Michael Jordan’s induction speech: Hall of Fame or Hall of Shame?
September 13 09
Occasionally, the gift becomes a curse.
Some feel Michael Jordan’s gift, his competitive streak, got the better of him during Friday’s Hall of Fame induction speech and cursed what was meant to be a celebration of his accomplishments and legacy.
After a moving video retrospective and then being introduced as ‘The Greatest Player of All-Time’, the critics claim ‘His Airness’ inappropriately used the forum to settle old scores. Some of his alleged victims were:
Isiah Thomas for the now infamous freeze-out at an All-Star game.
An old high school coach for cutting him from the varsity basketball team as a tenth grader.
Former Chicago Bulls executive Jerry Krause.
Bryon Russell (Jordan won his final championship knocking down a buzzer-beater over the Utah guard in the NBA Finals).
There are two points worth considering on this issue. First, Jordan perhaps could have taken a little more of the high road. However, the day belonged to him and not the critics. Obviously, he wanted people to remember his competitiveness and drive, even if it came at the expense of former foes.
Second, a Hall of Fame event likely rekindles past emotions and feelings. The critics are forgetting Jordan’s career was often dogged by controversy. Remember, for years, he was unfairly seen as being a a ball-hog, who could never lead a team to an NBA Title.
After breaking through with championships in the early nineties, Jordan dealt with Sam Smith’s ‘The Jordan Rules’. The bestseller painted #23 in a mostly unflattering light. Eventually, it was revealed coach and ’friend’ Phil Jackson was Smith’s confidential source for the book.
These are just two examples of Jordan’s greatness bringing out the worst in those around him. There were others. On Friday, the critics were hoping Jordan would only reflect on the good, but he, for whatever reason, specifically chose to remind us of the other side.
This is reasonable. Like it or not, the positive and negative are connected. And it’s all part of Jordan’s gift and curse. What do you think of Jordan’s speech? Hall of Fame? Or Hall of Shame? Watch the videos and get at us with thoughts in the comment box below.
41 Comments: Michael Jordan’s induction speech: Hall of Fame or Hall of (...)
Posted by Midwesterner on 09.25.2009
Great speech. Sharp, yes, but also honest. How often do you get that from someone as famous as him? I agree with the above readers that say although he was needling some old foes, he did it respectfully. What I found far more distrubing was that the big media coverage of this was OVERWHELMINGLY NEGATIVE. Has big media become a pack of sheep? Their coverage made me think one thing about the speech, but when I watched it myself I had a completely different reaction. .
Posted by E 23 on 09.21.2009
When U are the man, U can says what ever U want. Specially when U are the best basketball player ever. Congratulations Michael " AIR " Jordan. U deserve it. U will always live in my heart no matter what . . . PeaceE 23 .
Posted by Robin on 09.18.2009
I had heard that Michael was very nasty during his speech. AFter watching it, I was happy to say I didn’t find it offensive at all.The bottom line is that he brought life to the world of professional basketball, and he has had alot of critisism over the years. He had a right to call out those that have been negative influences in his life, and quite frankly, he went pretty easy on them. My only wish is that he would gush over UNC a little more! Love you Michael! .
Posted by adam on 09.17.2009
A testimony to what a true competitor is. Micheal Jordan was (sorry mike but ur done man, use that one for motivation if u want) the greatest competitor I’ve ever seen play the game of basketball. A man who had the score and game clock always in mind. Relentless and always playing with something to prove. And his proof lies within the final score. LIke I read in a couple of these posts already, you either understand a competitive nature or you don’t. I do. Nothing within that speech was from a negative place in my mind or his. If you think there was I don’t understand you. period. Thanks for all the memories and unbelieveable highlights mr. jordan. Good luck in your older years and may god bless you. .
Posted by Joseph on 09.17.2009
Jordan is the best Hall of Fame baller ever. NOT DEBATABLE. A Hall of Fame human being? That’s debatable. .
Posted by Heather on 09.17.2009
Thank you hoopsvibe for posting MJ’s HOF speech. For years, MJ had public relations people monitor his reputation.Finally, we get the real Michael Jordan. Unedited and uncut. MJ has been getting the super star treatment since after his game winning shot as a freshman at UNC. Like his speech or not, outside of MJ’s own friends and family, this video is the closest thing anyone will ever get to seeing who Michael Jordan is. This shouldn’t be a surprise, considering there was a book entitled, "The Jordan Rules" that gave an insight into MJ’s assassin mentality. Of course, MJ is the Greatest Of All Time when it comes to basketball and as a marketing product, but outside of that, he ain’t no Jackie Robinson, Ali, Arthur Ash! But from the likes of some of the posters on here who put MJ on the highest pedestal, it seems as though they would enjoy getting tea-bagged by MJ. .
