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The Michael Jordan HOF Speech


Mac the Knife

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If he really felt he needed to say all that stuff, then that's on him. But he was the greatest player of all time. The NBA is so desperate to get the excitement back from the Jordan days that they are always prematurely telling people that James or Bryant could be the next Jordan when neither will ever come close. Seeing Jordan play live and in his prime will be one of the greatest basketball-related memories for a lot of people. That is the kind of power he has over basketball and everyone involved in it. He is the only person that would ever get away with the things he said, but that doesn't mean he should have said them. Then again, he earned the right to be able to say anything he wants. I think his statistics and the remarkable way he played should be enough though.

 
 
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A lot of it didn't really feel that offensive, honestly, like the "shots" at Riles and Van Gundy and Russell. I took it as good-natured ball-busting that goes on between the best of the best.

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If he really felt he needed to say all that stuff, then that's on him. But he was the greatest player of all time. The NBA is so desperate to get the excitement back from the Jordan days that they are always prematurely telling people that James or Bryant could be the next Jordan when neither will ever come close. Seeing Jordan play live and in his prime will be one of the greatest basketball-related memories for a lot of people. That is the kind of power he has over basketball and everyone involved in it. He is the only person that would ever get away with the things he said, but that doesn't mean he should have said them. Then again, he earned the right to be able to say anything he wants. I think his statistics and the remarkable way he played should be enough though.

Incorrect.

While the NBA most certainly markets their stars above teams, the league and their advertising arms don't ever try to pump someone up to be the next MJ. That's totally the national sports media and especially the local sports meatballs who are so blinded by homereroticism that they think their guy is the best thing since sliced bread. No one loved MJ more than David Stern, and he wouldn't dare say anyone is the next MJ, near MJ, or better than MJ. Who in their right mind has said LeBron and/or Kobe are the next MJ anyway? I think people only bring up the question so they can say in how many ways Kobe/Bron Bron aren't MJ. No one ever says they are. The NBA just loves to showcase its stars. Maybe that really started with MJ, but putting certain dudes in every telecast and ad campaign isn't desperation for the excitement of the 90s, it's what they've been doing for the last 20 plus years.

On January 16, 2013 at 3:49 PM, NJTank said:

Btw this is old hat for Notre Dame. Knits Rockne made up George Tip's death bed speech.

 

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I actually thought he was quite humbled when he first got up there and starting crying, uttering that when you saw him winning championships, you saw Scottie and the Bulls too. He went on to thank everyone from his high school coach to Pat Riley for motivating him to reach the level of success he's had. Growing up I was never an MJ fan either, in fact I always despised him for knocking my team out in '97 and '98 but in time, things change. After hearing his speech and pre-ceremony interviews, I have more respect for MJ than ever before. I think he?s a very well spoken and classy guy.

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I lost all respect I had for Michael after he game back the first time and started getting egregious passes from the refs. Anyone whose seen his game winning shot against Utah in the 98 finals knows what I mean.

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Firstly, I don't care how many rings he has or how much money he made or how many jerseys he sold. He'll always be a distant second behind one Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain.

While I admire the guy for shooting from the hip, it seems like he pretty much took out his member and slapped everyone in the face with it. And you know what? That's what I don't like about him. It's like he expects to be treated differently because he's Michael Jordan. Same with Tiger Woods and the Williams sisters.

If it wasn't for your teammates, your trainers, your coaches, your fans, you'd just be another basketball player -- a dime-a-dozen "balla" with an average career who spends the time between the end of his NBA career at age 32 and then having to fall back on his college education to get... *gasp*... a real job.

If you're going to bash people, don't do it when you're being honored. He was ungrateful, mean, and frankly, undeserving of such an honor.

philly.png

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If you're going to bash people, don't do it when you're being honored. He was ungrateful, mean, and frankly, undeserving of such an honor.

Forgive me for debating this, it?s nothing personal?.but what are you talking about, who exactly did he bash with reckless abandon?

