Michael Jordan was born into a basketball family. His father, James Joseph Jordan II, played professionally before him, while his mother, Juanita Cox Jordan, helped coach him from an early age. He started playing organized basketball in elementary school and became a star in high school. Soon after, he was recruited to play college basketball at North Carolina State University. In 1984, he led the Wolfpack team to win the NCAA championship. After that, he went on to win six NBA championships as well as five Olympic gold medals. Today, he is regarded as one of the greatest players in professional sports history.
Who are your childhood influences?
My dad has always been my biggest influence. I have never seen anybody like him. As soon as he got home from work, he wanted us to be outside doing something with our hands. My mom helped too. She would make sure we were getting the right training. At such a young age, they instilled in me the importance of hard work and dedication. I learned how to deal with adversity and failure. They taught me so many things.
What did you learn as a child that you have applied to your life now?
My mom taught me how to be humble and patient. She also taught me not to take anything for granted because she had grown up poor with my grandmother. As I got older, I learned how to work hard and believe in myself.
When were you first inspired by sport?
When I was about seven years old, I saw Magic Johnson perform in a game against the New York Knicks. It was on national television and they used his jumper move to send the ball through the basket. I thought it looked so cool, but then I realized that I couldn’t do that! So I practised all summer until I could make those moves like Magic. I don’t know if he knew what he was doing when he made that move, but I know I was doing something right because I had achieved something big.
What was your most difficult moment in sports?
My first major tournament was the 1992 Summer Olympics. The entire nation watched us compete and we ended up losing the silver medal game to Turkey. However, the year prior, we won the gold medal against Canada, so everyone thought we would win again this time around. Instead, our team lost to them as well. That experience opened my eyes to the fact that winning isn’t everything; sometimes you have to lose.
How do you think your parents prepared you for success?
They told me that if I worked hard, I would achieve what I set out to accomplish. Their example showed me how to have discipline. They pushed me to excel in every aspect of life. And they didn’t give up on me even though I failed at times. If they hadn’t stuck with me, I wouldn’t have become the person I am today.
What are your ambitions for the future?
In 10 years, I want to own my restaurant. To do that, however, I need to complete college and get some kind of degree so that I can pay for tuition. One day I hope to open an academy where students can come from different backgrounds to learn from each other. Also, I want to donate millions of dollars to charity groups that help underprivileged communities. This includes giving back to my hometown of St. Francisville, Louisiana.
Who has been your biggest role model?
Growing up, Kobe Bryant was my idol and inspiration. He was someone who overcame adversity to become one of the best basketball players of all time. My mother was another huge inspiration for me because she grew up without her father and became a single parent at such a young age. She did the best job possible raising me while supporting herself financially. Even though she had a rough upbringing, she remained positive and motivated throughout the process.
What does being grateful mean to you?
It means appreciating God for the blessings he gives you. We should be thankful for everything that happens in our lives because it could be gone tomorrow. Many people are living in poverty right now, but they still have food on the table and can take care of themselves. They truly appreciate what they have, whereas I know people who don’t have much but complain about it constantly. Being grateful keeps me grounded and reminds me not to take things for granted.
Conclusion
The world needs more inspiring individuals like Michael Jordan. People should encourage others and show them that anything is possible. Moreover, Jordan loves gambling and his favourite game is Poker. You may try playing poker at any online casino site today and enjoy it.