I Never Weighed In On It But...

[birdie_man]

I Never Weighed In On It But...Michael Jordan HOF...

I just watched Michael Jordan's HOF speech a while ago. (my computer was down when he was being inducted) So many people seem to have reacted negatively to his HOF speech.

Brian a long time ago wrote about it. I suppose he was able to relate to or at least understand what MJ was saying.

I just watched it again...and...

What's the big deal??

I mean...no doubt we can assume he is holding back a bunch of information as well.

The truth is man...there are people who will try to screw with you. Even if they make it seem like they aren't.

Michael Jordan put it out in the open without "throwing anyone under the bus." (he mentioned names but it was in good spirit as far as I can tell) Big deal.

Everyone is competitive to some degree and when you are on top...or "closing fast"...or even perceived as some kind of threat (when someone FEELS threatENED)...there are people who are gonna try to make it hard on you.

I am sure Michael Jordan has had to deal with a lot of "attention" in his day.

He kept talking about his competitive nature. I think he was just trying to give us a glimpse of what has driven him all along.

We do not know enough about high performing people as far as I can tell. Who better than Michael Jordan to give us examples of what it can take.

Maybe what he said can help someone else.

 

[birdie_man]

Hey Brian when you get into the Golf Hall Of Fame (not sure teachers can get in there- I may be talking out my arse) you make sure you tell it like you see it.



Brian maybe can talk about The New Orleans Golf Mafia.

Go Saints.

 

[GPM1985]

Hey Brian when you get into the Golf Hall Of Fame (not sure teachers can get in there- I may be talking out my arse) you make sure you tell it like you see it.



Brian maybe can talk about The New Orleans Golf Mafia.

Go Saints.

I think Brian has a little too much class to make the type of speech Jordan did. Even as someone who lived though Chicagoland Bulls/Michael Mania in the 90's, I was set to puke by the time he finished that bitter, tasteless tirade. Why would a guy who is universally recognized as the greatest player of all time feel the need to show up some poor schmuck he played high school ball with 30 years ago? So weak. That's T.O./Ocho Cinco territory, grade-A douchery. I was disappointed.

 

[Phil Rosenbaum]

MJ....not cool.

Does MJ get a pass because he was great playing the game? He did not earn the right to say what he wants because he was great. He was immature and insincere, and, I thought, rude to many of the games other greats during his speech.

 

[Bigwill]

I just watched Michael Jordan's HOF speech a while ago. (my computer was down when he was being inducted) So many people seem to have reacted negatively to his HOF speech.

Brian a long time ago wrote about it. I suppose he was able to relate to or at least understand what MJ was saying.

I just watched it again...and...

What's the big deal??

I mean...no doubt we can assume he is holding back a bunch of information as well.

The truth is man...there are people who will try to screw with you. Even if they make it seem like they aren't.

Michael Jordan put it out in the open without "throwing anyone under the bus." (he mentioned names but it was in good spirit as far as I can tell) Big deal.

Everyone is competitive to some degree and when you are on top...or "closing fast"...or even perceived as some kind of threat (when someone FEELS threatENED)...there are people who are gonna try to make it hard on you.

I am sure Michael Jordan has had to deal with a lot of "attention" in his day.

He kept talking about his competitive nature. I think he was just trying to give us a glimpse of what has driven him all along.

We do not know enough about high performing people as far as I can tell. Who better than Michael Jordan to give us examples of what it can take.

Maybe what he said can help someone else.

I agree with Birdie Man.

I just watched the video, and I didn't see the bitter, vitriolic, vengeful tirade that I've heard so many people describe. The funny thing is that few people say anything about what he said about his family. Jordan's greatness was not merely from his physical skills. There are quite a few players who have matched or exceeded Jordan in those categories. There have been better shooters, ball handlers, distributors, etc. Not many combined that with a competitive spirit that could directly manifest itself on the field of play. He spoke on how his family started that fire, and spoke of different people/events that helped to keep that fire stoked along the way. I never saw it as bitter (what does he have to be bitter about? He came out on top in all of those instances; since when does success breed bitterness?).


I'm not a big Jordan fan. Never was. But I did grow up in a competitive environment. And I am very competitive, so I understand his perspective. I think that people are overreacting to what they perceive as a payback listing ( which, again, dosen't make sense because he already "got his payback"). While pjrgolf saw it as insincere, from my perspective, it was as sincere as anything you'll hear from Jordan.

Ironically, in a country where we celebrate the "You don't think I can do it? Watch me!" attitude in facing challenges, and on a website whose namsake has that same competitive spirit, Jordan gets ripped for speaking about doing just that. On top of that, none of this stuff is new; all of this is part of the Jordan legend.

