This is a long read … get a lekker cup of coffee, go for a pee and then get into it … k, ready?
It was June of 1993 my Std. 6 year in the Northern part of South Africa, Pietersburg to be more precise, that I was introduced to a magnificent sport of basketball.
First it was the Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, then NBA Action with Ahmad Rashad, His Airness Michael Jordan and The Chicago Bulls, The Lakers, New York Knicks, Spurs, Hornets, Rockets … Clyde “The Glyde” Drexler, Patrick Ewing, Hakeem “The Dream” Olajuwon all of them amazing athletes – all of them PLUS me and all my mates trying to be just like “Mike”, amazing sneakers all trying to compete with “The Jordan 8’s” or more aptly named “Bugs Bunny’s”. It was the year that everyone was trying to answer the question: “Are you ready to fly?” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZIqugitfTH0
Michael was the first true global sports megastar that properly cashed-in on his legend.
The most recognizable athlete of all time is now a billionaire. What elevated Michael Jordan, who splits his time between Florida and North Carolina, was his well-timed investment in the Charlotte Hornets. He acquired a majority stake in 2010 for $175 million.
His Royal Airness “MJ” was truly the best there ever was and will probably never be surpassed by anyone else, in any sport, at establishing an everlasting brand that captivates everyone, and every generation that gets exposed to it – The Jordan Brand.
Michael is the first and only athlete, past and present to be classified as a Billionaire with an estimated worth of $1,1 Billion … Tiger Woods (used to be until he f*cked up and got caught doing so), Michael Schumacher, Pele, Arnold Palmer, Maradonna, Beckham, Ronaldo, the list goes on and on … Michael makes bank.
His biggest backer has always been Nike, which generates $2 billion in revenue annually from the Jordan Brand.
http://www.therichest.com/top-lists/top-100-richest-athletes/
Michael’s career as an NBA player spanned 15 seasons and included regular season, playoffs and all star appearances galore, 48 867 minutes played, 14 490 field goals made, 732 3-pointers, 6 Championship Rings, a handful of MVPs and other honours and 2 Olympic Gold medals – He even played Pro-baseball for a season – well sort of. That really is quite something but seeing him do it was the thing that really made the penny drop for everyone that had half a brain cell and DStv back in the 90s. If you were too young or too stuck watching cricket and rugby just feast your eyes on the clip below:
What’s more impressive is this statement recently made by ESPN when looking at the top 10 basketball players of all time …
His impact is still felt to this day. Who else could sell 25-year-old sneakers at $200 a pop to a generation of kids who never even saw him play? — Adam Reisinger, ESPN.com
I know I’m rambling on and on about the majesty of his airness Mr. Jordan but I do have a point regarding the modern creative fraternity and it’s “interstellar-like-quantam-disconnection” from the “old school values” of 1) talent + 2) work ethic + 3) determination + 4) hunger + 5) more determination + 6) blood, sweat and tears + 7) a chronic lack of sleep, or in fact home or social life that = Michael Jordan-like-stratospheric levels of success … And before you go Michael “silver spoon” this and Michael “silver spoon” that … he got drafted 3rd overall, in 1984 out of the University of North Carolina by the Chicago Bulls after the achievements listed below:
- 2x USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year (1983, 1984)
- NCAA champion (1982)
- 2× Consensus first-team All-American (1983, 1984)
- National college player of the year (1984)
- ACC Player of the Year (1984)
- No. 23 retired by the University of North Carolina
After doing more than most people do in a lifetime, in college, there were still doubters … and Michael made it his mission to use his 1) talent + 2) work ethic + 3) determination + 4) hunger + 5) more determination + 6) blood, sweat and tears + 7) a chronic lack of sleep, or in fact home or social life to become the greatest of all time … undisputed … transcending even other sports codes to be in a league of sports idols like Ali, Pele, McCaw, Bolt when mentioning and discussing the greatest athletes of all time.
The Point:
Last year I was invited along with our Head of Strategy to one of the foremost independent Tertiary Colleges in South Africa where students go and learn the art of packaging and preparing themselves for jobs in the Advertising Industry at large … a spectacular showcase of craft beer, hand made organic gluten free free range burgers and personal branding of each and every individual student … that lead to us earmarking 5 potential candidates for internships at our agency. After 3 interview no shows (confirmed no shows), 1 grossly oversold-leave-me-in-a-dark-corner-weirdo-candidate that is apparently a social recluse … we finally found 1 suitable candidate, we loved her energy and vibe – we offered her an internship – she accepted – it looked very promising … Roll on January 2016 … We are still waiting for her to show up for her internship … she is now 13 days late.
Students and young people of our industry, hear me now …
Do not ask what Jesus would’ve done when faced with your leap into the real world … rather ask yourself “What would MJ do?” and remember he was drafted 3rd after all he did at college …
Sleep tight kids. Till next time.
Oom Jacque.
jackalsmonsters 