Michael Jordan is nothing short of a phenomenon in the world of basketball. Through sheer persistence and hard work, he made the journey from a kid from an ordinary family to a global legend. Michael Jordan turned every loss and every mistake into a valuable lesson, allowing him to conquer the next peak, as reported by chicagovski.com.
Baseball in High School and Early Victories
Michael Jordan was born on February 17, 1963, in Brooklyn, New York. He was the youngest of four children. His mother worked as a bank teller, and his father was an equipment supervisor and mechanic.
The boy spent his childhood in Wilmington, North Carolina. The young athlete’s first passion was baseball. At just twelve years old, Michael Jordan made it to the Junior League final with his school team. His undeniable success in baseball later earned him recognition as the league’s best player.
However, after a while, Michael Jordan became captivated by basketball, which would become his life’s work. He was introduced to the new sport by his father, who built a basketball court for his son in the backyard of their home. Michael and his brother Larry loved playing, and it was during these years that the foundation for the future champion’s skills and competitive spirit was laid.
The University of North Carolina Team
At the age of 15, Jordan tried out for the high school basketball team but was turned down by the coach despite his effort and work ethic. The reason given was his height—he was only 5’9″ (1.75 meters). However, a year later, Michael Jordan had caught up in height with the team members and finally got the coach’s approval.
In 1980, the athlete’s success caught the attention of the University of North Carolina (UNC) coaching staff. A year later, Michael Jordan enrolled at UNC and almost immediately became one of the brightest talents on the university’s basketball team.
In 1982, the UNC team competed in the NCAA Division I Championship and defeated Georgetown University in the final. It was Michael Jordan who sank the last shot of the game. Over the next two years, the athlete’s numerous successes led to him being named the college player of the year.
In his third year of college, Michael Jordan received an offer from the NBA. Despite a rigorous schedule of basketball games, he still earned his bachelor’s degree in geography.
Launching a Professional Sports Career
Michael Jordan’s professional basketball career began with the Chicago Bulls in 1984. In a short period, the talented athlete proved his worth, helping the team reach the playoffs in his first season. That same year, Jordan received the prestigious NBA Rookie of the Year award.
The 1986–1987 season was equally successful for the basketball player. Michael Jordan set a record by scoring 3,000 points in just one season. In 1991, the Chicago Bulls defeated the Los Angeles Lakers to win the NBA Championship for the first time. Overall, Michael Jordan was named the NBA Most Valuable Player (MVP) in 1988, 1991, 1992, 1996, and 1998.
In 1993, the Chicago Bulls won the NBA Championship for the third consecutive time. However, Michael Jordan decided to leave basketball and focus on a baseball career. Two years later, the athlete decided to return to basketball, once again leading his team to victory.
Over the next three seasons, the Chicago Bulls won the NBA Championship. After the conclusion of the 1997–1998 season, Michael Jordan decided to retire from basketball for the second time. However, he didn’t fully leave the sport, accepting a position as the President of Basketball Operations for the Washington Wizards. The athlete didn’t hold the administrative role for long; in 2001, he quit the manager job and joined the team as a player.
After the 2002–2003 season, Michael Jordan retired from basketball for good. The total number of points scored by the athlete is recognized as the best record in league history.
Family Life and Scandals
Fame and recognition quickly transformed Michael Jordan into the most sought-after bachelor in the U.S. However, daily, grueling practices left little time for a personal life. The athlete took his time choosing a partner, as he was looking for someone with whom he could build a strong, loving family.
One evening in a Chicago nightclub, Michael Jordan met model Juanita Vanoy. A year later, in 1986, the athlete walked his chosen bride down the aisle. The couple had three children: sons Jeffrey and Marcus, and daughter Jasmine.
The couple’s life, however, was far from perfect. Michael Jordan repeatedly cheated on his wife. Tired of his infidelity, Juanita Vanoy hired a team of private investigators in 1997. They managed to document 167 instances of Jordan’s marital infidelity.
It’s worth noting that the couple signed a prenuptial agreement, under which Juanita Vanoy was entitled to half of her husband’s wealth in case of infidelity. However, she agreed to a significantly smaller sum of $168 million as a settlement.
In 2008, Michael Jordan met model Yvette Prieto in a Miami nightclub. Three years later, the athlete proposed to his beloved. The couple had a lavish wedding in April 2013, attended by many celebrities. In total, Michael Jordan and Yvette Prieto invited about 500 guests to the ceremony.
The couple is raising twin daughters and, despite their celebrity status, lead a relatively low-key lifestyle.
Fun Facts About Michael Jordan’s Life
In the sports world and the media in general, Michael Jordan’s name is associated with successful games and numerous victories. Because of this, many assume that the athlete’s greatest fear was defeat.
However, Michael Jordan has a much greater fear of water. A friend of his drowned when he was a child, and the basketball player himself nearly died. Since then, he has tried to avoid water.
His 1993 retirement was linked to a tragic event. Michael Jordan’s father was brutally murdered while sleeping in his car. The death of his loved one profoundly affected the athlete, and he couldn’t find the strength to continue playing the game he loved. Police managed to catch the murderers, and the 18-year-old men received life sentences.
After retiring from basketball, Michael Jordan tried his hand at baseball, but he failed to achieve significant success in the new field. Consequently, in March 1995, the athlete made a triumphant return to basketball.
Michael Jordan also has his own tequila brand, which has an interesting backstory. In 2016, the athlete was spending an evening at a restaurant with friends, and it turned out that tequila was the favorite drink of everyone present. That night, the basketball star came up with the idea to establish his own brand of the spirit, called “Cincoro.”
It’s worth mentioning that the athlete’s fans are willing to spend millions for the chance to get an autograph or memorabilia from their idol. For example, a 1997 collector’s card signed by Michael Jordan was sold at a Heritage auction for $1.44 million. Meanwhile, the jersey the champion wore while playing for the University of North Carolina team was sold to an anonymous fan for $1.38 million.