Posted by Allen on 09.17.2009
response to "E" who said, "He’s not the kind of guy that dwells on faults and imperfection." * * * Obviously, you contradict yourself or more importantly, you can’t write clearly when expressing this specific thought. Michael Jordan IS the kind of guy that dwells on faults and imperfections. He’s just the type that dwells on other people’s faults but never his own. That, is the epitome of the MAGNIFICENT EYE. MJ, in his world is ALWAYS RIGHT and everyone is ALWAYS wrong. You prove my point with your own words! Also, look up what red herring means. Your comment at the end is basically a red herring. Again, this comment is in response to "E." .
Posted by Ace Pet Detective on 09.17.2009
Micheal Jordan did a fine speech. I don’t see any pettyness. I just see a man who’s touched to be honored for his accomplishments. He was being warm, joking around and talking to the audience as if they were friends. And after being in the business so long, they really were friends. Read the body language. He’s just saying that he grew the most when he felt looked down on by others. Anyone he spoke of was given proper respect in tone and words. Lot of shallow people can’t really see the heart and deeper meanings of the words. .
Posted by Jonny B Good on 09.14.2009
I saw in this video an athlete who was the best at his craft, as far as statistics are concerned. (but someone better always comes along. Michael himself even said “never say never”, but in regard to himself, I am sure he believes no one better will ever come along.). As for the man inside the athlete, I saw a man who is very empty. Not your best example of manhood. Sharing what motivated him was good. But the way he chose to do it showed a lack of depth and a lack of emotional maturity. He wasn’t sincerely thanking most of the people he mentioned for “challenging him”, rather, he was using this opportunity to publically get back at them because they said or did something he didn’t like or agree with. I did find it interesting that everyone seemed to lack the backbone not to laugh and smile when he was clearly being rude and disrespectful toward others. It is obvious that he carries with him unresolved issues. He never mentioned that he is grateful for the privilege he had been given in this world with his talents and skills. I was sorry to see his lack of respect towards others, and his lack of acknowledgement for the gifts he was given. In a very arrogant way he showed that he is used to seeing the world through his own "I". .
Posted by Terrence on 09.14.2009
The speech was fine..he’s a competitor; could you have expected anything less? The game of basketball misses that fierce competitiveness! .
Posted by Snika on 09.14.2009
I agree, why are you SO UPSET that MJ used this opportunity to explain his motivators. I think it is impossible for a player to be bigger than his craft, or his sport. HOWEVER, Jordan is the closest thing we will ever see to that. I am perfectly comfortable saying the Jordan, Tiger, and Federer have a meeting once a year with God to talk about their acheivements and where the sports world should go from here. I think Jordan was so much better than everyone we’ve seen play this game, it is disgusting. We were lucky to watch him play, and lucky to hear him speak. Thank you for re-defining professional basketball. .
Posted by E on 09.14.2009
I think the people in here that did not like the speach took the entire thing out of context. To me, Jordan was talking about why he is the way he is and where the motivation came from. Who is he? He’s a competitor. That is what some people are, including myself. If you are not truely competitive, then you do not understand what that means. He pointed out people that made him who he was in the game and outside of the game - it was not a knock on them, and they will not take it that way. Why would he bring up the faults in his life? He’s not the kind of guy that dwells on faults and imperfection. He continuously gets better, and I’m sure that he made up for the things he did (i.e. punching a teammate) shortly after he did them. Some of you act like you know his every move and every step. Who are you? Were you with him every step of the way? No, you weren’t. He obviously has friends that were there from the beginning. If he did not, then what would all of those people show up for? Did you see his Mom? She did not shed a tear. How many Moms would not cry when their own son gets inducted into the HOF? She did not misinterpret the message he was delivering. No one that knows him personally misinterpreted his message because they know him. All I have to say to you is look at the bright side. If you hate him because he destroyed your favorite team, then get over it. I would not have spent the 3 minutes writing this unless there were people on here that needed some help. Good luck. .
