What's your favorite MJ memory?

I can't single out just one "moment." Once I do, it seems to overwhelm the countless others that want to come to mind. Pinned against the wall, I'd proclaim the steal from Karl Malone and subsequent game-winning shot in his last Bulls series against Utah.

Still, I rarely think of MJ in terms of a single moment. I almost always think of him as the ultimate WINNER on any playing surface. In my mind, not one athlete has combined supreme ability with an unsurpassed will to emerge victorious. It extended even to his absolutely tenacious and dogged defense. He even won the defensive player of the year award one year and could have won it more.

The sweat always poring down his dome...the close-my-eyes free throws made...the tongue...the ultimate "eye of the tiger"...changing his game to more of an indefensible fadeaway jumper as he grew too old to dunk it bunches of times a game...the total fearlessness in whatever the situation...rising to any challenge.

The Bulls don't come close to winning a single ring without him.

I don't know how to say this..
My favorite memory from Michael Jackson,was probably all the good things he did to the homeless children,children with cancer,and other sicknesses,and..he donated so much money to diffrent charities! He makes the BEST songs in the world. He made the amazing moonwalk,and..all his dances is known all over the world!
Michael is our hero,he is SO kind and warmhearted.
We will NEVER forget him,and I think he will never really be dead,and gone.
He's unbreakable. Even though he's up in heaven,he is surely watching over us. He is still just a regular human,but for us. For me. He's a god.
I love you. Thank you. Amen.

Obviously someone didn't read the blog topic carefully, eh Sofia? RIP indeed to Mr. Jackson, but you got the wrong MJ obviously... more to come from me later on, but I just had to call out Sofia first.

Running into him on Michigan Ave. while he was Christmas shopping.
He had on a hat and scarf and his collar was turned up so no one was really looking at him.
He saw that I recognized him and he just nodded as if to say. "Hi, please don't attract attention to me"
He walked his way and I went on mine.

The whole thing last no more than 15 seconds.

SOFIA - almost killed me! Its ironic, but we were discussing Mike in the barbershop yesterday and there was a comparisson to Michael Jackson, Ophrah, Obama and Ali. I have seen fan adoration, but only Michael Jackson was worshipped. I have a CD of Mike in concert with a 100ft statue standing behind him. Mike stood on stage for about 2 minutes with his chest out and arms by his side, and he didn't say a WORD. A sea of people started wailing and fainting.

I loved CUT-THROAT MJ. One of my most memorable moments of Mike was before the 1992 finals vs the Trailblazers and the media was building Clyde Drexler up! They were calling Clyde the equalizer for Michael Jordan. It had all the build up of a historic Heavyweight Champion fight. Mike's quote: "WHEN THIS SERIES IS OVER, PEOPLE ARE GOING TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HIM...AND ME"!!! That comment made me tear up! That kind of comment comes from the nether regions of mind, heart and scrotum. There was no SHARING THE SPOTLIGHT WITH MIKE! And Clyde Drexler peddled his little squeeky tricycle on back on to Portland! A beaten, unshaven, frazzled coach named Pat Riley once said in cracked voice and glassy eyes "We won't win because HE WON'T LET US".

THANK YOU MICHAEL JEFFREY JORDAN!!! THANK YOU!

I have two Michael Jordan moments which seem to stick out most for me.

#1 was when the Bulls won their first title in the 1990-91 season.

Everyone knew at the time that Michael was a special player. His aerial acrobatics and overall athletic ability were in a class all his own. The media quickly took to MJ as he rose to a media superstar. But for all the records, awards, and shoe endorsements, there was still one goal that was eluding him, an NBA championship.

The Pistons had flat out bullied the Bulls in the three prior seasons. Rodman was tossing Pippen into the scorer’s table and Laimbeer was using those sharp elbows and whatever cheap shot available to intimidate the Bulls. Who could forget the famous all-star game where a jealous Isaiah Thomas would freeze out MJ and refuse to pass to him. There was genuine a fear that for all of Michael’s basketball greatness, he would never win a championship.

