喬丹名人堂演講稿

第喬丹名人堂演講稿

喬丹名人堂演講稿Thankyou!Thankyou!

ItoldmyfriendsIwouldcomeheretosaythankyouthenwalkedoff.Icant,itsnoway.IgetsomanypeopleIcanthank.Inallthevideos,youneverjustsawme,alsoScottiePippenandthechampionshipwewon.Ivegotalotofquestionsoverthelastfourweeks.Anybodysayswell,whydoyoupickDavidThompson?Iknowwhy,Davidknowswhyandmaybeyouguysdontknow.ButasIgrowupinNorthCarolina,Iwaselevenyearsold,1974,Ithink,whenDavidwonthechampionship.IhatedNorthCarolina,butIendedupinNorthCarolina.ButIwasinlovewithDavidThompson,notjustforthegamebasketball,butintermsofwhatherepresented.Youknow,weall,asDavidsaysorsaidwegothroughtrailsandtribulations.Andhedid,andIwasinspiredbyhim.AndwhenIcalledhimandaskedhimtostandupforme,IknowIshockedashootoutofhim.IknowIdid.Butheisverykindtosay,Yeath,Illdoit.ThatisnotdisrespecttotheNorthCarolinaguy;weallknowIamtrueblueNorthCarolinaguytotheheart.CoachSmith,LarryBrown,SamPerkins,JamesWorthy,youknowallofthoseguys.

Idliketostarttomyparents.YouguysseealltheI-likes.Whatisaboutmethatyouguysdontknow?AsIsetuphereandwatchalltheotherguysgivetheirhistory.SomanythingsIdidntknowaboutJerrySloan.Andwelivedonthephone,butIdidntknowhewasinasmallclassfromthefirstgradetotheeighthgrade.EvenDavidRobinson,IhaveknownDavidforsometime.Youknow,butIfoundsomethings,goodthingsorbadthingsabouthimthatIdidntknow.AndChipson,IveknownChipsonforyears.MyfatherandmymotherspentalottimewithMikeandfoundoutgoodthingsabouther,butwhataboutmethatyouguysdontknow?

Igottwobrothers,JamesandLarry,fivefourandfivefiveinheight.TheygivemeallIcouldeveraskfor.Asbrothers,intermsofcompetition.MybrotherLarryisanidealsituationwithsmallthingscomingwithsmallpackages.Thisdofallmeeverysingleday.Tothee_tendthatmymotherusedtocomeoutandmakeuscomeinbecausewewerefightingwaytoomuch.Myolderbrotherwasalwaysgone.Heisservedinthearmyfor31years.Andthecompetitiondidntstopthere.Mysisterwhoisoneyearyoungerthanme,neverwanttobealonebyherself.Shetookclasses,e_traclasses,graduatedfromhighschoolwithme,togotouniversityNorthCarolinawithme,andtograduatefairerthanme.Andyouguyswannaknowwheremycompetitionnaturecomesfrom,itcamefromthem,itcamefrommyoldersisterandsheisnotheretoday.Myfatherwhoisnotheretoday,obviouslyheiswithus,allofus.MycompetitivenaturehasgonealongwayfromthefirsttimeIpickedupanysports,baseball,football,run-track,basketball,anythinginthisclassIplayed.

Theystartedtofireme;youknowthatfirestartedfrommyparents.AsImovedonmycareer,peopleaddwoodtothatfire.CoachSmith,whatcanIsayabouthim?Heisalegendarycoach.LeroldSmith,nowyouguysthinkthatsamistake.LeroldSmithwastheguywhenIgotkickshegotpickedintheteam.Heisheretonight.Heisstillthesamesi_sevenguy.Heisnotevenbigger.Hislevelisevenaboutthesame.Buthestartedthewholeprocessforme,becausewhenhemadetheteamandIdidnt,Iwantedtoprove,notjusttoLeroldSmith,notjusttomyself,buttothecoachwhoactuallypickedLeroldoverme.Iwanttomakesureheunderstoodyoumadeamistake,dude.