Maybe I'm missing something. I don't think I am, but having watched the speech after I read the commentary on it, it wasn't nearly what I was expecting.

 

[Phil Rosenbaum]

I do agree that the attitude of proving people wrong is valid, to throw all those guys under the bus and point them out to "mock" or embaress them was not fair. It may have been MJs tone throughout the speech that I disagreed with. he was good, even great but that doesn't give you a pass to say anything you want anytime. I am not judging Mj as much as I am not impressed with his presentation at his HOF induction.

 

[Bigwill]

I see where you're coming from, pjrgolf. I guess it depends on your perspective. It may or may not have embarrassed the individuals, but I really don't think that was Jordan's intent. I think he was just retelling stories that highlighted his competitive nature, and the things that drove him. And I'm kind of surprised that my more people didn't see it that way, after I saw the video. Maybe people felt like it was the big guy picking on the little guy?

We agree on one thing. Being bigger, better, richer, whatever, dosen't give you a free pass to say whatever you want, whenever you want; I'm a strong believer in that. I just didn't see that as being the case here.

Like I said, I guess it's just a matter of perspective.

 

[birdie_man]

I think Brian has a little too much class to make the type of speech Jordan did. Even as someone who lived though Chicagoland Bulls/Michael Mania in the 90's, I was set to puke by the time he finished that bitter, tasteless tirade. Why would a guy who is universally recognized as the greatest player of all time feel the need to show up some poor schmuck he played high school ball with 30 years ago? So weak. That's T.O./Ocho Cinco territory, grade-A douchery. I was disappointed.

I really don't think he was "showing him up" at all.

I bet the "schmuck" has been having good laughs with people he has no doubt been talking to about it. My guess is he will be doing so the rest of his life.

I wouldn't mind to have "bumped Michael Jordan off the high school b-ball team" on my resume.

Maybe it depends on where you're coming from...and how you're thinking about it.

Did you root against Jordan when he was still playing?

 

[birdie_man]

Does MJ get a pass because he was great playing the game? He did not earn the right to say what he wants because he was great. He was immature and insincere, and, I thought, rude to many of the games other greats during his speech.

I saw a lot of smiling faces in the room.

As far as I can tell it was in good spirits. To me.

 

[birdie_man]

I agree with Birdie Man.

I just watched the video, and I didn't see the bitter, vitriolic, vengeful tirade that I've heard so many people describe. The funny thing is that few people say anything about what he said about his family. Jordan's greatness was not merely from his physical skills. There are quite a few players who have matched or exceeded Jordan in those categories. There have been better shooters, ball handlers, distributors, etc. Not many combined that with a competitive spirit that could directly manifest itself on the field of play. He spoke on how his family started that fire, and spoke of different people/events that helped to keep that fire stoked along the way. I never saw it as bitter (what does he have to be bitter about? He came out on top in all of those instances; since when does success breed bitterness?).


I'm not a big Jordan fan. Never was. But I did grow up in a competitive environment. And I am very competitive, so I understand his perspective. I think that people are overreacting to what they perceive as a payback listing ( which, again, dosen't make sense because he already "got his payback"). While pjrgolf saw it as insincere, from my perspective, it was as sincere as anything you'll hear from Jordan.

Ironically, in a country where we celebrate the "You don't think I can do it? Watch me!" attitude in facing challenges, and on a website whose namsake has that same competitive spirit, Jordan gets ripped for speaking about doing just that. On top of that, none of this stuff is new; all of this is part of the Jordan legend.

Maybe I'm missing something. I don't think I am, but having watched the speech after I read the commentary on it, it wasn't nearly what I was expecting.

Thanks BW I agree.

He's competitive...he was joking around...I don't think it's that big a deal.

If you ask me I'd say what does sound a little bitter is complaining about it too much.

Maybe I have missed something. Please let me know. I could be wrong.

Saints win!

(you heard it here first)

 

[self-mastery]

Pjrgolf is showing his own insecurities.

 

[ej20]

I suppose opinions will be divided concerning that speech but I did notice Jordan's family were not smiling much and his brothers squirmed in their seats when Michael made fun of them about their height and size.LOL

Whatever the case is,one thing is for certain....Jordan is no saint.I would expect nothing else really....he's a basketball player,not a Nobel prize winner.

 

[birdie_man]

I suppose opinions will be divided concerning that speech but I did notice Jordan's family were not smiling much and his brothers squirmed in their seats when Michael made fun of them about their height and size.LOL

I'll have to watch it again. (at work right now uh oh)

Whatever the case is,one thing is for certain....Jordan is no saint.

No saint? I don't get it. (perhaps I am uninformed)