The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Be like Mike? It should be a hard pass
Michael Jordan always seemed like a mystery man. Outrageously great as a basketball player and corporate pitchman, Jordan from behind the curtains was always the big unknown. Fans never really knew the man behind those iconic Air Jordan shoes. It probably would have been better if it stayed that way.
What fans are learning throughout the massive, 10-part ESPN documentary “The Last Dance” about Jordan is fascinating from a story-telling perspective. It’s also disappointing.
Let’s hope young athletes aspiring for Jordan’s greatness will look the other way or have a discussion with their parents or coaches. How Jordan treated those close to him during his playing time with the Bulls is a bad example for everyone, but mostly the young and the impressionable.
Imagine what the family and friends of the late Bulls general manager Jerry Krause are thinking — if they are even watching “The Last Dance.”
Krause is the whipping boy of Jordan during the doc, which chronicles Jordan’s final season in the NBA (1997-98), plus his rise to super stardom beginning in the mid-1980s.
But Krause wasn’t the only one. Jordan berated and bullied teammates for whatever reason, but most of the time it seemed to go like this: You’re not playing up to my standards, so I have no use for you.
Krause, though, seemed to Jordan’s target No. 1, but since he passed away in 2017, Krause can’t defend himself in the series.
In the 2014 book, “Michael Jordan: The Life,” Krause was quoted as saying this about Jordan: “Michael doesn’t care who he hurts.”
Beyond “The Last Dance,” there are two books about Jordan that are worth a read.
Author Roland Lazenby’s 672page effort about Jordan is a strange, revealing look at arguably the greatest basketball player’s motivation to succeed. Anyone who seemingly dissed Jordan during his rise to the top was used as motivation. Hey, whatever works in terms of motivation. In “The Last Dance,” it goes beyond that.
Lazenby’s massive book chronicles more. For Jordan, it started with his college coach at North Carolina — the late Dean Smith — for not allowing him to appear on the cover of Sports Illustrated as a UNC freshman. That resentment at Smith fueled Jordan, but it is odd. Jordan referred to Smith as “his second father.”
There was of course Jordan’s dislike for Krause, showing up the Trail Blazers’ Clyde Drexler during the 1992 NBA finals, and the Knicks’ Patrick Ewing during the 1993 Eastern Conference finals.
Then there were his own teammates that Jordan berated, bullied and whatever else for not performing up to his standards. Sam Smith’s 1992 book, “The Jordan Rules,” chronicled the likes of former Ohio State players Brad Sellers and Dennis Hopson getting the brunt of that. Sellers lasted three seasons in Chicago, and Hopson one. From all accounts, Jordan was ruthless to some of his teammates.
Those old enough to experience Jordan’s dominance as it was happening no doubt heard the rumblings of the way MJ treated his teammates and others. No one is perfect, but during his heyday it seemed as if Jordan was perfect. He was the perfect basketball player and the perfect pitchman.
Air Jordan basketball shoes were a phenomenon. The iconic “Be Like Mike” commercial made millions want to drink Gatorade. The 1996 film “Space Jam” starring Jordan is loved by millions.
With “The Last Dance,” it all seems a bit hollow, especially with my 11-yearold son suddenly a huge NBA fan. My wife and I would never promote or encourage our son treating others the way Jordan treated some of his Bulls teammates. Most parents would not, but it’s impossible to look within your child for what drives them.
However, it doesn’t take a lot to treat people with respect.
From the books and the docs, it seems some of Jordan’s teammates took it the abuse and rolled with it. Others seemingly did not. Jordan didn’t seem to care much or at all who got in his way toward greatness, and that’s unfortunate.
Be like Mike? It’s a hard pass from this corner.