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| Mattthew Martin & Nathaniel Labreck, Grade 5, Caswell |
By Matthew Martin & Nathaniel Labreck
Grade 5, Caswell
Before pro ball:
Michael Jordan always thought of himself lucky on or off the court. It all started when he was born in Brooklyn, New York on Feb. 17, 1963. Michael was the fourth of five children born to James and Deloris Jordan. Michael was always curious and likes a challenge. When Michael was three he saw his dad cutting wood with an axe. Michael’s dad always said “don’t touch the axe.”
Michael got hold of the axe and went to cut a piece of wood but, he missed and cut his toe. He went up to the house and his parents brought him to the hospital. Michael says whenever he falls in a game his dad says “you shouldn’t have grabbed that axe.”
When Michael was a kid he had dreams of becoming a famous baseball player. In fact he even got offered to join the North Carolina mini-baseball team. Michael turned it down because he hated being away from home.
When Michael was a sophomore he decided to try out for the varsity basketball team. They did not accept him because of his height. At the time Michael was only 5’9” but they would regret that. Over the summer Michael grew 4 inches and now stood at 6’3” and could dunk on his backyard hoop.
Michael played college for three years before getting the player of the year award and decided to try out for the NBA. Michael’s second year he scored a buzzer shot and the campus thought he was a hero.
The NBA:
Michael was picked third in the NBA draft by the Chicago bulls in 1984. In Michael’s first NBA game he scored sixteen points. After Michael’s first season in the NBA he practiced all summer and soon became a deadly three-point shooter.
Michael was the only basketball player ever to triple dribble in an all-star game. On Oct. 15, 1993, Michael announced his first retirement. When Michael came back to the NBA all he said was “I’m back!” Larry Bird (another great basketball player) said after a game against Michael and the Bulls “That’s God dressed up as Michael Jordan.” After Michael’s second retirement he came back, not as a basketball player but a baseball player. After a year in the MLB he came back as a coach for the Washington Wizards. Michael Jordan picked many rookies, he might have even picked Paul Pierce. After coaching for two years Michael came back on the court.
Michael’s record is still in the history books, three thousand points in one season. Michael also won ten scoring titles, MVP five times, and defensive player nine times. Michael’s vertical leap distance is three feet. Two weeks after 9-11, Michael donated all $1 million of his retirement money to the victims. Michael earned his name Air Jordan from his dunks from the foul line. Michael is known as the best basketball player.
