Michael Jordan

Michael Jordan

When someone says the name Michael Jordan, the first thing that might come to mind is basketball, NBA or Nike shoes. Through the years Michael Jordan has proved time and time again that he is the greatest basketball player ever and by doing that he has gained tremendous popularity throughout the world. People of all ages and from all nationalities have gathered to watch him play. “Even your Aunt Matilda, who might not know anything about basketball, liked watching him play,” said Daniel. He has become more than just an entertainer; he is a hero and a role model. It has been said “He's the most famous American in the World” (Daniel).

After winning his sixth National Basketball Association Championship, Michael Jordan has decided to walk away from the world of basketball for the second time in his life. Why would the greatest player to ever play the game leave at the highest point of his career? He claims the sport is no longer a challenge to him. After his many awards, trophies and titles this is not hard to comprehend. At this time in his life, Jordan wants to devote all of his time to his friends and family. Now that he has left the world of basketball a great void has been left. Many questions have risen as to what is going to happen now that he is gone. What will happen with the NBA? What will happen to the Chicago Bulls dynasty? Who will be the next Michael Jordan? Could there ever be another Michael Jordan?

The first thing any sane person would ask is how could Jordan leave basketball and walk away from all of that money? He was the highest paid basketball player in NBA history. But in dollar terms, Jordan was even more successful as a corporate spokesman, which earned him $45 million in 1998, than he was on the basketball court in which he earned $35 million (Daniel). Jordan currently does endorsements for thirteen companies. Out of all the companies, Nike pays the most for his endorsements at $16 million per year.

Jordan is by far the best endorser out there in the market. Many of the celebrities cannot compare to Jordan. “He's handsome, articulate, and classy. He had purity to his performance on and off the court. It is hard to find the perfect celebrity these days,” said Daniel. With such slogans as “Be Like Mike”; and “It's gotta be the shoes”; companies have attempted to make consumers believe that if they buy their products they too can be as great as Michael Jordan.

Michael Jordan has made a huge impact on the NBA. “He has won six NBA championships in the last eight years, ten scoring titles, enough Most Valuable Player awards to stock his own wing at the Hall of Fame”; said Tresniowski. He is by far the greatest player to ever play the game. Many believe the NBA would not be where it is without him and now that he is gone many cannot imagine basketball without him. Everyone is wondering if there ever going to be another Michael Jordan. The chance of someone accomplishing the same great feats as Jordan is nearly impossible in today's NBA. But that does not mean it will not happen. Jordan came along, and the rest is history.

Today's NBA is nothing like how it was when Jordan came into the league. There is a new breed of players out there. Instead of the rising stars attending college, they are making the jump from high school straight to the NBA. Kobe Bryant is a prime example of this. The major difference between the stars of today and the superstars of yesterday is that many of today's stars do not even earn the right to be called stars. “You don't ever want to say 'never',”; Green says, “but I don't think the NBA will ever again attain the glory it did with Michael.”

Many wonder if Jordan will come back to