mixed. Parts of it do seem really petty… the Russel part for instance. But it’s also who he is and parts of it are damn funny. I pretty much agree with everything you said.
[...] So strange that the king of last second heroics would miss so badly on this, his final attempt. No matter how much spin that scripted, staff writer spiel about limits, fears, illusions and various other nonsense puts on the ball, we’ll always hear those first 22 minutes clanking off the rim. We should have heard it coming a long time ago. [...]
[...] So strange that the king of last second heroics would miss so badly on this, his final attempt. No matter how much spin that scripted, staff writer spiel about limits, fears, illusions and various other nonsense puts on the ball, we’ll always hear those first 22 minutes clanking off the rim. We should have heard it coming a long time ago. [...]
“There are those that seek to be the absolute best at what they do. They strive for greatness, for glory, to accomplish the most they possibly can. And there are others whose entire universe is built around destroying their opponent.”
This is what fundamentally separates a guy like kobe and MJ. And why Kobe Bryant nor in all likelihood anyone be another Jordan. Truth is there is something almost Desperate about MJ’s need to win, in that losing would be like taking the very air out of his breath. But in the end for better or worse that almost sociopathic quality is what gives Michael the edge over guys like KB and LBJ.
[...] as he rose to the top. In my opinion, the speech was a home run, and some people agree with me. Some feel that it was classless and arrogant. Maybe it was both, but you can decide for yourself. Here are all three parts of the [...]
You mentioned that his “fans loved how human and honest” he was. Let me tell you…NOT TRUE. I am that guy who has made videos, collages, songs (“the kobe jordan song”), poems, drawings about MJ. That guy who is teased for his “man love” of Michael. However I can’t stand up for what he did on that night and all these fans who are standing up for him are just doing what we always do with Mike, looking the other way. While I do agree that his intentions were to kind of “roast” the entire NBA who churned his competitive edge, this was one step too far. He already burned everyone, over and over, for 15 years. There was NO NEED to do it on the day when he was supposed to be gracious and humble. My man love for his game is still on high, but my respect for the person has dropped a few notches.
jordan started by crediting pip. he had david thompson induct him because he felt thompson didn’t get the credit he deserved. he then credited all the people who provided the fresh mental challenges he needed thruout his career.
sure he took a few jabs along the way.. but thats mike. trash-talking to the end. but i don’t think the message was missed..
he made clear who and what he was once and for all.. he was/is a tremendously competitive person whose experiences and drive were built from the constant challenges of the world around him..
people idolized him because of his relentless passion for his craft. if u can’t recognize that u’ve missed out on the jordan experience. its nt sth ure gonna get from lebron or kobe.
and. that artest comparison was way over the top and totally spurious.
[...] lot of people found MJ’s speech to be in bad taste. (For example, here, here, here, here, and here.) Others, like Michael Wilbon, said that was just Mike being [...]
MJ has a very unique speech, but i don’t find it in bad taste at all. When you get inducted your supposed to tell stories about your career and what made you a hall of famer. MJ, did just this. His will to do absolutley anything to win, and drive to be better than everyone else is what made him the best ever. How do you just turn this off? It would have been weird to have him go up there and say thanks Isiah for freezing me out, when he hates the guy. Was his speech different than everyone elses, absolutley yes. I just don’t think you can fault a guy for being himself though, since that is what made him the greatest of all time.
i saw the speech – for the 1st time – and it just looks like playful trash talk – like jordan always do – and he did thank his fam and teammates – what the hell is wrong with u people! he was talking about what makes him tick!!
remember kobe the snitch
If you really want to see a classless @hole, you will have to wait for either Kobe or Shaq to be inducted.
IN an effort to prove how smart sophisticated and intellectually superior that you are, you people(media and fake media) take yourselves and the athletes/celebrities that you cover way too seriously.
This was the most “classless” HOF speech that I have ever witnessed. As I sat there, I was in total shock listening to him rant and rave about pass transgressions, real and or imagined committed against him. I was embarrassed to find MJ so clueless and without a touch of class.
If he were to work as hard as a GM as he said worked to prove everyone wrong on the court, then maybe, just maybe, his team (Charlotte Bobcats) will be more competitive. You can’t be a de facto GM which he is and expect to succeed. I am glad that Abe Pollen stood his grounds and prestidigitation him from the Wizards. BTW—when he came back to the Wizards to play for those two years, he sat the franchise back 5 years because he was still the ball hog and it eventually stunted the growth of promising players. I admire MJ’s skills as a basketball player but as a basketball GM and as a person, he leaves a lot to be desired.
His statement: “Republicans buys tennis shoes too.” will live forever in the hearts of many North Carolinians.
It was a terrible speech either way. It was in some terrible middle ground, vindictive and petty without being honest or entertaining about it. Had he not tried to cloak his attacks in a terrible, awkward “thanks for fueling my fire” bull, then I could have loved it.
If he’d just come out and said “you were wrong, dude” to his HS coach and You wanted a piece of me?, you got a piece of me. How’d you like it?” to Bryon Russel.
So, for me, it wasn’t necessarily the pettiness, the vindictiveness that made it a bad speech. It was the execution that made it bad.
you people clearly did not read the entirety of this post .
[...] On Michael Jordan’s Hall Of Fame Speech by Matt Moore @ Hardwood Paroxysm [...]