BussPeterson,Myroommate.WhenIfirstmetBuss,allIheardaboutwasthatthiskidfromAshvilleNorthCarolinawasclearlyunplayedagainstbuthehasneverplayedagainstmethen,sohowdoyoucometobetheplayeroftheyear?Isthatsometypeofmedia,e_posure,youknowIcamefromWilmington,youknow,wheretwochannel,channelABCandchannelNBCthatIneversawNBAatallwhenIgrowup.TheydidnthaveCBSreceiverinNorthCarolinaorWilmingtonalso.BussPetersonbecameadeadonmyboard.WhenIgetachancetomeetPetersononthebasketballcourt.Butheisagreatperson.Itisntthefaultofhis.Itwasjustmycompetitivenatures.Ididntthinkhecanbeatmeorisbetterthanmeasabasketballplayer.Andhebecamemyroommate.Fromthatpointon,hebecamemyfocalpointnotknowingly.Hedidntknowit,buthedid.AndCoachSmith,thedaywhenhewasontheSportsIllustrated,henamedfourstartersandhedidntnameme.Thatburnedmeup,becauseIgottobeonthatSportsIllustrate.Hehadhisownvisionaboutgivingafreshmanthate_posure,ItotallyunderstandthatbutfromabasketballsenseIdeservetobeonthatSportsIllustrated,andheunderstandsthat.

Anditdidntstopthere.Mycompetitivenatureswentrightintothepros,IgettothebullswhichIamveryproud.AtthetimeJerryReinsdorfdidntowntheteam.ItwasanotherorganizationReinsdorfdraftedme.KevinLougherywasmyfirstcoach.Kevinusedtotakepracticeandputmeinstartingfive.Youknow,hemadeacompetitivethingwherethelosingteamhadtorun.Sonowwearealmostonthewinningteam,halfwayonthegame,halfwayonthesituation,heswitchedmetothelosingteam.SoItookthatasacompetitivething,butyouweretryingtotestmeandbyninetimesoutoftenthesecondteamwouldcomebacktowinnomatterwhathedid.SoIappreciatedKevintogivemethatchallenge,providingthattypeoffirewithmeandhethrewanotherlogonthatfireforme.JerryReinsdorf,ImeanwhatelsecanIsay.Thene_tyearwhenIcamebackIbrokemyfoot;Iwasoutof65games.AndwhenIcamebackIwannaplay.Thedoctorcamewithhisoldtheorythatyoucanplayonlysevenminutesagame,butIampracticingtwohoursaday.Iamsaying,well,Idontagreewiththatmath.Andbackthen,whoeverhastheworstrecordgetsthemostballsinPing-Pangballs,youknowyoucandecidewhatpickyoucanhave,butIdontcareaboutthat.Ijustwantedtowin.Iwannamadetoplayoffs.IwannakeepthatenergygoinginChicago.SoIhadtogointohisofficeandsatdownwithhimandsayJerry,IactuallythinkIshouldplaymorethan14minutesandpracticemorethantwohours.HesaidWehavetoprotectthelong-terminvestmentweveinvestedonyou.IsaidIreallythinkIshouldbeabletoplay.HesaidLetmeaskyouthis,ifyouhadaheadache.Atthattime,therewastenpercentthatIcanhurtmyankleormyfoot.HesaidYouhadaheadacheandyougottencapsules,andoneofthemiscoatedwithpoison,wouldyoutakeit?IlookedhimandsayItdependsonhowbadisthatheadache.Howbadisthatheadache.JerrylookedmeandsayYouareOK,Iguessyouhadagoodanswer,youcangobacktoplay.Youletmeallowyoutogobackandplay.Youknow,Jerryprovidedalotofdifficultobstaclesformebutatthesametimetheguygavemeaopportunitytoperformatthehighestlevelintermsofbasketball.Thebulls,thewholebullsorganization,youknow,theydidgreatadjustmentsformeandallmyteammates.BelievemeIhadalotofteammatesinallthe14yearsIplayedforthebulls.Irespecteachoneofthem.Ijustwantthemtowin.Nomatterhowyoulookedatit.DougCollinscamethesametimewhenIwastryingtoplayatthesummertime.Hesaidwell,youarepartoftheorganizationandtheorganizationsaidyoucantplayatthesummertime.Isaidyoureadthethingsinmycontract;inmycontractIhavethelovethegameclause.ThatmeansIcanplayanytimeIwant,anyplaceIwantAndDouglookedatmeandsaidyouareright,youareright.Andthatshowwebecamealittlecloser.JerryKrauseisrightthereandJerryisnothere.ObviouslyIdontknowwhodinvitehim,Ididnt.But,Ihopeheunderstandsitgoesalongway.Heisaverycompetitiveperson.Iwasaverycompetitiveperson.Hesaidorganizationswinchampionships.IsaidIdidntseeorganizationsplayingwiththefluinUtah.Ididntseeitplayingwithabadankle.Granted,granted,Ithinkorganizationsputtogetherteams,butattheendoftheday,teamsgottogooutandplay.Ithinktheplayerswinthechampionship,andtheorganizationhassomethingtodowithit,dontgetmewrong.Butdonttrytoputtheorganizationaboveplayers.Becauseplayerstillgottogooutofthereandperform.Youguysgottopayus,butIamstilltoouttoplay.

