乔丹名人堂演讲稿
www.16system.cn乔丹名人堂演讲稿
Thankyou!Thankyou!
ItoldmyfriendsIwouldcomeheretosay“thankyou”thenwalkedoff.Ican’t,it’snoway.IgetsomanypeopleIcanthank.Inallthevideos,youneverjustsawme,alsoScottiePippenandthechampionshipwewon.I’vegotalotofquestionsoverthelastfourweeks.Anybodysays“well,whydoyoupickDavidThompson?”Iknowwhy,Davidknowswhyandmaybeyouguysdon’tknow.ButasIgrowupinNorthCarolina,Iwaselevenyearsold,1974,Ithink,whenDavidwonthechampionship.IhatedNorthCarolina,butIendedupinNorthCarolina.ButIwasinlovewithDavidThompson,notjustforthegamebasketball,butintermsofwhatherepresented.Youknow,weall,asDavidsaysorsaidwegothroughtrailsandtribulations.Andhedid,andIwasinspiredbyhim.AndwhenIcalledhimandaskedhimtostandupforme,IknowIshockedashootoutofhim.IknowIdid.Butheisverykindtosay,”Yeath,I’lldoit.”ThatisnotdisrespecttotheNorthCarolinaguy;weallknowIamtrueblueNorthCarolinaguytotheheart.CoachSmith,LarryBrown,SamPerkins,JamesWorthy,youknowallofthoseguys.
I’dliketostarttomyparents.YouguysseealltheI-likes.Whatisaboutmethatyouguysdon’tknow?AsIsetuphereandwatchalltheotherguysgivetheirhistory.SomanythingsIdidn’tknowaboutJerrySloan.Andwelivedonthephone,butIdidn’tknowhewasinasmallclassfromthefirstgradetotheeighthgrade.EvenDavidRobinson,IhaveknownDavidforsometime.Youknow,butIfoundsomethings,goodthingsorbadthingsabouthimthatIdidn’tknow.AndChipson,I’veknownChipsonforyears.MyfatherandmymotherspentalottimewithMikeandfoundoutgoodthingsabouther,butwhataboutmethatyouguysdon’tknow?
Igottwobrothers,JamesandLarry,fivefourandfivefiveinheight.TheygivemeallIcouldeveraskfor.Asbrothers,intermsofcompetition.MybrotherLarryisanidealsituationwithsmallthingscomingwithsmallpackages.Thisdofallmeeverysingleday.Totheextendthatmymotherusedtocomeoutandmakeuscomeinbecausewewerefightingwaytoomuch.Myolderbrotherwasalwaysgone.Heisservedinthearmyfor31years.Andthecompetitiondidn’tstopthere.Mysisterwhoisoneyearyoungerthanme,neverwanttobealonebyherself.Shetookclasses,extraclasses,graduatedfromhighschoolwithme,togotouniversityNorthCarolinawithme,andtograduatefairerthanme.Andyouguyswannaknowwheremycompetitionnaturecomesfrom,itcamefromthem,itcamefrommyoldersisterandsheisnotheretoday.Myfatherwhoisnotheretoday,obviouslyheiswithus,allofus.MycompetitivenaturehasgonealongwayfromthefirsttimeIpickedupanysports,baseball,football,run-track,basketball,anythinginthisclassIplayed.
Theystartedtofireme;youknowthatfirestartedfrommyparents.AsImovedonmycareer,peopleaddwoodtothatfire.CoachSmith,whatcanIsayabouthim?Heisalegendarycoach.LeroldSmith,nowyouguysthinkthat’samistake.LeroldSmithwastheguywhenIgotkickshegotpickedintheteam.Heisheretonight.Heisstillthesamesixsevenguy.Heisnotevenbigger.Hislevelisevenaboutthesame.Buthestartedthewholeprocessforme,becausewhenhemadetheteamandIdidn’t,Iwantedtoprove,notjusttoLeroldSmith,notjusttomyself,buttothecoachwhoactuallypickedLeroldoverme.Iwanttomakesureheunderstoodyoumadeamistake,dude.