As history would eventually show, the Bulls and Michael Jordan would reach that plateau. Nothing could stop the stampede. Not a veteran Pistons team, not a lucky-happy-birthday-game winner three by Sam Perkins in game one, nothing. You couldn’t help but feel good for Michael as he showed true emotion in the victory while clutching the trophy and sobbing uncontrollably.

“I never thought I'd be this emotional, I've never been this emotional publicly."

Chicago was also sharing in the emotion. It had been a while since Chicago had any major sports championship to celebrate. I remember going outside and hearing cars honking and drivers screaming out their car windows as they drove by. Division street was like Mardi Gras North as the party could be seen stretching up and down. It was a just a great feeling. The next day I bought both newspaper pullouts and framed them on my wall. That wall would end up fairly cluttered by chamionship # 6.

# 2 was the ‘Michael Jordan Flu’ game.

Despite battling a nasty stomach virus all week and not being able to practice Michael Jordan led the Bulls to a 90-87 game 5 victory with 38 points and playing 44 of 48 minutes.

It wasn’t just the fact that he played while sick, it’s that he would not allow a loss despite having every opportunity to give up. No one would question him if he couldn’t finish the game or didn’t perform well. He could have just played three quarters and took the loss as a tough road game where the flu caused him to struggle. Michael Jordan would later say,
"That was probably the most difficult thing I've ever done," he would say after the game. "I almost played myself into passing out just to win a basketball game. If we had lost, I would have been devastated."
That’s what defined Michael Jordan, his amazing and obsessive drive to succeed despite any obstacle. As the game ended, we have the famous scene of an exhausted Jordan being help carried off the court by Scottie Pippen. It was something I’ll never forget as you knew you just saw something amazing. Phil Jackson would seem to echo those thoughts, "Because of the circumstances, with this being a critical game in the Finals, I'd have to say this is the greatest game I've seen Michael play. Just standing up was nauseating for him and caused him dizzy spells. This was a heroic effort, one to add to the collection of efforts that make up his legend."

There will never be another Michael Jordan. I am just thankful that I was able to witness so many of those special Bulls teams and of course the Michael Jordan mements.

As Marv alberts once said,
"OH! A SPECTACULAR MOVE BY MICHAEL JORDAN!"

I guess I wasn't the only one who thought this was a blog about Michael Jackson. Well, I recall a cool video that Michael Jordan did with MJ. Jordan was teaching Michael to play basketball and MJ was teaching Jordan to dance. As I recall, MJ was a better basketball player than Jordan was a dancer. RIP, Michael. Keep on pumpin', Jordan.

1997, Game 5 vs. the Jazz in the NBA Finals, series tied 2-2. MJ is in the locker room with the flu, puking almost until the introduction of the starting lineups. The trainers say there is no way he can play. Not only does he play, here's his final line: 38 points, seven rebounds, five assists, three steals and one block. The moment when he practically collapses into Pippen's arms, betraying to all the true level of his physical weakness and fatigue, brought tears and goosebumps and still does. Because in spite of that, whenever that game clock was running, MJ was spectacular. Bulls win. Michael Jordan was simply incapable of losing when it mattered most. It's as if he was just a conduit for the basketball gods to express themselves, the way some musicians report feeling when they are "in the zone." We never saw one like him before, and we'll never see another like him again. Mark my words: 23 will be retired across the NBA. It's the least they can do to honor the greatest.

Having had the ultimate luxury of watching the best basketball player of all time in my viewing lifetime from his rookie year as a Bull and his last shot as a Bull, I would say that my best MJ memories on the court would be MJ's very first game winning shot in an NBA game against the Indiana Pacers during his rookie season and of course, the famous Utah Jazz shot over Byron Russell in the '98 NBA Finals (even though I kinda thought that was an offensive foul push off, but it was an appropriate non-call). YOu still have to give MJ credit for making that shot on the road. It was the stuff of legends. Other great memories were poster dunks on Patrick Ewing, poster dunk on 3 Atlanta Hawks players, the "shrug" in the Portland-Bulls NBA Finals series and then the Ehlo dunk.

