The Jordan Rules

By John McMullen

Philadelphia, PA (The Phan) - Usually when someone dives into the "greatest athlete debate," my eyes glaze over.

To me it's the ultimate apples and oranges comparison. How do you measure Babe Ruth against Muhammad Ali, Jim Brown vs. Wayne Gretzky or Jim Thorpe and Tiger Woods?

It's also the ultimate exercise in futility.

We already know the answer -- Michael Jordan.

Jordan will pick up the final honor of his brilliant career Friday night when he will be enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. M.J. is the headliner of a great class that also includes David Robinson, John Stockton, Utah coach Jerry Sloan and Rutgers women's coach C. Vivian Stringer.

After a spectacular career in college at North Carolina that featured a National Championship in 1982, Jordan joined the NBA's Chicago Bulls in 1984. He quickly emerged as one of the NBA's top stars, igniting crowds with his extraordinary athletic ability, punctuated by his uncanny ability to glide through the air.

"Air Jordan" was born.

In 1991, Jordan finally became a "winner," pocketing the first of three straight NBA championships, a number that surely would have gone on longer if he hadn't abruptly retired from basketball at the beginning of the 1993-94 NBA season to pursue an ill-fated career in baseball.

His "airness" rejoined the Bulls in 1995 with his famous "I'm Back" press release and promptly led the Bulls to three additional championships (1996, 1997, and 1998) as well as an NBA-record 72 regular-season wins in the 1995-96 season.

When people look back at Jordan, they usually talk about the prolific scoring ability, the amazing slam dunks or the vaunted athletic skills.

But that misses the mark. Sure, the physical ability was freaky but there have been dozens of NBA players with similar gifts. Jordan's unprecedented competitive streak and desire to be the best pushed him over the top.

Allen Iverson, a future Hall of Famer himself, has similar top-tier athletic ability and always talks about "playing every game like it's his last." But, Iverson never took that same mentality to practice or the weight room.

He's certainly not alone.

Winning was all Jordan was about. Whether he was on the floor at Madison Square Garden. on the golf course, or at the poker table, Jordan had to win.

I have a sneaking suspicion he even took it to the bathroom. In Fact, I'm reminded of Will Ferrell playing Ricky Bobby in the comedy classic Talladega Nights.

"I'm the best there is, plain and simple," Bobby said after winning a race. "I mean i wake up in the morning I pi@# excellence."

I'm not sure if that's possible but if it is, Jordan is trying to do it.

Five MVP awards, 10 All-NBA First Team designations, nine All-Defensive First Team honors, fourteen NBA All-Star Game appearances, three All-Star Game MVP awards, ten scoring titles, six NBA Finals MVP awards, and a pair of Olympic Gold Medals.

How's that for a resume?

In 1999, Jordan was named the greatest North American athlete of the 20th century by ESPN.

Were you expecting anyone else?