Michael Joran Americanization
How does Jordan reflect that historical trajectory?
Michael Mina
Due: 1/31/14
History of Sports
Webster’s dictionary defines the word hero as, “a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities”. Who, however, do we define as a hero in our society? Is it the man who scored 69 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 1989-1990 season? Or that same man who hit the NCAA Championship game winner for North Carolina against Georgetown? How about the man who resurrected a struggling team from the depths and ended its heartache in 1991 with a championship? Maybe even the man who played with the flu in Game 5 of the 1997 finals and continued to wow millions around the world. What about each of these events causes an individual to be considered a hero, not only to a sport, but also to millions around the world? One name hasn’t represented so much, to so many people, since biblical times. Michael Jordan, a man who grew up in a nation divided, a nation struggling, was not as deeply effected as other blacks in the United States were. He excelled in baseball as well as basketball, a sport that was on the ropes, losing money as well as support more rapidly than ever at the professional level. This did not stop him however. Michael, who wasn’t highly recruited, went to the University of North Carolina. He took a Dean Smith system to heights it had never seen before. This was a team that had been close to winning an NCAA championship, but never could finish the job. Jordan changed that, leading the Tar Heels to the 1982 NCAA championship and winning it for them in the final seconds. This was only Jordan’s freshman year at UNC, and he was already grabbing national attention. Although this was arguably the highest accolade Jordan would accomplish during his 3-year NCAA career, when he turned pro it was a completely different story. Michael Jordan joined the Chicago Bulls in 1984, a team that had been a lackluster 27-55
Michael Mina
Due: 1/31/14
History of Sports
Webster’s dictionary defines the word hero as, “a man of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his brave deeds and noble qualities”. Who, however, do we define as a hero in our society? Is it the man who scored 69 points against the Cleveland Cavaliers during the 1989-1990 season? Or that same man who hit the NCAA Championship game winner for North Carolina against Georgetown? How about the man who resurrected a struggling team from the depths and ended its heartache in 1991 with a championship? Maybe even the man who played with the flu in Game 5 of the 1997 finals and continued to wow millions around the world. What about each of these events causes an individual to be considered a hero, not only to a sport, but also to millions around the world? One name hasn’t represented so much, to so many people, since biblical times. Michael Jordan, a man who grew up in a nation divided, a nation struggling, was not as deeply effected as other blacks in the United States were. He excelled in baseball as well as basketball, a sport that was on the ropes, losing money as well as support more rapidly than ever at the professional level. This did not stop him however. Michael, who wasn’t highly recruited, went to the University of North Carolina. He took a Dean Smith system to heights it had never seen before. This was a team that had been close to winning an NCAA championship, but never could finish the job. Jordan changed that, leading the Tar Heels to the 1982 NCAA championship and winning it for them in the final seconds. This was only Jordan’s freshman year at UNC, and he was already grabbing national attention. Although this was arguably the highest accolade Jordan would accomplish during his 3-year NCAA career, when he turned pro it was a completely different story. Michael Jordan joined the Chicago Bulls in 1984, a team that had been a lackluster 27-55