Stu... um, wasn't 1998 the final season of the Bulls' Dynasty? You said 1997 above. Hmmm...

My most memorable moment was back in the late eighties. The Bulls were playing a Rick Pitino coached Knicks team and, of course, Pitino had his boys pressing full court. Michael had at least 6 steals, a few assists, and a slew of baskets; but the memory of him dribbling through the press like a Boys and Girls club kid dribbling through the orange cones was unconscious. It was an eye opening experience for a man to display such versatility and athleticism against a professional basketball team like that.

It was then I knew this guy was something special, and because of that leap into the realm of defining his abilities, that stands out in my memories.

Oh wait, never mind Stu... I reread your sentence about the final season and you were correct. My bad. Nice write-up and tribute to MJ!

Let’s See….
A big photo of Michael Jordan right next to the headline posted in the sports section of a Chicago newspapers web site. The same city that Michael Jordan played for and on the day of his induction into the NBA Hall of Fame and you still think that it is about Michael Jackson?

I guess that Sara Palin really does read the news after all.

Screw MJ ... organizations win championships!

My favorite memory of Michael was when he went on the Victory tour with his brothers for the last time...I remember the sequins. The flashing lights and the extraordinary dancing. His glove just sparkled with an extra radiance I had never seen before. All that gyrating he and his brothers did made me and my best friend Clara really moist. Heavans to Betsy I nev...Excuse, me.. What's that you're saying? Jordan. Not Jackson. Ooohhh. Never Mind.

Making the Jam video with the greatest entertainer the world has ever seen Michael Jackson! Jordan was such a good sport trying to learn the dance moves and it is really fun to watch. He is very gracious.

I like this.
Jordan throws a football 65 yards and not only is it a nice spiral but he hits the guy he threw it to.
With his hands and leaping ability he would have made a hell of a WR in the NFL.
If you don't mind the link Stu.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W5iUpm-WtSw

WRD:

That was precious.

Can you do Fire Marshall Bill?

3 defining moments:
1.) when he won the slam dunk contest....that's when he really became
worldwide.
2.) when he hit all them 3's in a row against Portland.
3.) anytime he played in the Garden-OOOO New York used to get so mad.

most memorable??
Actually when he hit a double down the line against the Cubs....
didn't think he could do it actually....but the Sox will sign
anyone to try to fill the seats. They don't really care about winning.
They are content to be a side show...with baseball being a distant
second priority. Now the Cubs....that's a team serious about winning.

LMAO AT SOFIA,,,,,,TWO TOTALLY DIFFERENT BALL games.my fave was the flu.....and i think stockton and robinson and sloan r great stockton in my opinton was the best pure point guard that ever played...what a class act of inductees...

So who's this Michael Jackson character ya'll talking bout? LOL
Well back in the spring of '95 I had only been married to my late wife a few months and she had decided to quit working and stay home. She had been working the 3/11 shift the entire 3 years we had been together to that point so the fact that she didn't like basketball had not been an issue. The night MJ came back from his first retirement we sat down after dinner and I told her that since there really wasn't anything worth watching on TV that night I wanted to watch MJ's first game back. She said no problem she'd sit there working on her quilt. Well next thing I know she's asking me questions about why that was a foul or hey wasn't that a foul? Two nights later as we're sitting down to eat dinner she asked if the Bulls were playing that night and they were, once again she was asking me about what was a foul and what wasn't and why. She was disappointed when the Bulls were eliminated from the play-offs that year but was like oh well that was fun. The following season she watched every game and even taped the games for me when I had to work the 3/11 shift but what amazed me was that during the play-offs she was like a rabid dog when ever a call went against the Bulls especially if the call was against MJ, Pip or Rodman. There were many times she literally jumped out of her chair and started calling refs names I can't print here LOL. I'd go fix her a rum and coke and tell her to sit down and relax. She'd take her drink sit down and mutter a few more explitives under her breath. Watching her during the play-offs during the Bulls last 3 Championships was a sideshow in itself. In the years following the Championship years and up until she died in May of 2002 she had become quite the talent evaluator. So I have many fond memories thanks to Michael Jordan.
Stu responds: Tim, thanks for sharing that touching story, and my sympathies on your loss.

