The Legend Michael Jordan
By: Kyle Trousil
“Scottie, I’m open.” Scottie passes the ball to MJ and he shoots the 3 pointer and scores the
leading basket in the 1998 final game in the championship! But Utah scores again and makes it 8284, the bulls turnover the ball to Utah on a missed pass but they bring the ball down slowly. 18.2
seconds left in the game Jordan makes a magnificent steal and brings the ball down court with 8
seconds left! He stutter steps back to the 3 point line; 3, 2, 1! SWISH! The bulls win the game, the
bulls win the game! Jordan made the 3 pointer to win the 1998 championship game against the
Utah Jazz! The fans are screaming, blowing the roof off of the United Center; as Jordan receives
his 5th NBA title he starts to cry and thanks the whole crowd for the support and gratitude
throughout his career. This is why Michael Jordan should be named a "Great American."
Michael Jordan was born February 17th, 1963 in Brooklyn New York. As MJ grew he played
baseball for the Wilmington North Carolina Little League in 1975. He pitched 2 no-hitters and a two
hitter in the regionals. They lost 1-0 and almost went to the little league world series. As Michael
grew up, he got interested in basketball and started playing hoops with his older brothers Larry and
James. When Jordan got to high school he tried out for the varsity team at "Emsely .A. Laney High
school" and didn't make the cut. He furiated and he said, "I cried in my room for hours until i fell
asleep." After the failed attempt Michael Jordan changed his life forever; he worked out, grew 6ft
4in by his senior year (because he was mad that he was always shorter than his brothers). He grew
this much by simply hanging on a bar in his basement. He also worked on his shot, vertical leap,
and his lay ups.
In high school; Senior year, he made the varsity basketball team and Averaged 29.2 points, 11.6
rebounds, and 10.1 assists a game. But Michael’s grades were slipping and he was getting in
trouble. He didn't do any of his home work, he would cut class to go shoot hoops in the gym, and
he hit a white girl in the face for calling him a Niger. He took serious precautions because the coach
said "you can't be on this team if you don't pull your grades together." He was hitting the books
every night until he pulled himself together again. After the basketball season Jordan attended
"Howard's Summer Five Star Basketball Camp" in Pittsburg, pennsilyvaina for major college
prospects. Michael Jordan was astonishing in the basketball camp so much North Carolina didn't
want any other collages to know about him, so he kept Michaels matches private. MJ went to the
University of North Carolina on a basketball scholarship in 1981. He started as a freshman for Dean
Smith, one of the few ever to start as a freshman. Michael Avg. 13.5 points and 5 rebounds a game
soon becoming the Atlantic Coast Conference Rookie of the Year in 1981. 1982; Freshman Michael
Jordan takes a 15 foot corner Jumper to win against George Town University and give Dean Smith
his first national title. Also, in 1982, Michael Jordan lead the ACC in scoring with 20 point Avg. . He
got ranked 2nd for most steals, 78, and was selected for, "The Sporting News Player of the Year".
MJ won the gold medal in the Pan American Games. In his junior, Jordan won All- American award,
the Naismith and wooden award. He also led N.C to another Acc conference regular season title. As
a junior in collage he did not play; he went on to “NBA National Association Draft” and got selected
first round to the bulls. This almost never happens to athletes that come straight out of collage
unless your extremely good. That is just what Michael Jordan was, athletically amazing. He signed a
“Seven figure four five year contract with the bulls.”
Another reason why MJ is a great American is because in his first season he scored 2,313
points and Avg. 28.2 points a game. Including his 6.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists, and 2.9 steals. That is
absolutely amazing barely anyone in the NBA can do that besides superstars that have been in the
NBA for 10 years. Michael Jordan was a scrub from collage playing pro his first year and he gets that
many points; that’s crazy, that’s inhuman now a days. He also was named rookie of the year and he
was a starter for the All- star Team. Even People in the stands say he is great, “he memorizes
crowds with his blinding speed, his physical artistry, and the ability to soar upwards; momentarily
hanging in mid- air and make balletic slam dunks,” says a crowd member of the 1998 championship
game. This tells how good of an athlete MJ really was. MJ also signed a rewarding contact with Nike
making his new shoes, “Jordan’s.”
Moreover, Michael is a great American because he won his first scoring title with an avg. of
37.1 points a game. He also had an avg. of 43.3 points in a playoff game in double overtime on April
20th. MJ then became the 2nd player ever to tally 3,000 points a season and 1st in history to record
200 steals and 100 blocked shots in a season. In his 1987-1988 years he was named defensive
player of the year and made the NBA first team and All- defensive team. He and the bulls eliminated
the Cavaliers with MJ’s 45.2 point avg. to win. On January 25th 1988 Michael Jordan scored his
10,000th carrier point against the 76ers in just 303 games. One of the few to ever score that many
points in that many games. If that doesn’t say great American right there, then I don’t know what
will. MJ was also selected best all around performance in 1989 with a 32.8 point avg., 8 assists, and
8 rebounds.
On September of 1990 Michael Jordan got married to Juanita Vandy in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Also, in this year MJ received his 2nd MVP award and won the NBA finals award. Michael Jordan went
to the Olympics for basketball and kept America on top with the gold in 1992. Once again Michael
won the NBA finals MVP honors award for his great athleticism in the playoffs.
. In 1993 MJ retires from lack of interest and exhaustion. He went to go play golf but later gets
nailed with charges on him for betting in golf. He was fined 10,000 dollars in cash for breaking the
rules of betting in the golf association. He then quite his golf journey and decided to go back loving
the sport of baseball. MJ trained with White Sox during spring Training and was selected to AA team
Birmingham Barons. He played outfield and played 127 games ending with a 202 average. Struck
out 114 times, had 436 at bats, slammed 23 doubles, batted in 51 RBI’s, and stole 50 bases. Pretty
good for an average baseball player of basketball caliber. Michael Jordan then came back to the NBA
March 18th with the Bulls capturing a regular season and All- star MVP award with his 8th scoring
title of his career. Again won the NBA finals award for the 4th time and averaged 30.4 points a
game. Became first person since 1970 to capture all 3 MVP awards in a season.
In conclusion, Michael Jordan is a great American because he did so much in NBA that
wowed many people. He was the best basketball ever winning 6 national championships and
winning 5 MVP awards in a row. One of his most memorable championships was his 1998
championship. He literally was there whole team at the end of the game. Getting the steal and
taking the 3 pointer and making it to win the game. Just amazing how Michael Jordan can do all
those things. And it all started with him practicing with his brothers playing hoops when he was
about 10 years old. Anyone can become amazing but never as good as Michael Jordan. MJ was
inducted to the Hall of Fame September 11, 2009.