When an ordinary person sees Michael Jordan on the street, it drops shivers down his spine. The titles, scoring championships, charisma, and cigars all add to a humongous personality of unparalleled proportions. The phenomenon crops up because of the excellence he showcased on the basketball court. What’s more interesting is that he freezes other legends of various sports with his persona. Legendary swimmer Michael Phelps had that experience.
When Feherty Live screened at the famous Tivoli Theatre at Downer’s Grove, Phelps appeared for the event, only to see his idol donning a fine suit, which left him amazed. It was a sensational moment.
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Michael Phelps didn’t move a muscle
Being an iconic athlete, Phelps dominated the swimming pool like Jordan did in basketball. No one could stop him, and he did it for nearly two decades. However, when Jordan appeared in his sight, even Phelps had a meltdown and stood in astonishment at the awe-inspiring personality.
“When I started talking, I was like what’s going on here, and then literally as soon as I turned around, I see MJ. I was like ‘Oh my god’. I just froze, I just literally froze. It was very special that he was able to come by and stop by to say hello, and that was awesome,” said Phelps.
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The video clearly shows a shaken Phelps, who gathers his senses after the surprising meet-up with his idol. Having a first-time experience, Phelps remarked on his mental state during that moment. “I have never froze, not like that. I’m still like out of it. That was just awesome. I am very tired but I don’t know if I will be able to sleep now after doing that. I’m pretty excited.”
The Michael Jordan effect
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Scoring 30.1 points per game in his career? No. Grabbing 2.3 steals? Nope. Then what makes Jordan inspiring?
Probably the infectious never-give-up personality. Wanting to be the best in whatever department, Jordan’s intangibles are outstanding in a way that hardly anyone can match. He is a book of wisdom to go through all the time, having the same effect on oneself for years. He set the way for a whole new generation to approach the game in the right mindset while honing their craft.
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Phelps had always stated how Jordan inspired him. Coincidentally, Jordan’s jersey number is 23 while Phelps has 23 gold medals. With Phelps being shocked, imagine Jordan knocking on your door; won’t you just love that?
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