Dear Mr. Jerry (Crumbs) Kraus(e); I'm sorry but that last pork chop must have thrown you into the world of senility. You've forgotten how to spell your own name properly!

Next up you'll be calling AAA because you're stuck in a Texas Winter!

After listening to MJ's Hall of Fame speech last night, that might actually be the one for me to remember later in my lifetime. I mean, wow, talk about pulling no punches. There will absolutely be no one else like MJ again, ever.

Tim, again, you have me totally in awe with another story that I very much appreciated. This guy is one of my favorite story tellers. And Mark I wrote this using my Fire Marshall Bill voice. Do I have that voice down or what?

"After listening to MJ's Hall of Fame speech last night, that might actually be the one for me to remember later in my lifetime. I mean, wow, talk about pulling no punches."

He sounded rather bitter, or perhaps a better word would be vindictive. I was expecting something more than, "I told you so."

Tim, you grabbed my heart strings with your story. I'm really sorry about her passing.

My wife is somewhat similar with baseball (White Sox) and it started in much the same way. She began with questions that an extra terrestrial might ask like "Why don't they run to those other bases first? It's always that one to the right." Yeah, it wasn't even Baseball 101, more like remedial level for people who know absolutely nothing about sports on earth. She went crazy in '05 from her hospital bed as the Sox made their way to the World Series. Now, she yells at umps even when they make the obvious correct calls! It's like, "Honey, please relax...it's o.k."

She still hates all other sports however. She might have a tough nine months ahead of her with the Bears and Blackhawks.

I guess when he caught his hair on fire for Pepsi....I mean the story of Emmanual Lewis trying to straddle MJ and pat his head out is enough to never ofrget..

Bucket McCaulkin has a nice ring to it

I'm listening to Billy Jean right this second and selling maps to his childhood home....

don't say Jesus Juice 3 times real fast, tho...he'll come back

Villy - Mike was being Mike. He can't turn it off like a switch. Mike's competitive juices are dark and scary. Up close and personal they show a man that seems petty. But that attitude also made him the BEST EVER. Mike was the ultimate competitor. Some people can talk jive, but Michael would back his up. And while they were grinning and laughing about the comment, Mike was processing in the back of his mind what it would take to make that person eat those words. HEART OF A CHAMPION. And this is why Mike stayed away from interviews. Somebody warned him, and he was smart to listen. I enjoyed hearing the other inductees also. Stockton was good and so was Vivian Stringer and Sloan. Admiral was just too glee-clubby.

Tim - Bittersweet story!

Gig - You left out the Bulls.

Keith, what happened to you? It wasn't too long ago when you were down on the Bulls. Edgar had you convinced. Now, as the season gets closer, you can't resist but fall into their trap. I sense that Edgar is softening as well. You guys are too funny. Of course, I left out the Bulls--for good reason. Oh, did I miss something? Did MJ follow up his HOF speech with another comeback? If that's the case, I'm on board.

You nailed it William!

Your condolences and comments are well appreciated guys thank you.
Gig I shudder to think what it may have like trying to explain hockey, off sides, slashing, hooking, icing, high sticking, tripping, why one miconduct is a five minute penalty and another is a gamer. Had no problem going to the man cave in the basement and watching the 27" portable for that LOL.
Michael took no prisoners on the court (that would be Michael Jordan on the court not Michael Jackson in court) , I didn't expect him to be humble and merciful in his speech. In some respects it was refreshing to hear something other than basketball been berry berry good to me I been lucky to have the chance to play.

