Sports and Pop Culture in My Life

No baller had the body control and sweetness of Connie Hawkins. I was that dude who thought I saw the greatest athlete and hoopster – ever! Along came Julius Erving – the Doctor. Surely, no one would ever play ball with the smoothness and commitment of the Doc. How great that I could see the heights of basketball in my lifetime!

Enter Michael Jordan. It took me a while to admit it, but he was good. Might have been better than Doctor J! He was so good that he got real, Old G baller status. Mike perfected the shot calling; jumped higher; and showed us how to really play above the rim – every game. Jordan reminded us that you’ve got to be there and be ready – he showed up for work even with the flu (be in trouble today with the H1N1 prevention crowd). MJ gave his best and was real cool doing it. I have seen the greatest ball player (and maybe second greatest athlete) Ever?

I was stunned by his commitment to hoops but, moreso, I was taken by MJ as a pop culture figure. He and Mars Blackmon introduced me to a different world. Despite being a lifelong Knicks fan, I rocked the high-top, leather, black-white-red Jordans with my suit (fifty-dollar sneaker, but I had a job). It had been a long time that I followed an athlete. Jordan’s image gave me a look at beauty, precision, style, and intelligence in a Black athlete. With help from Spike Lee and others, MJ’s image was smooth, cool, and hip, high-class street. I was willing to put up with his imperfections – he gambled, didn’t say profound things, and was amazingly apolitical – and got pulled into the hype. Mike, basketball, and the entire culture connected around MJ connected me with others – I played very little hoop at the time and rarely went to a game, but I wanted to own the Chicago Bulls so I could hang with Mike — sports was an important part of my life.

Around the way (Springfield), a few weeks ago, Jordan took the spot we’ve saved for him in the Hall of Fame. With smooth David Thompson sponsoring him, I was ready for a meaningful, best-ever, induction speech. Hoped that Jordan was going to say something that would make me rush out and change the world. Hoped that angels would sing and I would confirm that Mike was the best ever. It just didn’t happen. Like his brief baseball stint, Jordan couldn’t bring it. Had to remember that he was just an actor and the soul of his pop image might have gotten more meaning from the rest of us than from any vision MJ might have laid down.

No matter – big ups to Michael Jordan. Who got next?

Peace.