ObviouslyyouveseenmykidsMarcusandJeffery.Iloveyouguys.Ithinkyouguysrepresentalotofmeandalotofdifferentpersonasyourmum,yourepresentthemaswell.Youknow,Ithinkyouguyshaveaheavyburden.IwouldntwanttobeyouguysifIhadto.Youknow,becauseallthee_pectationsyouhavetodealwith.Imean,lookaroundyou,theychargeathousanddollarsticketforthisthing,forthisholyevent.Itusedtobe200dollars,butIpaidit.Youknow,Ihavenochoice.IhavealotoffamiliesandalotoffriendIhavetobringin.Sothankallofyoutoraisingticketprice.Iloveyouguys,youguyshaveahostofpeoplesupportingyou,family,friends,peoplethatyoudontknow,relativescomingourofthewoodworks.Youknow,nomatterhowyoulookatit,butIthinkwetaughtyouright.YourmumandI,hopefullyyoucanmaketherightdecisionswhenthetimecomes.Mymum,whatcanIsayaboutmymum,mymumneverstaysstill.YouthinkIambusy.Sheisalwaysonthego.Withouther,sheisrough,sheisunbelievable.Evenrightnow,shetakesovertwojobs.Sheisunbelievablewoman.AsIe_periencedthefailureeacheveryday,itisher.Sheclassicallykeepsmefocusonthegoodthingsaboutlife.Youknow,howpeopleperceiveyou,howyourespectthem,youknow,whatsgoodforthekids,whatsgoodforyou,youknow,howyouperceivepublic,takeasecondthoughtsandpausetothinkaboutthingsyoushoulddo.Theseallcamefrommyparents,youknow,camefrommymum.Sheisstilllikethisthesedays,Iam46yearsold,sheisstillparentingmetoday.Thatsagoodthing.Illlovehertodeath.Illlovehertodeath.

AndIwillthankacoupleofpeoplethatyouguysprobablywouldnteventhinkIwillthank.IsaiahThomas,MagicJohnsonandGeorgeGervin.Theyaretheso-calledfreezing-outinmyrookieseason.Iwouldntrememberyouguysgavemethemotivationtosay,youknowwhat?EvidentlyIhaventprovedenoughtotheseguys.IvegottoprovetheseguysthatIdeservewhatIgotatthislevel.Nomatterwhatpeoplehavesaid,ifitisrumor,Inevertookitistruth.Butyouguysneverfrozemeup,becauseIwasyethappytobetherenomatterhowyoulookatit.Fromthatpointforward,Iwantedtoprovetoyou,Magic,Larry,GorgeandeverybodythatIdeservetobeonthislevelasmuchasanyoneelse.AndhopefullyoverthewholeperiodofcareerIhavedonethat,withoutadoubt.EvenintheDetroit,wevedonethat.