MJ with Al Franken on SNL

I have to agree with you on that one Hitman. That SNL bit was a classic. Oh, by the way, Al Franken's "I'm good enough...smart enough...people like me" routine must have worked wonders as it eventually took him to become U.S. Senator from Minnesota.

Tim, if I was half the storytelling talent that you are, I'd be doing more novels than the blogs. Thanks for sharing the stories. Villano, I'd rather hear someone make a speech direct from the heart than someone talking with fancy words that many people like to hear, but don't really mean it. And lastly, Gig, no way will I ever soften up on my Bulls. I'm just a realist and I'll say it like it is and with that particular team, I'm almost always correct than I am wrong. I'm definitely not shy to say that about the Bullies. But like I said, I don't think they'll be horrible this coming season, but it's just clear that JR & co. have decided to take a step back to arm themselves for the 2010 FA bidding war. With the way JR's about to get burned by the Peavy and Rios acquisitions on the White Sox and the constant whining about the attendance figures at US Cellular, there's nothing there that tells me that JR & GarPax will pull off any bold trades this coming season to help out the Bulls even if they start the season strong and are in contention at the trade deadline. That's not being soft on the Bulls, it's just the same pattern that I've been seeing in the last 10+ years of the post-Jordan era.

"Villano, I'd rather hear someone make a speech direct from the heart than someone talking with fancy words that many people like to hear, but don't really mean it."

If that's the way he feels after the magnificent career that he had, then that's truly regretable.

When a player's accomplishments and his or her collective body of work leave them so far above the competition that they need a telescope to get a good look at them, I don't see the need to wag a finger at the vanquished.

Taunting in the heat of the moment, on the field of play is one thing. Taunting ten years after the fact is just plain sad.

Gig I was adding my own brand of sarcasm. You are right of course.
I thought this was only fair. It put MJ in his proper perspective.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Humble and reflective earlier in the day, Michael Jordan showed again Friday night why his competitive fire never will be extinguished as he officially entered the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

Jordan nearly trash-talked his way through his acceptance speech, thanking all those slights -- real and perceived -- for adding "wood to the fire" and motivating him in his unparalleled career.

He then closed with a tantalizing thought.

"One time you might look up and see me playing the game at 50," Jordan said, drawing chuckles. "Oh, don't laugh. Never say never because limits, like fears, are often just an illusion."

Almost no one was spared in his mostly good-natured remarks:

--Legendary North Carolina coach Dean Smith for forbidding Jordan, then a freshman, to pose for a magazine cover.

--Leroy Smith, whom Jordan invited, for making the Wilmington (N.C.) E.A. Laney High varsity over him and the coach who made that decision: "I wanted to make sure he knew, 'You made a mistake, dude.' "

--The Hall of Fame for raising ticket prices for his induction.

--Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf for putting him on a minutes limit when he returned after breaking his foot in his second season.

--Former general manager Jerry Krause for his infamous quote about organizations, not players, winning championships. Jordan did add: "The whole Bulls organization did a great justice for me and my teammates."

-- Pat Riley. Isiah Thomas. Jeff Van Gundy, whom he called "the little guy." Bryon Russell. And many others.

"Thank you so much for giving me that motivation that I desperately needed," Jordan said. "I always did whatever I had to do to win."

Jordan cried as he first took the stage and credited Scottie Pippen, part of a large Bulls contingent that included Toni Kukoc, Steve Kerr, John Paxson, Dennis Rodman, Charles Oakley, Ron Harper and Randy Brown.

He thanked his family, crediting them for providing much of his competitive spirit. He called his mother Deloris "a rock" and "an unbelievable woman."

