SOUL ON ICE

In life, there are some things that are an absolute certainty. For some people, naming a favorite book or a favorite teacher growing up evokes memories despite those instances likely being in the rearview mirror of their lives. However, it is rarely a desire to go back to those times. It is more of a recognition of the things and forces that helped shape how people view the world.

That favorite book sparked, or contributed to, an intellectual awakening, the seeds of curiosity being planted in a fertile mind. That favorite teacher led to a passion for learning, learning in a conventional or unconventional setting, a formal or informal matter and, perhaps, led to becoming a teacher later down the line as well. In terms of the game of basketball, there is one player who played the game and completely revolutionized the approach in the lives of then-teenagers to the now-mid 30s crowd, and that player is Allen Iverson.

Michael Jordan is arguably the most significant athlete of the past 35 years. From his exploits at the University of North Carolina in the early-1980s to his two stints as a player in the National Basketball Association with the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan’s name is synonymous with excellence, greatness, and evolution. Off the court, Michael Jordan’s signature shoes rake in millions of dollars for Nike each year (1), further capitalizing on his hard work, dedication, and overall appeal. It is hard to name another athlete who has made such an impact on the sport he played, as well as the commerce he generated, as Jordan.

There are fans around the world who know Michael Jordan as a player, as a pitchman, or both. There are fans who watched him play shooting guard for the Chicago Bulls, watched him win Most Valuable Player awards, and watched him win NBA championships. There are fans who wear Air Jordans, who will literally wait outside of shopping malls and shoe stores for days prior to an Air Jordan shoe release (2) and who will contend that Michael Jordan is the most important athlete of their generation. All of this, and more, is to emphasize the value, relevance, longevity, and importance of Michael Jordan as an athlete, a human being, a brand, and an international icon.