Words of Wisdom from Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan is now 48 years old. These days he's known for Nike's "Air Jordan" sneakers and for his Haynes underwear commercials, in which he plays the smiling, patient straight man to over-zealous admirers who wear the same underwear he does. And he's the majority owner of an NBA team, the Charlotte Bobcats.

And oh yeah, he's the greatest basketball player who ever played the game. He is personally responsible for the Chicago Bulls's achieving two three-peats in the 1990s - six NBA championships. Professional basketball is a worldwide phenomenon now, and it started with Michael Jordan. For an example of his greatness, check this story.

He's a perfect example of why athletes shouldn't be stereotyped as "dumb jocks." These are my favorite quotes from Michael...

On TEAMWORK - “If you think and achieve as a team, the individual accolades will take care of themselves. Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.”

On EFFORT - "Success isn't something you chase. It's something you have to put forth the effort for constantly. Then maybe it'll come when you least expect it."

On PERSEVERANCE - “I have failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed.”

On PERSEVERANCE - “Obstacles don't have to stop you. If you run into a wall, don't turn around and give up. Figure out how to climb it, go through it, or work around it.”

On SELF-CONFIDENCE - "You have to expect things of yourself before you can do them."


Post by Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D., Copyright 2010. Building Personal Strength . (1997 photo by Steve Lipofsky, fair use permission from GNU Free Documentation License)

Never Give Up, Part IV - Michael Jordan in the 1997 NBA Finals

The 2009-2010 NCAA basketball season is over. Usually this time of year I have to pull myself out of a funk because I know there'll be no more college hoops for another seven months. This year I have a different feeling because my favorite team won the National Championship. I got to watch 38 of Duke's 40 games on TV this season, so I got to observe a group of student-athletes who won't be drafted into the NBA come together as a team and learn to play hard defense for 40 minutes.

Also, what helps is the beginning of the NBA playoffs. They're interesting because the already high level of play intensifies. It's "win or go home." There can be some wonderful moments in the playoffs.

One of my most vivid memories is of Michael Jordan in the 1997 NBA Finals. The seven-game series between the Chicago Bulls and the Utah Jazz was tied 2-2, and in game 5 Jordan was seriously ill. Team doctors said he had food poisoning or a stomach virus. Coach Phil Jackson said, “Standing up was nauseating for him and caused him dizzy spells.” 

But Jordan took the floor anyway. League MVP Karl Malone and Dave Stockton, both future Hall of Fame inductees,  had Utah up by 16 points in the second quarter, but through the force of his will, Jordan slowly got the Bulls back into the game. 

He inspired his teammates until the game was tied with less than a minute to play. Jordan scored a key 3-point basket and the Bulls went on to edge the Jazz 90-88.

After the game he said, “In the third quarter, I felt like I couldn’t catch my wind and get my energy level up. I don’t know how I got through the fourth quarter. I was just trying to gut myself through it.” 

As sick as he was, 34-year-old Michael Jordan played 44 of 48 minutes, scoring 38 points. Unable to walk, his teammates carried him back to the locker room. The Bulls won the next game to take the 1997 NBA championship. It was one of the greatest examples of perseverance I've ever seen in sports. His body desperately needed him to quit, but he refused. It was amazing.

For you hard-core hoops fans, here's the video summary of the game from YouTube...




Much of the time, success boils down to facing adversity and simply refusing to give up. Other great "Never Give Up" moments in sports...

Never Give Up, Part I - Leonard and Hearns "Showdown" in 1981

Never Give Up, Part II - The NC State Wolfpack's 1983 National Championship


Never Give Up, Part III - The Boston Red Sox Win the 2004 World Series

Post by Dennis E. Coates, Ph.D., , Copyright 2010. Building Personal Strength .