This sentimental side matched Jordan's mood earlier Friday, when he tried to deflect accepting the title of the Greatest of All-Time.

"When people say that, I cringe a little bit," Jordan said. "I never played against Jerry West. I never played against Elgin Baylor. I never played against Wilt Chamberlain."

Then came a brief pause, one of the most marketed smiles in history and another glimpse of what drove Jordan to Friday's honor.

"I would've loved to, though," he said.

Jordan headed a high-profile Hall of Fame class that included Spurs center David Robinson, Jazz guard John Stockton, Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and Rutgers coach C. Vivian Stringer.

He thanked coach Phil Jackson for "challenging me at times I needed to be challenged" and "mentally expanding my outlook about the game and my perception of my teammates."

Jordan delivered the line of the day when detailing his goal of changing the Bulls from a losing franchise to a championship one.

"I remember having a conversation with Tex Winter, who was an unbelievable coach," Jordan said. "I was coming off the floor and I had scored like 20 points in a row to win the game.

"Tex reminded me there's no 'I' in team. I looked back at Tex and said, 'There's an 'I' in win."

Ultimately, that's what Jordan was about. For those who forgot, he offered another reminder as he rode into basketball's most hallowed hall.

Villano, if you interpreted MJ's HoF speech as a taunting display, then I don't think you understood what he was saying. Did you even listen to his entire speech from beginning to end or did you just read bits of and pieces of his quotes in news editorials and columns? Say what you will, MJ's still the greatest ever and he told a story based on pure facts while speaking from the heart, which is a helluva lot better than sugar coating words like a written apology statement that typically rings hollow in a public setting.

Villano, if you interpreted MJ's HoF speech as a taunting display, then I don't think you understood what he was saying."

Anyone who doesn't know that Krause was a tool didn't pay much attention during the championship years. I guess Jordan felt that there were a few people in the room who didn't get that bullitin.

If I may speak my mind; I do think that Jordan was the best player ever in the NBA, but I don't admire him quite as much as a person. He's never had much use for the fans who buy his $200 shoes, and I seriously doubt that many of the players he won all those championships with consider him a friend in the truest sense of the word.

And when was the last time he was a guest on any of the sports radio talk shows that spent an entire decade singing his praises? He can't be bothered with stuff like that.

Which is why I've been drifting further and further away from sports in general.

Villy - I felt the same way about Mike on the personal tip. I loved what the man could do inside the lines and mainly because he was great at it, but moreso because he was in Chicago. I never owned a pair of those Jordans and not just because I couldnt afford them. Scotty was my favorite Bull but he is a dolt also. And I heard that both are incredibly cheap and that bothers me greatly because they cheat the poor by not tipping.

A lot of folks don't know or respect Michael the person. I think that is something that's downplayed. But the man is human. And you will learn that about a lot of humans once you get to really know them. Not many folks have redeeming character. We are in the current economic crisis because the average person - simply does not care. Not the majority, but enough to make the world pretty crummy at times.

Well, never in any of my posts have I ever said that MJ was a great person in real life. I know he has serious character faults with the gambling habits, the infidelity issues in his personal life, etc. I don't even kiss up to him like many people do with superstar sports and entertainment celebrities. I think all the fame and fortune is poison to all people regardless of ethnicity and perceived high moral character. I've seen people who were once considered my close friend/s warp into someone different when they became rich or famous or powerful or whatever. All I ever said about MJ's speech was that at least it wasn't full of the typical b.s. cliche talk with his pals in the basketball fraternity. Obviously MJ won't win many humanitarian awards writing an autobiography of himself, but at least he kept it real in his induction speech. That's the key. He stayed true to himself to the very end, whether you like him or not. I just don't let all that negative stuff eat me up inside like it's apparently doing with even some of the regular FCP bloggers here.

I agree Jordan was the ultimate trained killer on the court...

Off the court...that is the dirty little secret his cronies in the press kept quiet. Got so bad he had referees pimping for him on the road.

