By Matt Sanders
As we have been approaching the last few in our countdown, the sportsmen are genuinely one of, if not the best at what they do. In this instance, it is just an unquestionable fact. Yes, just missing out on the number one spot is the basketball player NBA have named as the best of all time, Michael Jordan.
Jordan dominated the world of basketball for over a decade, gaining legendary status as a leading star of the Chicago Bulls and cementing himself in basketball folklore forever.
At number 9, I said how Kobe Bryant had pretty much done it all and won it all. Well Jordan has done this too, and then some. He won six NBA championships with the Bulls, was named MVP five times and was scoring champion a massive ten times. He was a fourteen-time all-star player, won multiple slam dunk contests and was steal champion three times (google him if you want to see an extensive list of his achievements, it’s huge)
In 1993 Jordan retired from Basketball and began a new career as a minor-league baseball player – pretty much because he can. Needless to say, he was nowhere near as good of a baseball player as he was basketball player. In fact one of Jordan’s colleagues at the Chicago White Sox reportedly said that he couldn’t hit a curve ball with an ironing board.
In 1995 Jordan returned to the NBA with a simple press release that would thrill fans across the world “I’m back.” Thus continuing his assault on the NBA records and ensuring himself a place in the NBA hall of fame.
Wait, there’s more.
In 1996 Jordan starred in the live action/animated film Space Jam. A film where he was sucked down a golf hole to play basketball with the looney tunes against aliens that stole their talent from NBA players. I know what you’re thinking. Such a gripping sounding narrative could have only done really well? Well, no, it didn’t. Still, it will always have a special place in my heart for the awesome soundtrack and at times hilariously bad acting. Another example of why sports stars should steer clear of acting – Vinnie Jones, I’m looking at you.
Another plus from Space Jam was the revelation that, even though he was the most skilled basketball player on the planet Michael ‘Air’ Jordan was still superstitious:
Michael Jordan: Whatever you do, don’t forget my North Carolina shorts.
Daffy Duck: Your shorts? From College?
Michael Jordan: I wore them under my Chicago Bulls uniform every game.
Looney Tunes: Eeewwww!
Ew, indeed. To hide his lucky shorts Jordan wore longer shorts over the top of them, which inspired the long shorts fashioned in basketball to this day.
Jordan also lent his name to Nike for their Air Jordan range, which still sells incredibly well.
Ladies and Gentlemen, Michael Jordan, basketball all-star, baseball player, actor, entrepreneur and number two on our list of top black sportsmen of all time.