PatRiley,youandIgowayback.IstillrememberinPatRiley,inPatRiley.Iwascominginthere,gotleaving;youdecidedtostayacoupleofdays.Youwerecomingintomysuiteandtoldmetogetoutofmysuite.Youslidanoteontheleakofmydoor,althoughyouhadtomove,youdidntmove.Youslidthenote,sayingIenjoyedthecompetition,congratulation,butwewillmeetagain.AndItaketheheartinthat,becauseIthinkinallIcanseeyouarecompetitiveandevenfromacoachstandingpoint.YouchallengemeeverytimeIplaytheNicks,theHeats,IdontthinkyouarewiththeLakers,buteverytimeIplayagainstyou,youhaveJordanStoppersonyourteam,youhaveJohnStarkswhoIlove.YouevenhadmyfriendOakleysaysWecantgotothelunch,wecantgotothedinnertogether,becausethisguyhitmeharderthananybodyelseintheleague.Hewasmybestfriend.PatrickErvingandIarethesameage.Wecameupatthesametime.Butwecantgotothelunchtogether.Whyisthisanissue?YouthinkIplayagainstPatrickanydifferentthanIplayanybodyelse?No,no.TheyhadyourlearnedguybecametheNicks,coachafteryou,Jeffvangundy.HesaidIcantbeplayerfairlyandImaydeadonthebasketballcourt.Whereisitcomefrom?Ijusthappentobeafriendlyguy.Igetalongwitheverybody,butatthesametimewhenthelightcomeson,Iammorecompetitivethananybody.Soyouguys,ImustsaythankyouforgivingmethemotivationthatIdesperatelyneeded.

PhilJacksonis,tome,isaprofessionalDeanSmith.Hechallengedmementally,notjustphysically.Youknow,heunderstoodthegame,alongwithTe_Wenter.Theytaughtmealotaboutthebasketballgame.Te_beingthespecialist,IcanneverpleaseTe_.AndIloveTe_.Te_isnothere.AndIknowheishereinspirit.Icanrememberagamecomingafterthebasketballcourt;weweredownfivetotenpoints.AndIgooffabout25points,wecamebacktowinthegame.AswewalkedoutthefloorandTe_lookedmeandsaidyouknow,thereisIinteam.IsaidthereisnotIinteam,butthereisIinwin.Ithinkhegotmymessage.Iwilldoanythingtowin.Youknow,thatmeansweplayteamformattowin.ThatmeansIwilldowhatIhavetodo.Nomatterhowyoulookatit.ThenyouhadallyourmediamessageScoringchampioncantwinaNBAtitle.YouarenotgoodasMagicJohnson,youarenotgoodasLarryBird.Youaregood,butyouarenotgoodasthoseguys.Ihavetolistentoallthis.Andthatputsomuchwoodonthatfire.Itkeptmeeacheverydaytryingtogetbetterasabasketballplayer.Iamnotsayingtheywerewrong.Imaylookatthemfromadifferentperspective.Butatthesametimeasabasketballplayer,IamtryingtobecomethebestIcan.Youknow,forsomeonelikemewhoachievealotinthiskindofcareer,youlookforanykindofmessagesthatpeoplemaysayordotogetyoumotivatedtoplaythegamebasketballtothehighestlevel.BecausethatswhatIfeelwhenIassailatmybest.

Andmylaste_ampleandthelastyouguysprobablyhaveseen.Ihatetodoittothem.Heissuchaniceguy.WhenIfirstmetBryonRussell,JohnandKarl,IwasinChicagoin1994.Iwasworkingoutforbaseballandtheyallcamedownforworkoutandshootingaround.IcameoverandsayHello,andatthistimeIhadnothoughtsofcomingbackandplayingthegameofbasketball.BryonRussellcameovertomeandsaidwhydidyouquit?whydidyouquit?YouknowIcouldguardyou,ifIeverseeyouinapairofshorts.Doyouremember?John.WhenIdiddecidetocomebackin1995andweplayedUtahin96,ImatthecentercircleandBryonRussellisstandingne_ttome.IsaidYouremembertheco