by Celine Bernadette Francisco

Created on: June 05, 2010

Not only did he scored into the hearts of millions of basketball fanatics, but throughout the world of the inspired brethren, Michael Jordan serves as the “Man.” Known as the “greatest basketball player of all time,” he has touched lives as much as he led more and more people to go for what they aim for.

At 40, he has already retired and achieved 5 MVP awards, 10 All-NBA First Team designations, 14 All-Star Game appearances, 3 All-Star Game MVP awards, 3 steals titles, 10 scoring titles, 6 NBA Finals MVP awards, and NBA Defensive Player of the Year (1988).

Named by ESPN as the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century, he was also brought to the Basketball Hall of Fame in September 11, 2009.

No doubt, Jordan made it to the top of his career and even continues to sky-rocket out in the leagues as he is now the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. Now, what really makes Michael Jordan so different from the rest of the basketball players out there? For sure, as mentioned in Malcolm Gladwell’s bestselling inspirational book “Outliers,” Jordan is part of the “outliers,” those people who made it far, did not become scared to go out of the box and developed their own brand of self.

Michael Jordan trained so hard that even though he was shorter in height for the sophomore basketball team, he managed to be the star player of their junior varsity squad. At first, even though his friend, Harvest Leroy Smith was the one who made it to the team, he never gave up. He was persevering enough to reach his goal – that is, to become the best player he can be. And true enough, he has leaped beyond the controversies, and by now, he has just marked the name Michael Jordan as one of the inspirations of the youth, and even those who need a boost.

Despite the trials he has been involved with, he still stands tall. Faced with the gambling issue in 1993, he withstood his ground and managed to state, “Yeah, I've gotten myself into situations where I would not walk away and I've pushed the envelope. Is that compulsive? Yeah, it depends on how you look at it. If you're willing to jeopardize your livelihood and your family, then yeah."

A proof of untiring human power, will, and might, Michael Jordan definitely transformed lives right to the core. Awestruck by his abilities and knack to accomplish his dreams, more and more people around the globe are still determined to make it happen, that they too can. Just like their ultimate sports icon, they can also reach for the stars. All these and more are within reach, guided by the thought to be successful – to lead the mind and heart to the “can-do” attitude that must be propagated throughout one’s lifetime. Michael Jordan proves that as the main ingredient for success: the attitude towards winning, leading the self to be at par with its utmost potential.

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