Black Role Models: Michael Jordan

The core values of the black culture range from the history of slavery, resistance, freedom, equality, social status, economic status, education, self- determination, the influence of role models, and so on. Webster’s defines self-determination as freedom to live as one chooses, or to act or decide without consulting another or others. It also defines a role model as a person whose behavior, example, or success is or can be emulated by others. There are many African Americans that exemplify these two core values. However there are few better, or with as many accolades as Michael Jeffery Jordan. Jordan’s many struggles and hurdles on the way to his legendary success define and exemplify self-determination.
Michael Jordan was born in Brooklyn, New York, on February 17, 1963. He was one of the five children of James and Deloris Jordan. Soon after Michael Jordan’s birth, his parents felt that Brooklyn was not the best location to raise a family, so they moved to Wilmington, North Carolina. As a child Michael immediately became interested in sports. His favorite sport was baseball, which was also the favorite of his father. Michael soon developed a love for basketball due to the influence of his older brother Larry who he says he idolized during his youth. During high school Michael played football, basketball, and baseball, but as a sophomore he tried out for the varsity basketball team, and got cut. The coach said Jordan was “he was raw and undersized” (imbd p.1 2009). For most high school boys such news would discourage them from playing organized basketball again. However Michael Jordan was different than others even at a young age. Such news made him even more determined to succeed. Michael spent the year on the junior varsity team practicing religiously on his basketball ability in preparation of the following year’s varsity team try outs. During the next school year after practicing tirelessly, and also growing four inches in height, Michael achieved his childhood goal of making the varsity basketball team. Michael not only became the star of the Laney High basketball team, but also became nationally known for his basketball skills, and eventually making the McDonald's All-American Team as a senior.
Following high school, Michael received a basketball scholarship to North Carolina University to play for legendary coach, Dean Smith. During his first year of college, he was the ACC Freshman of the Year, and lead North Carolina to a 1982 NCAA Championship title. As a junior, Michael won the Naismith College Player of the Year which is given to the best college basketball player, and at the season’s end, he decided to leave North Carolina in order to enter the NBA draft (he would later come back to school to complete his degree in geography).
Michael was selected third by the Chicago Bulls in the 1984, NBA draft. As a professional basketball athlete, Michael Jordan was the best ever in his field. His professional accolades include rookie of the year, five regular season M.V.P. awards, six NBA championships, six NBA finals M.V.P. awards, three All-Star game M.V.P. awards, and a defensive player of the year award.
However all this success didn’t come without tragedy for Michael. On July 23, 1993, his father James Jordan, was brutally murdered while sleeping in his car in North Carolina. Two criminals robbed James, shot him in the chest, and threw his body in a nearby swamp. Three months following his dad’s death Michael retired from basketball saying that, "he no longer had the desire to play” (impd p. 3 2009). Jordan’s next mission was to pursue his father’s love of baseball. He signed a one year minor league contract with the Chicago White Sox, in 1994. However Jordan wasn’t nearly as successful or skilled in baseball as he was in basketball. After the season’s end Michael decided return to playing basketball.
On March 18, 1995, Michael returned to the NBA for three years. In 1998, following another NBA championship, Michael Jordan retired for the second time. However ironically he made yet another come back to the NBA, in 2001, played another season and retired permanently in 2003.
Today Michael Jordan is not only known for being the best basketball player of all time, but also as a role model and hero for others, especially for blacks. ESPN proclaimed Michael Jordan as the best athlete ever. Michael Jordan is a leader and a role model to us all. He is a successful athlete, a graduate of a noted university, and is one of the most successful and respected black business men in the world. His basketball success led to Nike offering him a shoe endorsement deal. Unlike any other in the history of endorsements, Michael Jordan has his own label under Nike called, “Jordan.” He is the CEO of this division. The Jordan label started with just shoes, but it has expanded to all kinds of clothing from shirts, sweaters, jeans, other apparel items, and athletic gear. The Jordan label is known to be the premier brand of Nike, and is a very popular brand worldwide. Michael has experienced great success as the CEO of Jordan and is also a part owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. With all of his success Michael is not only known for being the best basketball player ever, but also a successful business tycoon. This leadership and success illustrates that individuals can branch out and be successful at multiple endeavors. Michael Jordan exemplifies three Black core values: 1) Community- with the Jordan clothing brand’s popularity across Black and other communities around the world, 2) Education- graduating from North Carolina with a degree in Geography, 3) Self-determination- making the varsity high school basketball team after being cut the year before, playing professional baseball when no one else was in favor of the idea, and coming back to play basketball after the murder of his beloved father. Michael Jordan defines greatness. He is a role model to Blacks because he has succeeded in core values that many members of the Black culture are still striving for. With every success story there is failures and bumps in the road to the success. Michael Jordan is living proof of this as well as of how an individual gracefully handles failure, disappointment, obstacles and bumps in the road. Michael Jordan illustrates that with determination, perseverance and hard work successes can be obtai

