A lot of athletes would be able to name a moment in their career that would haunt them. For Son Heung Min, it could be that moment during Tottenham’s game against Manchester City. With Tottenham down 0-1, the captain had the chance to tie the score. But his shot was blocked by goalkeeper Stefan Ortega. That’s just how the game goes and it doesn’t warrant the hate sent Son’s way. Despite what that missed shot means for Arsenal, the team’s boss, Mikel Arteta would still put his money on Son. Something he makes known by throwing Michael Jordan’s name in the mix.
“Michael Jordan explained it many times, how many times you have the winning shot and how sometimes he didn’t always manage to do it. This is the beauty of the sport too, so what can you do?” Arteta said after Son praised Ortega for that block.
He is referring to the famous quote that Jordan said which epitomized the power of failure and how it couldn’t bring us down. “I’ve missed more than 9,000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. Twenty-six times I’ve been trusted to take the game-winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”
Even if there was ‘The Shot,’ there was also the could-have-been game-winner of the 1991 finals versus the Lakers who ended up winning 93-91. It was his first time in the finals, a first time for the Chicago Bulls, and it might look like a big deal. After missing the jumper with nine seconds left on the clock in Game 1, Jordan didn’t let that demoralize him. Even if it didn’t sink, the artisan of putback dunks proudly called it a “good shot.”
Son Heung Min embodies the Michael Jordan philosophy
After that game, he said, “No matter how great you are, you will miss.” He went on to say that athletes can’t let one ruined shot become the negative reinforcement that ruins their play. He proved his point with a comeback in the rest of the series, leading the Bulls to four straight wins and the first of six championships for the franchise. He’d also win the NBA Finals MVP averaging 31.2 PPG, 6.6 rebounds, and 11.4 assists, and shed tears holding the trophy.
If that’s the spirit Arteta hopes Son Heung Min will embody, he’s showing it.
That missed shot took Man City ahead of Arsenal in the Premier League title race. Arteta would’ve still trusted Son Heung Min to get a redo at that shot and make it count that time. Son Heung Min showed that very grit after the game when he told the media, “I’m also human.”
He went on to say, “The keeper made a really good decision and made himself really big,” before adding, “But I take the responsibility not to score that big chance for the team.”
Far be it for His Airness to praise the guy who blocked his shot without taking revenge in the next game. But now that Son has taken responsibility, he can only embody MJ and move on to the next game.