Barack Obama Honors Michael Jordan’s Revolutionizing Legacy in Bulls’ Ring of Honor Tribute: “Not Bad for a Kid…”

The man, the myth, the legend. Except he was real. Every dribble, every personally taken slight, every jaw-dropping dunk, every clutch basket, it was all real. In a career defined as the greatest, the resume must be impeccable. So, finding a bunch of accolades to the name of Michael Jordan isn’t a tough ask. But none can hit home as close as a Ring of Honor from the franchise and city that embraced you with open arms. The one to whom you gave a good portion of your life, and put on the NBA map for eternity.

After 5 MVPs, a DPOY, 6 Championships, 6 Finals MVP, and innumerable other accomplishments, Jordan isn’t lacking in resume. However, the best was still pending. As the Chicago Bulls get ready to honor key members from their 1990s dynasty, including his greatest teammate Scottie Pippen, the team went more big picture with the magnitude of Michael. Rather than focus on his basketball career alone, his challenges and impact were given greater precedence by the man penning the note, Barack Obama.

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Because the basketball story is committed to most fans’ memories, the details and the path might be lost on a few. There was a lot of hope from MJ when he first arrived on the scene. However, no one could predict the trajectory he would eventually go on. “ The same young man would become the greatest player the game had ever seen, a transcendent athlete who would fundamentally change the face of sports, commerce, and American culture.” 

Apart from the accolades, “ No other player before or since has possessed Michael’s combination of dazzling athleticism and flawless fundamentals; such a tireless work ethic and an unmatched competitive fire.” But, it isn’t just on-court excellence that made Michael Jeffrey Jordan a phenom.

It is his never-ending dance with greatness.

The global impact of Michael Jordan

“ Through his revolutionary endorsement deals, his iconic ads, and even a starring role in a box-office hit movie, Michael helped put American sports, and the African American athlete at the center of entertainment, fashion, and popular culture, altering not only our nation’s commerce, but also the way the rest of the world saw America.” 

Hence, His Airness is truly one of one. One of the very few athletes who can make such a claim to have transcended their sport. “There are only a handful of athletes in history, Ruth, Robinson, Ali, that can claim a comparable impact.” 

With his humble beginnings, it is a true testament to his work ethic and relentless to reach these heights. As the former President would quote, “Not bad for a kid from Wilmington, North Carolina who had once been cut by his high school varsity team.” 

While the franchise gets ready to honor its greatest product, the bigger picture is the main story here. Because “Michael Jordan shares that rare air.”

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