Who hasn't picked up a basketball, pretended to nail a game winning three, and for at least one moment, thoght that they were just "Like Mike" . If you're in your early 20s like myself, there is no way that you couldn't have grown up without in some way worshiping Michael Jordan. Hell, there was even a catchy song about being "Like Mike". Personally, I was the marketing team's dream. I had the shoes (every year from about 2nd to 8th grade), the Gatorade, the Hanes and sadly, the Jordan logo shaved into the back of my head (that is 100% true). And while I was always "dreamed" about playing like Jordan, I realized at a young that I wasn't going to really play like Mike. Nope, I was about 2-feet too short and significantly too white for that. But I was never expected to be Michael Jordan, I only needed to buy his shit.
Now enter the world of Jeffery Jordan, the son of Michael Jordan. Jeffery is a freshmen walk-on for the University of Illinois. Unfairly or not, there is nothing that Jeffery will ever be able to do on a basketball court that won't be compared to his father. And honestly, I feel for him. No one should have to play with that kind of pressure. Unlike 99.9 percent of Jordan fans, Jeffery is actually going to have to be "Like Mike".
I know that some people will say that you shouldn't feel bad for someone who has grown up with millions of dollars and everything you could ever possibly want (trust me, I don't give a shit what happens to Angelina Jolie's 25 adopted kids), but I'm legitimately pulling for Jeffery to succeed. If he's walking on to Illinois, he clearly doesn't have as many God-given skills as his father. So if he succeeds, he's going to have to earn it. And I hope he does succed. Judging by all the reports and his interview at the Michigan-Ilinois game, he seems like a good enough kid. Even if he only gets to play sparingly foe the Illini, know that he did it with talent that didn't match the enoumous expectations he was expected to fill.
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Imagine Trying To Really Be "Like Mike"
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7 comments:
as a knicks fan who grew up absolutely hating the crap out of michael jordan, i take exception to your first paragraph.
He'll probably play a lot, as he is on a terrible Illinois team.
Cry Baby Weber better get recruiting!
yeah, dan but if you truly consider yourself a hoops fan you have to amit to an appreciation of the man's greatness on the hardwood.
He'll play a lot, he might have walked onto U of I, but he was offered scholarships by several "mid major" and lesser major schools (Depaul, UIC, SIU, etc). He also walked on because he doesn't exactly need the scholarship, people don't realize this. He should be a starter and solid contributor sooner than later
Mid Major SIU was just ranked in the top 30 basketball programs in the U.S. on criteria such as win percentage, graduation rate, and having a clean program.
I am glad you put mid-major in quotes, because they have become a great program on par with the countries elite.
Yeah, Bruce Weber really can't recruit...He only has the #2 2010 class player in the nation coming soon, Jereme Richmond. The kid has been compared to Carmelo Anthony (except he might be taller, with better guard skills, this kid is projected to be a 6'9" shooting guard). Think Kevin Durant.
Not to mention he just got the 3 best guards in the state of Illinois for the 09 class in Richardson, Paul and Bertrand. Weber is also looking to lock up Anthony Johnson (top 20 player nationally 2010 class) soon, and trying to make room for Luther Head and Demetri McCamey's little bro's to round out the 2010 class.
Damn, I guess he really can't recruit...
P.S. I forgot, he's also trying to fit in Michael Jordan's OTHER son, Marcus. What a horrible job this Bruce Weber is doing...
I am an Illini fan and we will not be terrible. We will still finish 3rd in the big ten and make the 2nd round of the ncaa tourney.
However what you guys forgot to mention about Jeffrey is that he is incredibly athletic. He has a 46" vertical jump which is only 2" short of Michael's jump. Unfortunately he is not as tall but if he develops a good jumpshot, he could be a playa.
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