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Jordan, Michael (1963–), American basketball player considered by many the greatest player in the history of the game. Standing 6 feet 6 inches tall, Jordan played both guard and forward. Above all, he has the uncanny ability, evidenced time and again in his professional career, to "take over" a game in its critical closing moments and ensure a victory for his team. Early in his career his athleticism, particularly his seeming ability to hover in midair while making dunk shots, earned him the epithet "Air Jordon," but his reputation eventually transcended the game, and he became one of a handful of international figures instantly recognizable by first name alone.
Michael Jeffrey Jordan was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., …show more content…
When he returned to play with the Wizards in 2001, he was signed to a $1 million-a-year contract, which he donated to the victims of the September 11 terrorist attacks. More than that, however, he was a key factor behind the great success achieved by the NBA in the 1980s and 2000s; he was estimated to have brought in $1 billion in revenue to the league through increased ticket sales, broadcast rights, and NBA merchandise. And beyond that, Jordan was by all accounts the greatest figure in the history of brand-name advertising, posing in hugely successful ads for products such as Nike sneakers, Gatorade sports drink, and Wheaties cereal. Yet for all his fortune and fame as a sports superstar, he was known to fans, players, and sports-industry professionals alike as a caring, sincere individual who helps put a human face on the oftentimes hard-edged business of professional …show more content…
The Bulls made it to the Eastern Conference Finals in 1990 and won their first NBA championship the following year by defeating the Los Angeles Lakers. A rising NBA superstar, Jordan became known for his power and agility on the court as well as for his leadership abilities. He eventually landed several endorsement deals with such companies as Nike, which further pushed him into the spotlight.
In 1992, the Chicago Bulls beat the Portland Trail Blazers to win their second NBA championship title. The team took their third championship the following year, dominating in the basketball world. Jordan, however, had other things on his mind. He lost his father, James, to an act of violence after the end of the 1992-1993 season. Two teenagers shot James Jordan during an apparent robbery and were later convicted of the crime. In a move that shocked many, Michael Jordan decided to retire from basketball to pursue baseball. He played for a minor league team, the Birmingham Barons, as an outfielder for a year.
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