Barack Obama honors Michael Jordan with epic essay

As part of the Chicago Bulls’ Ring of Honor festivities this week, the team invited some of the biggest names to write a piece about the inductees, and Barack Obama paid tribute to Bulls legend Michael Jordan.

Obama’s article can be seen in the “Ring of Honor” exhibit in the United Center Atrium, which is open to the public and NBA fans with tickets to Bulls games Jan. 10-12.

In addition to this article, the atrium displays rare memorabilia from all 13 members of the inaugural class and the 1995-96 season.

The full text of Obama’s letter to Jordan is below.

When Michael Jordan arrived in Chicago in 1984, a scrawny kid with bushy hair and a big smile, everyone knew he was going to be a great player. After all, this is a player who hit the game-winning field goal in the national championship game as a freshman to help the North Carolina Tar Heels defeat the Georgetown Hoyas and was a two-time first-team selection. -American, Olympic gold medalist, national team player of the year.

What people didn’t realize at the time—perhaps even Michael didn’t realize it at the time—was that the same young man would become the greatest player the game has ever seen, a transcendent athlete who would fundamentally change the face of sports. , Business, and American Culture.

Of course, Michael’s performance on the court was legendary. Six-time NBA championship, six-time Finals MVP. Five-time regular season MVP. Ten scoring titles and the highest playoff scoring average in history. Selected to the NBA All-NBA First Team. Nine-time All-Defensive First Team selection, including Defensive Player of the Year. No other player before or since could combine dazzling athleticism and flawless fundamentals quite like Michael. Such a tireless work ethic and unparalleled competitive passion. Not only did he win with ruthless efficiency, but he performed with the grace and imagination that made the Chicago Bulls the greatest show in sports.

What made Michael Jordan an extraordinary figure was not just his excellence on the court. Through his revolutionary endorsement deals, iconic commercials, and even starring in a box-office blockbuster, Michael helped place American sports and African-American athletes at the center of entertainment, fashion, and pop culture, changing more than just our lives business in the country, and the way the rest of the world views America.

Only a handful of athletes in history — Ruth, Robinson, Ali — have been able to have a similar impact. Michael Jordan also possesses this rare quality. Not bad for a kid from Wilmington, North Carolina, who had been cut from his high school varsity team.

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