NBA 2K10

Not only is NBA Live 10 coming out tomorrow but so is its rival NBA 2K10. NBA 2K10 the game that has out performed NBA Live the last couple of years with game play and sales.” I used to buy NBA Live but I think NBA 2K has surpassed NBA Live on the best video game series” said Ade Adams a student at Howard. The NBA 2K series by Visual Concepts was first released in 1999. The game has added plenty of new game features that werent in the game in past years. Some of the features include live rosters, blacktop street basketball, and an updated Association mode where gamers can manage their own NBA fanchise. “They havent made a lot of changes from the previous year, but that because they didn’t really need to, it was and still is a great game” said Chris Owens a student at Howard. Another new feature that has created a buzz around NBA 2k fans is the “My Player”, which lets gamers take an up and coming player and set him on the path to a professional basketball career. However before the player you helped create can go pro, gamers will need to prove to an NBA franchise that the player is ready to be an NBA player. This mode starts out with an NBA tryout, to making a team, to a role player, starter, superstar, and hall of famer. It takes you through a real life NBA career and it’s up to the gamers to make their player succeed. “This feature seems amazing. I like it because it takes you through the life of a successful or unsuccessful NBA superstar” said Kyle Bentley a student at Howard.
The anticipation is almost here NBA 2K10 is set to be released tomorrow, and all NBA gamers are excited. “NBA 2K and NBA Live both come out tomorrow, it’s a good day for NBA video gamers. I cant wait to see which of the two video game series does the best” said Kevin Curry of California.

NBA Live Coming To A Store Near You!

Tomorrow marks the release of NBA Live 2010, the NBA video game series by EA Sports that originally came out in 1989. This year’s video game offers a whole new different experience then in years past. “I can’t wait to buy it, NBA Live is my favorite video game” said Darrell Peters of Howard. EA sport makers are saying it’s the most complete basketball game today. This game is different then years in the past because it enhances the game play controls which makes the players move more realistic. “The game looks a lot different then last year. I think the makers made some positive changes” said Bianca Dru of Howard. The game makers also made an emphasis on utilizing the fundamentals of basketball. The games goal is to get NBA Live players to feel closer to the real life NBA experience. It also has the DNA technology which first came out last year, where player stats, trends, and streaks from the real NBA transfer into the NBA Live game. “I buy NBA live solely because of the DNA technology; it’s amazing how a video game can update a player’s trends and stats like that. It makes the game far more realistic then any other basketball game” said Aaron Wade of Virginia. The graphics have also been upgraded. Each player has its own person realistic look with authentic tattoos, armbands, and shoes. The crowd has even been enhanced with different movement, cheering, booing, and chanting.
Many people are excited about the release of the new NBA Live, “basketball is my favorite sport, I love video games, and NBA Live is defiantly a game I have to get every year” said Marquis Roll of Howard. He’s not the only one who’s excited about the release,” It seems like every year EA Sports upgrades NBA Live to be the best basketball game possible. I’ll be sure to buy a copy” said Shaun Wills.
NBA Live is set to be released nationally October 6!

Nike Signs Vick???

Yesterday it was reported that Nike had reached a deal with Michael Vick to endorse him. Nike had originally signed Vick as a rookie in 2001, although when he pleaded guilty for dog fighting in 2007 Nike immediately dropped him from the label. Michael Principe the managing director of BEST, the agency that represents Vick came out in a press conference to announce the news. However today Nike announced it has made no such deals with Michael Vick, and that all rumors were false. Nike did say in a statement that, “Nike has agreed to supply product to Michael Vick as we do a number of athletes who are not under contract with Nike."
Contract or not Vick is still getting supplies by Nike in which most fans seem to be ok with.” Why cants Nike just endorse him? Everybody deserves a second chance” said Deshawn Butler of Tennessee. He’s not the only one who feels this way. “I’m so tired of hearing negative things about Michael Vick, why doesn’t America just move on an let the man live his life? I don’t get why Nike or anybody else thinks it’s a bad thing to endorse him” said Zia Manes from Virginia. Most people interviewed all agree Michael Vick deserves a second chance; however a lot are still frustrated by the public not fully embracing Vick. “Michael Vick is a role model to a lot of people, and I think he’s a great role model for people that have made mistakes in life an have been locked up. If he can come out of prison an still succeed in life, and his career other people will ask why cant they?” said Ahmad Broody.
It’s been about a mouth since Michael Vick got reinstated back to the NFL, and he’s been in headline news weekly. Lucky just about all the news has been good. Let’s just see if Nike, other endorsers and the generally public can do Michael Vick some good by giving him a fresh new start.