My hope is that in 20 years Greg Oden is giving the same style speech minus the references to his kids.
Yes, because I wouldn't be a Blazer fan then. I didn't grow up in Portland, I'm not even American. I chose the team because of the players at the time (the Drexler years) and had a chance to pick Jordan's Bulls to follow. I never regretted my choice (which shows how completely irrational sports loyalty is, or how completely masochistic I am). I always hated Jordan. In a way, it's nice that he's continued to make an ass of himself after leaving the Bulls, because, for a while there I almost felt sorry for him.
So you liked the part where Jordan made sure that the person who made the high school varsity team ahead of him was brought to the speech so that he could say about the coach that he made a mistake? So, in other words, a 47-year old multi-millionaire tries to show up some poor schmuck who made the team in high school (through no fault of his own) over him? And that stuff about "organizations don't play in Utah with the flu" or whatever. What a self-serving dick.
What a great speech. Candid, truthful, and from the heart. If what made you a hall of famer is the intense competitive drive from slights, imagined and real, it makes perfect sense to illustrate them in your acceptance speech.
Nobody can deny his talent, but make no mistake, he is a bonafide asshole. It seems that him being an asshole fueled his competitive drive, but he is STILL an asshole. Calling people out like that in a HOF speech?!? Are you serious? Giving his college coach shit for not being on SI, giving his HS coach and Leroy Smith an "i told you so", calling out other HOF's for the All Star game freeze out and then saying (paraphrase)" I think I proved myself" with a snide look on his face, telling his kids he wouldnt want to be them, because of who he is. He calls out the Bulls organization saying only players win 'ships. Oh really Mr. Jordan? Then explain the Celtics and Lakers dominance over generations you moron. Saying he is right and Tex Winter was wrong in that one game he mentioned. For god sake the dude is living out the last days of his life after a stroke and all you want to do is talk over the applause when his name was mentioned and try to prove everybody else is wrong and you are right. The one that took the cake for me was him calling out Byron Russell and then shoving it into John Stocktons face. He gives that story and then says "Remember John?" and John sits there with a stoic look on his face. Hey Jordan, how about you dont shove possibly the most saddening moment in John Stocktons career in his face ON HIS HOF NIGHT TOO NO LESS!!! Classless SOB, who just happened to be one of if not the best player of all time
I am pretty sure MJ did not kidnap the guy and force him to sit thru the ceremony. Again, MJ was paying homage to what motivated him to be the greatest. The induction was in honor of his accomplishments as a basketball player and this was a big motivation for him. Him bringing up playing with the flu in Utah also is true. I will have no problem with Greg having six rings at his induction ceremony and giving small thanks to the fans, but bigger thanks for himself. Think alot of the criticism is coming from people that did not watch the speech and are only getting excerpts. However, this highlights a huge fact that the majority want to ignore. If the Blazers win a championship, the players on the court are going to be the reason for this. Even then, there are going to be some players that are more responsible for winning than others. MJ just made clear that the fans, media, front office, role players, and coaches were not the biggest reason he was a winner. Motivation was his reason.
I enjoyed the speech. Never once did it cross my mind that he was being an asshole until I read this thread.
Whatever, they were funny little anecdotes. The BRYON "not Byron" Russell story was hilarious. The dude had the balls to walk up to MJ and tell him he could shut him down. I think he deserves a little ribbing for that. And Stockton was one of the dirtiest players in NBA history, so I really don't give a shit if he thought it was out of line. It was an actual glimpse into Jordan's personality. He has always been so guarded and polished. This was the longest I have ever heard him speak openly. You know what? I think a lot of us would have been in the same situation if we were given the chance. Nobody gives a musician shit for writing a song about how he's famous now, and the girl that left him is broke. It's human nature. You've never wanted to prove someone wrong?
Its of my opinion that if you can prove somebody wrong and not actually say "I told you so" it makes it that much sweeter. You know the naysayer knows they were wrong but then on top of that you did it with class...IMO that hurts even worse for the naysayer because then they cant call them out for being a prick either
Everyone always points out the sore losers, but a sore winner is just as bad in my opinion. You should win, and to a lesser extent lose, with grace.
Can you imagine Tim Duncan saying things like that in his induction speech? Better yet, did Bill Russell? I don't think so. And while I agree with DaRizzle on almost nothing, he's right that Jordan is an asshole, and he does also concede that Kobe is. All of this "you have to be a jerk to be great" stuff is just bullshit. It's something that people who are jerks tell themselves in the hope that it makes them great. And it's funny: would Jordan's line about "but there is an 'I' in "win"" have been a good one if the Bulls hadn't hired Tex Winter (who, by the way, is the reason Jerry Krause refuses to attend the Hall of Fame because they haven't honored him)? Jordan would've just been a taller Allen Iverson.
EFF MJ! I thought I was done hearing about him when he retired? Will people please remove their mouths from his nuts? Its the same ting with Bron today. Too much exposure..simply sick of both of them.
Pretty much sums it up..yet everyone gobbles it up b/c its Michael Jordan. So glad I didn't root for that butthole when I was a kid and everyone else did. Still, to this day, I have a shirt that says "I want to be like Mike(mike is crossed out) and replaced with Clyde. Clyde may have not been better, but he is a much classier person..also verythankful our new superstar BRoy is humble as well.