Posted by allen on 09.14.2009
The Magnificent Eye — that is Michael Jordan. He was honest but he had selective memory this Hall of Fame night. Everyone was wrong and he was right.In his speech, he enjoyed pointing out the slights that was directed at him. He pointed out specifics where people had wronged him, basically specific short comings.Great. He points out what motivated him. However, not once did Michael Jordan point out any specific short comings he’s ever done in life or in basketball.I don’t care how perfect he is, he’s done his own slights to people. But he’s never going to disclose that! He can dish it but he can’t take it!He’s the type of person who enjoys and revels in people’s mistakes and shortcomings but when it comes to his mistakes, he choses not to elaborate upon it.MJ is human and with that, he too makes mistakes. Yet, on this night, during the Hall of Fame induction, he did not disclose anything that was embarassing about him. But his character and lack of cla-------was definitely embarrassing.Again, he can dish it out but he won’t take it. In other words, he had an opportunity to disclose his own shortcomings. When he talked about his teammates, he said that he respected all of them. This was a perfect opportunity to say that he made a mistake when he assaulted a former teammate by punching the teammate in the eye, i.e., Steve Kerr. Or he dogs out GM Jerry Krause. While he was at it, pointing out people’s mistakes, this was another opportunity where he could have said that he, MJ had lobbied for Chicago to take a UNC player named Joe Wolf instead of Scottie Pippen. Yet, MJ did not disclose that! Why? Because MJ is the Magnificent Eye! All knowing and always right!Again, MJ can talk specifics about other’s mistakes but he can’t talk about his!Mr. Magnificent Eye Michael Jordan wouldn’t bring that up at his HOF speech because his speech was all about him being perfect and others being imperfect.Van Gundy was definitely right! Michael Jordan is definitely a con artist. He pretends to be your friend; yet, he will embara-------you just to make himself look better. He’s the guy whose going to befriend you but when he has an opportunity to step on you, best believe he will just to elevate himself! He’s the ultimate con artist. He will embara-------you and at the same time call you a friend and use humor to disfuse his dislike for you. MIchael Jordan was not completely honest in his speech, because he was not COMPLETELY honest since he had selective memory. Failure to disclose material facts is also a form of dishonesty. And in this night, he failed to disclose specifics about his own short comings. Basically, he had selective memory and that is not honesty. MJ is an athlete who has his buut kissed on a daily basis and will never realize that he ain’t bigger than basketball.His speech was the worst HOF speech I’ve ever heard. Telling his kids in front of millions that he would never want to be in their shoes — wow. Even if that is the truth, there are a billion other things he could say about his kids. Why make it harder for them?MJ is a hall a fame basketball player, but he sure isn’t a hall of fame human being.MJ needs to watch Dan Marino’s HOF acceptance speech. Marino was a cla-------act when he spoke about his kids. MJ? The complete opposite. .
Posted by Bill on 09.14.2009
Listening to Michael I felt he played the game by himself. I only wished he talked about the guys around him who he helped to make better and those who helped him be a winner. .
Posted by Mike Senga on 09.14.2009
This is MJ we’re talking about. Some of you actualy took the time to analyze every word and critique the man? lol come on. It’s Michael Jordan we’re talking about. He’s earned his way up there and he can call on a few people, nothing wrong with that. Same way a sophomore earns a few calls after sometime in a league, MJ earned it. He can pick on people in his HOF speech, it’s OK! .
Posted by Snika on 09.14.2009
I thought the speech was perfect. Not like anyone else’s, but did you really expect that. We are talking about the most competitive player ever, and guess what - his competitive spirit didn’t retire like he did. What most of you are not understanding, is that he wasn’t calling people out, or settling old scores. He was creditting people that probably thought they got the worst of Jordan. His high school b-ball coach was a motivator, Bryon Russell was a huge motivation for him to come back from his first retirement. I agree that no one else could’ve gotten away with that speech, but coming from the best talent, competitor, and champion EVER: it was perfect. .
Posted by sparky on 09.14.2009
I really think he was just going to say ’thanks" and walk off. I enjoyed the words and his demeanor. He is the best and he told us why! Can’t we handle the truth. Thomas new he would get called out. He was a great thug baller and a great player. I remember the all stat games where MJ wouild depants the guys. MJ is a man’s man! .
Posted by Jorge Barba on 09.13.2009
I think making a big deal out of this, first of all he was truthful and authentic...no BS.People have this expectation that these speeches should done in a certain way, thanking your mom, dad, kids, coaches, etc you get the point. We know what to expect!Michael’s stands out because he didn’t make a speech, he talked. He talked about why he feels he got to the HOF, his competitive drive got him there.I think the people who are taking his ’talk’ the wrong way don’t really know who MJ the person really is. He said thanks as Michael Jordan and not another guy. GOAT .
Posted by bullsgirlforever on 09.13.2009
I was there for the speech and it made me feel uncomfortable. The previous speakers gave moving speeches about how they came to be inducted and were humble and sincere. Jordan’s speech just made me cringe. At a time when he could have sealed his legacy as the greatest by just saying something about no one player is greater than the game, he chose to be bitter and mean. What a shame. .
Posted by
on 09.13.2009
People involved in sports today are nothing but thugs. Most of them are criminals and drug users .
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Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More
Occasionally, the gift becomes a curse.