Michael Jordan was and still is a sports phenom. Somebody who is respected by his peers and has been influential outside of his sport. Numerous athletes said that MJ was one of their idols or used him as a motivation while building a name for themself.
But it is not easy being on top and having everybody closely monitor your every move. This is especially problematic for young people; when you become a world-known figure early, fame can make you arrogant and self-absorbent.
Only rare characters can keep it together and focus on higher goals; for His Airness, it was becoming the greatest basketball player ever. When he joined the league, it was polarized by Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, but he quickly became popular. His aura mirrored his incredible performances on the court.
Fans, particularly children, aspired to be like him. Jordan was under a lot of strain as a result of this. He had to ensure he lived up to such high expectations and did not disappoint anyone. But he was more than willing to take on the challenge.
Interview with former Miss Schwarzenegger
When talking with Maria Shiver, the former first lady of the state of California and ex-wife of Hollywood star Arnold Schwarzenegger, the Chicago Bulls legend spoke candidly about himself and what it is like to be Mike.
MJ claimed that his image had taken over his personal life. He was asked if he felt unreasonable pressure because he was a successful African American athlete.
“Certainly, and I accept it. I’d like to come in contact with people that I try to help, talk and communicate with and let them know I’m’ a friend, instead of someone you put on a pedestal,” MJ said.
Jordan’s fear of being misunderstood
When asked about his fear, it was interesting to hear how seriously MJ took his role as a basketball icon. Even though he was often portrayed as somebody who did not care about other people’s thoughts, his answer sheds a different light on him.
“My biggest fear in life right now is that I make a mistake that can be misinterpreted,” he stated. “And it can be taken out of proportion and totally demolish the positive image or positive things that I try to project.”
Looking back, we can see that this interview took place in 1992, just two years before he retired for the first time. We can be led to believe that he left the league to protect himself from the media frenzy in the aftermath of his father’s death.
MJ became larger than life
Reflecting on his career, from the game-winning shot in the NCAA finals to the 1998 Last Dance championship, Jordan accomplished everything he set out to do. He retired 20 years ago, yet players continue to speak highly of him, and he is one of the few who never gets left out of the GOAT debate.
So, the strain he played and lived under produced a rare diamond who will continue to inspire future generations with his bravado and style that everybody wants to mimic.