“More Than Just an Internet Meme”: Despite a Teary Eyed Michael Jordan Going Viral, POTUS Barack Obama Bowed Down to Him in 2016

Michael Jordan and greatness go hand in hand. Safe to say, even former POTUS Barack Obama believes that. Back in 2016, Obama awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom to Jordan while introducing him in a special way.

Before talking about Jordan and his greatness, Obama referenced a popular meme that went viral a few years ago. One of Jordan’s crying images went viral across the world with the picture being used in a great number of jokes and memes.

POTUS joked about a Michael Jordan meme before recognizing his greatness

There is no denying that Jordan is one of the greatest athletes ever. He has six NBA titles to his name along with various other individual and team accolades. Moreover, he led the country to one of the greatest Olympic campaigns ever in 1992.

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He was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by none other than Barack Obama in 2016. Interestingly enough, the former POTUS referenced a popular meme and also said that Jordan is more than that meme.

He said, “He’s more than just a logo, more than just an internet meme. More than just a charitable donor, business owner committed to diversity. There is a reason you call somebody the Michael Jordan of.”

“Michael Jordan is the Michael Jordan of greatness, he is the definition of somebody so good at what they do that everybody recognizes you”, said Obama. Alongwith Vin Scully and Los Angeles Lakers legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jordan received the highest civilian honor in 2016.

Where did the crying Jordan meme emerge from?

Irrespective of whether someone is a basketball fan or not, Michael Jordan is a name that resonates with millions across the world. Thanks to such insane popularity, whatever MJ does, it ends up becoming a piece of news.

Sometimes it can lead to an image becoming a classic meme. The crying Jordan meme was taken from the 2009 Hall of Fame ceremony when the NBA legend broke down while delivering his speech. Alongwith Jordan, John Stockton, David Robinson, Jerry Sloan, and C. Vivian Stringer were also given Hall of Fame status in 2009. (Source: NBA)

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