Sports Blog - Jonas

    ESPN columnist Rick Reilly recently said that he wouldn’t want to be like Mike.

   Referring to Michael Jordan and his Hall of Fame induction speech, Reilly said Jordan’s speech was rude, vindictive and flammable. He went on to say that it was tactless, egotistical and unbecoming, and that when it was done, nobody wanted to be like Mike.

   First of all, I’ve always been a fan of Reilly’s work, but man, speak for yourself.

   My first memories of watching basketball are of watching Jordan through the 1992 and 93 championship seasons to complete the three-peat. I remember painfully listening to his retirement prior to the 94 season and watching him struggle through one season of Minor League Baseball, only to rejoice upon hearing of his return to the NBA late in the 95 season. More clearly do I remember watching every game of the “repeat three-peat” in 96, 97 and 98 like it happened yesterday, wishing I could pull-off the post up fade to the degree of perfection Jordan did.

   I remember cheering for and defending Jordan to my friends during his third comeback, when he played for the Washington Wizards at age 38. (He led the team in scoring.)

   My cousin and I used to toss a basketball around in the back yard, pretending to be play-by-play announcers and members of famed Bulls teams simultaneously.

   “Ron Harper passes up top to Scottie Pippen,” I said, throwing the ball to Daniel. “Pippen finds a wide-open Michael Jordan in the corner,” he said, instantly giving it back. “Time is running out. Five, four, three.” he began to count down. “Oh my! Jordan hits the buzzer beater to win the game in overtime,” I shouted as I shot, hoping I could be as clutch as he was.

   I’m certain I’m not the only kid in America who grew up playing that game, wearing Jordan jerseys and t-shirts or plastering my walls with posters of His Airness.

   At his induction ceremony, after momentarily choking up and thanking a number of people, Jordan picked on his high school coach who cut him from the team, his high school teammate who got the position instead of him, his college coach who didn’t want him on the cover of a magazine, his children for having to live in his shadow and past opponents who failed to shut him down.

   While watching him speak, I laughed and knew that it was the same Jordan that I grew up watching and that he still had the same extreme competitive nature that I grew up trying to imitate.

   In my opinion, this wasn’t a case of Jordan getting revenge on everyone who had made him mad in the past like Reilly suggested, but Jordan’s competitiveness coming through in a way we haven’t seen before — cocky and comedic.

   So Mr. Reilly, please let us decide whether or not we want to be like Mike. Thanks.

Marshall Parthenon