On this day in history, March 29, 1982, Michael Jordan took the game-winning shot in the NCAA Finals, starting a legend

On March 29, 1982, this day in history, basketball icon Michael Jordan, a 19-year-old freshman guard at the University of North Carolina, created his legendary career with a thrilling shot to defeat Georgetown University in the NCAA championship game. Chapter One.

The Tar Heels defeated the mighty Hoyas 63-62 on a 16-foot jumper from the left side of the basket with 17 seconds left.

An incredible 62,000 fans watched the show live at the Louisiana Superdome, while an estimated 17 million people watched on television.

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Until then, Jordan had been an unknown figure on the national stage.

His hardwood heroics propelled him on a path to greatness and ultimately to a rare level of international stardom, reaching far beyond the confines of the court and into wider pop culture.

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“Michael Jordan embodied greatness on the court and redefined superstar athletes off the court,” the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame wrote in his profile of the man widely regarded as the greatest player in the history of the sport. Great player.

“Jordan’s freshman season at UNC culminated with Jordan’s game-winning shot in the 1982 NCAA national championship game. That shot made Michael famous and a new era was born.”

The game was the first to be played in front of a national audience in 1982, and broadcaster Brent Musburger dubbed it “March Madness.”

Jordan wasn’t the only basketball legend to be spotlighted during North Carolina’s landmark victory.

Jordan’s North Carolina teammate and future Basketball Hall of Famer James Worthy grabbed a steal in the final seconds to seal the victory. They defeated a strong Georgetown team led by another freshman talent and a soon-to-be Hall of Fame player, Patrick Ewing.

The win capped the legacy of North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith, who had an incredible career but was missing a vital piece of hardware.

“He led Team USA to a gold medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics. He reached the Final Four six times. He led the movement to desegregate athletics at North Carolina, signing Charlie Scott and becoming the school’s No. 1 Black scholarship athlete. UNC 1967,” Jason Owens writes for Yahoo. Sports in 2020.

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“He was a giant in the game, a great teacher, and earned the respect of his peers and people outside of the basketball world. He had it all. Everything but a national championship.”

North Carolina, one of the most important programs in NCAA men’s basketball history, entered a new era of success after Jordan’s jump shot.

The Tar Heels won four more national championships in 1993, 2005, 2008 and 2017.

In 1984, Jordan was selected by the Chicago Bulls with the third overall pick after his junior year.

His career is unparalleled in terms of statistical accomplishments, team success and individual stardom.

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Jordan was selected to the NBA All-Star 14 times in his 15 seasons and won the scoring title 10 times.

He led the Bulls to six NBA championships and won the Finals Most Valuable Player honor six times.

He also won two Olympic gold medals in men’s basketball for the United States in 1984 and 1992 as part of the legendary “Dream Team.”

He was joined by Georgetown star Ewing, a two-time U.S. Olympic champion who lost to Jordan’s Tar Heels in the 1982 NCAA finals.

Jordan’s fame stems not only from his dominance on the court, but also from his known for his graceful balletic ability to glide and outrun his opponents with ease, defying gravity.

His incredible acrobatics while winning the NBA Slam Dunk Contest in 1987 and 1988 further cemented his reputation among casual sports fans.

This extraordinary athleticism inspired his nickname “Air Jordan.”

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In April 1985, toward the end of Jordan’s rookie season with the Bulls, Nike launched the Air Jordan sneaker.

“Nike had expected to sell just 100,000 pairs of the $65 shoe in the first year,” sports website The Ringer said. “Instead, it shipped 1.5 million units in the first six weeks.”

Today, sneakers remain a popular fashion statement. Early models are coveted and high-priced auction items around the world.

Jordan has proven to be at the forefront of a new era of international sports marketing, in which on-court success merges seamlessly with brand image and consumer product marketing.

He parlayed his basketball talents into a massive business empire that included a 13-year majority stake in the NBA team, the Charlotte Hornets.

“The court was his, and the world would soon follow,” the Basketball Hall of Fame said.

“His unmistakable style — wagging tongue, baggy shorts, signature sneakers — has helped the 14-time All-Star become the most recognizable figure on the planet.”

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Original source of the article: On this day in history, March 29, 1982, Michael Jordan took the game-winning shot in the NCAA Finals, starting a legend