I honestly don?t understand what everybody expected!?! Michael Jordan has been showered with the title of ?The Greatest Ever? since the 90?s, and yet he?s never proclaimed himself to be just that. What I got from MJ?s speech was that he was genuine, funny, and very honored to be there?.regardless of who he put on the spot while he was at the helm.

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If it wasn't for your teammates, your trainers, your coaches, your fans, you'd just be another basketball player -- a dime-a-dozen "balla"

I feel this is somewhat dishonest in that it almost totally dismisses his individual talents, like a drive to succeed that did separate him from "dime-a-dozen" NBA players.

♫ oh yeah, board goes on, long after the thrill of postin' is gone ♫

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I interned with the Washington Wizards and sat in a player's lunch once. It was my co-workers (three of us), a trading card rep, the caterer and the players, and that's it.

I'll say this: The smiling, controlled Michael Jordan in the Hanes commercials is nothing like the profane, braggadocios bully I saw. He was the center of attention the entire time, controlled conversation among the players, put them all down, trash talked, and was generally an ass.

But he's also the best ever. As far as I'm concerned, let him say whatever he wants.

I met him a few times at a golf tournament here in Tahoe and I have to agree. I couldn't believe just how much of a dirty-mouthed jackass he was. But, that was behind closed doors and with Charles Barkley. And really, who doesn't show a different side of themselves around close friends behind closed doors?

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On 11/19/2012 at 7:23 PM, oldschoolvikings said:
She’s still half convinced “Chris Creamer” is a porn site.)
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In a follow-up to Jordan calling our Bryon Russell in his HOF speech. It should be interesting to see how this pans out....

$100K offered for Jordan-Russell charity duel

LEHI, Utah -- The owner of the Utah Jazz's NBA Development League team wants to see Michael Jordan go 1-on-1 against Bryon Russell one more time.

Brandt Andersen is offering a $100,000 donation to the charity of the winner's choice if he can get Jordan and Russell to play a game of 21.

Jordan's jumper over Russell in Game 6 of the 1998 NBA finals gave the Chicago Bulls a 4-2 series win over Utah. Jazz fans still insist Jordan pushed off Russell.

During Jordan's Hall of Fame speech, he said he was motivated by Russell's trash talk toward him during his first retirement.

Andersen says he has spoken to Russell and left a message for Jordan through a mutual friend. Andersen's suggestion: Jordan vs. Russell during halftime of the Utah Flash's home opener.

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Michael Jordan isn't the halftime show for a D-League game.

A '97/'98 Bulls-Jazz old timers' game might be kind of fun. I'm sure most of the principals--Michael, Scottie, Rodman, Stockton, Malone, Russell--can still go.

♫ oh yeah, board goes on, long after the thrill of postin' is gone ♫

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Firstly, I don't care how many rings he has or how much money he made or how many jerseys he sold. He'll always be a distant second behind one Wilton Norman "Wilt" Chamberlain.

While I admire the guy for shooting from the hip, it seems like he pretty much took out his member and slapped everyone in the face with it. And you know what? That's what I don't like about him. It's like he expects to be treated differently because he's Michael Jordan. Same with Tiger Woods and the Williams sisters.

If it wasn't for your teammates, your trainers, your coaches, your fans, you'd just be another basketball player -- a dime-a-dozen "balla" with an average career who spends the time between the end of his NBA career at age 32 and then having to fall back on his college education to get... *gasp*... a real job.

If you're going to bash people, don't do it when you're being honored. He was ungrateful, mean, and frankly, undeserving of such an honor.

Exactly. You bash them on a message board where they will never see it. That'll show 'em!!

On January 16, 2013 at 3:49 PM, NJTank said:

Btw this is old hat for Notre Dame. Knits Rockne made up George Tip's death bed speech.

 

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Michael Jordan isn't the halftime show for a D-League game.

A '97/'98 Bulls-Jazz old timers' game might be kind of fun. I'm sure most of the principals--Michael, Scottie, Rodman, Stockton, Malone, Russell--can still go.

That would be hilarious! It?s a shame they did with the Legends Game in ?94.

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