If Wilt did 10,000 (oe was it 20,0000?), Jordan had to be right there...

I guess I'm not alone:

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/basketball/bulls/1771603,michael-jordan-speech-15.article

I guess after your playing days are over and the lights aren't there anymore guys are left with just the memories that got them there. Jordan said all the things he wanted to say but couldn't when he was making Space Jam and selling Ballpark franks. The fans love you when you are humble and down to earth. Once Mike realized that he can't sell anything but underwear and his teams can't win he can drop the facade and tell it like it is. Damon Wayans once had a routine where he said that when you make good money they cart you out and ask you questions knowing you will answer with money in mind. Since Wayans was funny and street he worded it in a much nastier way than I did. But the thought is the same. When you are making that money you're trying to build that bridge where you can make more. Look at Mike, now. He was rich and married and now he's not as rich because he isn't married anymore. All he has is his part-time job as a G.M., kids every other weekend and all the Hanes he can stand. In his shoes I would be cutting up guys too.

Right, Villano. It's funny you mention that article by Potash because the Sun Times also published an article by its very own Bulls beat writer, John Jackson, who was very complimentary of Jordan's HoF induction speech. If you want to play that little copy and paste game, I can certainly oblige myself.

http://www.suntimes.com/sports/basketball/1766617,CST-SPT-mj12.article

Bottom line, your opinion on the matter is no better than mine. Potash's opinions are no more impressive than John Jackson's, but if anyone should have a more credible opinion on the matter, I would think it would be someone like John Jackson who has been covering the Bulls inside and out for many years now with S-T instead of a non-regular sports commentary columnist. Look, I'm not looking to convert you into a Jordan idolizer. Bottom line, MJ is what he is whether you like him or not as a person.

Villy - I read your link and saw the poll and a lot of people didn't really like the speech. But below the article was the blog posts. And some of those guys nailed it. I hope everyone commenting went back and saw the entire speech on youtube. I really don't believe everyone saw the entire speech based on their comments. People were saying things like he didn't thank his family/teammates - and that was flat out wrong. I honestly don't think Potash saw the entire speech. Michael did a few things he never did as an athlete. Cried on stage and told people what HE thought. Everything else was just a corporate concoction. And that Potash guy was looking for another commercial, but was too blind to see he had something more valuable - the truth.

Michael could have wrote a book about what he told us on the stage and made another grip off it. Tony Roberts and all kinds of jokers are pimping that information from the Whitehouse to the Pulpit. What motivated the greatest basketball player ever was - he stood up to a put down. SKIP Byron Russell! Mike was following his dream playing baseball and sucking at it - until Byron came along and opened his big mouth! And Michael didn't have a wise comeback at the time. It probably hurt to his core. MJ didn't throw a punch or hurl an expletive. He put down his bat and put on his shorts. Money cannot buy that kind of insight.

My favorite part of the Jordan speech was when he was going into his Stockton story...camera on Stockton looking uncomfortable moving to a shot on Sloan with a look as if to say "WTF - r u effin kidding me...this is a HoF speech".

Priceless..

"Villy - I read your link and saw the poll and a lot of people didn't really like the speech."

If you thought that was rough ........

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/columns/story?columnist=reilly_rick&id=4477759

Villano still fishing for writers to side with his Jordan argument. It's becoming like an obsession now....

"Villano still fishing for writers to side with his Jordan argument."

I've found quite a few of them. His induction speech has been almost universally panned.

Still don't understand what you're trying to prove when most people, including myself, have already acknowledged that Jordan's not a Saint in real life. Of course you've found a few of them. Just pointing out your latest obsession with trashing MJ and your last post just proved it. By the way, has MJ ever been arrested for something despite all his seemingly character flaws? I don't think so, but hey, he's just a terrible guy for his "taunting" speech! Self righteous Villano and his Internet professional writing pals say so, read their opinions everyone! Oh my...