BussPeterson,Myroommate.WhenIfirstmetBuss,allIheardaboutwasthatthiskidfromAshvilleNorthCarolinawasclearlyunplayedagainstbuthehasneverplayedagainstmethen,sohowdoyoucometobetheplayeroftheyear?Isthatsometypeofmedia,exposure,youknowIcamefromWilmington,youknow,wheretwochannel,channelABCandchannelNBCthatIneversawNBAatallwhenIgrowup.Theydidn’thaveCBSreceiverinNorthCarolinaorWilmingtonalso.BussPetersonbecameadeadonmyboard.WhenIgetachancetomeetPetersononthebasketballcourt.Butheisagreatperson.Itisn’tthefaultofhis.Itwasjustmycompetitivenatures.Ididn’tthinkhecanbeatmeorisbetterthanmeasabasketballplayer.Andhebecamemyroommate.Fromthatpointon,hebecamemyfocalpointnotknowingly.Hedidn’tknowit,buthedid.AndCoachSmith,thedaywhenhewasontheSportsIllustrated,henamedfourstartersandhedidn’tnameme.Thatburnedmeup,becauseIgottobeonthatSportsIllustrate.Hehadhisownvisionaboutgivingafreshmanthatexposure,ItotallyunderstandthatbutfromabasketballsenseIdeservetobeonthatSportsIllustrated,andheunderstandsthat.
Anditdidn’tstopthere.Mycompetitivenatureswentrightintothepros,IgettothebullswhichIamveryproud.AtthetimeJerryReinsdorfdidn’towntheteam.ItwasanotherorganizationReinsdorfdraftedme.KevinLougherywasmyfirstcoach.Kevinusedtotakepracticeandputmeinstartingfive.Youknow,hemadeacompetitivethingwherethelosingteamhadtorun.Sonowwearealmostonthewinningteam,halfwayonthegame,halfwayonthesituation,heswitchedmetothelosingteam.SoItookthatasacompetitivething,butyouweretryingtotestmeandbyninetimesoutoftenthesecondteamwouldcomebacktowinnomatterwhathedid.SoIappreciatedKevintogivemethatchallenge,providingthattypeoffirewithmeandhethrewanotherlogonthatfireforme.JerryReinsdorf,ImeanwhatelsecanIsay.ThenextyearwhenIcamebackIbrokemyfoot;Iwasoutof65games.AndwhenIcamebackIwannaplay.Thedoctorcamewithhisoldtheorythatyoucanplayonlysevenminutesagame,butIampracticingtwohoursaday.Iamsaying,well,Idon’tagreewiththatmath.Andbackthen,whoeverhastheworstrecordgetsthemostballsinPing-Pangballs,youknowyoucandecidewhatpickyoucanhave,butIdon’tcareaboutthat.Ijustwantedtowin.Iwannamadetoplayoffs.IwannakeepthatenergygoinginChicago.SoIhadtogointohisofficeandsatdownwithhimandsay“Jerry,IactuallythinkIshouldplaymorethan14minutesandpracticemorethantwohours.Hesaid“Wehavetoprotectthelong-terminvestmentwe’veinvestedonyou.Isaid“IreallythinkIshouldbeabletoplay.”Hesaid“Letmeaskyouthis,ifyouhadaheadache.”Atthattime,therewastenpercentthatIcanhurtmyankleormyfoot.Hesaid“Youhadaheadacheandyougottencapsules,andoneofthemiscoatedwithpoison,wouldyoutakeit?”Ilookedhimandsay“Itdependsonhowbadisthatheadache.Howbadisthatheadache”.Jerrylookedmeandsay“YouareOK,Iguessyouhadagoodanswer,youcangobacktoplay.Youletmeallowyoutogobackandplay.”Youknow,Jerryprovidedalotofdifficultobstaclesformebutatthesametimetheguygavemeaopportunitytoperformatthehighestlevelintermsofbasketball.Thebulls,thewholebullsorganization,youknow,theydidgreatadjustmentsformeandallmyteammates.BelievemeIhadalotofteammatesinallthe14yearsIplayedforthebulls.Irespecteachoneofthem.Ijustwantthemtowin.Nomatterhowyoulookedatit.DougCollinscamethesametimewhenIwastryingtoplayatthesummertime.Hesaid“well,youarepartoftheorganizationandtheorganizationsaidyoucan’tplayatthesummertime.Isaid“youreadthethingsinmycontract;inmycontractIhavethe‘lovethegame’clause.ThatmeansIcanplayanytimeIwant,anyplaceIwantAndDouglookedatmeandsaid“youareright,youareright.”Andthat’showwebecamealittlecloser.JerryKrauseisrightthereandJerryisnothere.ObviouslyIdon’tknowwho’dinvitehim,Ididn’t.But,Ihopeheunderstandsitgoesalongway.Heisaverycompetitiveperson.Iwasaverycompetitiveperson.Hesaidorganizationswinchampionships.Isaid“Ididn’tseeorganizationsplayingwiththefluinUtah.Ididn’tseeitplayingwithabadankle.”Granted,granted,Ithinkorganizationsputtogetherteams,butattheendoftheday,team’sgottogooutandplay.Ithinktheplayerswinthechampionship,andtheorganizationhassomethingtodowithit,don’tgetmewrong.Butdon’ttrytoputtheorganizationaboveplayers.Becauseplayerstillgottogooutofthereandperform.Youguysgottopayus,butIamstilltoouttoplay.
Obviouslyyou’veseenmykidsMarcusandJeffery.Iloveyouguys.Ithinkyouguysrepresentalotofmeandalotofdifferentpersonasyourmum,yourepresentthemaswell.Youknow,Ithinkyouguyshaveaheavyburden.Iwouldn’twanttobeyouguysifIhadto.Youknow,becausealltheexpectationsyouhavetodealwith.Imean,lookaroundyou,theychargeathousanddollarsticketforthisthing,forthisholyevent.Itusedtobe200dollars,butIpaidit.Youknow,Ihavenochoice.IhavealotoffamiliesandalotoffriendIhavetobringin.Sothankallofyoutoraisingticketprice.Iloveyouguys,youguyshaveahostofpeoplesupportingyou,family,friends,peoplethatyoudon’tknow,relativescomingourofthewoodworks.Youknow,nomatterhowyoulookatit,butIthinkwetaughtyouright.YourmumandI,hopefullyyoucanmaketherightdecisionswhenthetimecomes.Mymum,whatcanIsayaboutmymum,mymumneverstaysstill.YouthinkIambusy.Sheisalwaysonthego.Withouther,sheisrough,sheisunbelievable.Evenrightnow,shetakesovertwojobs.Sheisunbelievablewoman.AsIexperiencedthefailureeacheveryday,itisher.Sheclassicallykeepsmefocusonthegoodthingsaboutlife.Youknow,howpeopleperceiveyou,howyourespectthem,youknow,what’sgoodforthekids,what’sgoodforyou,youknow,howyouperceivepublic,takeasecondthoughtsandpausetothinkaboutthingsyoushoulddo.Theseallcamefrommyparents,youknow,camefrommymum.Sheisstilllikethisthesedays,Iam46yearsold,sheisstillparentingmetoday.That’sagoodthing.I’lllovehertodeath.I’lllovehertodeath.
AndIwillthankacoupleofpeoplethatyouguysprobablywouldn’teventhinkIwillthank.IsaiahThomas,MagicJohnsonandGeorgeGervin.Theyaretheso-calledfreezing-outinmyrookieseason.Iwouldn’trememberyouguysgavemethemotivationtosay,youknowwhat?EvidentlyIhaven’tprovedenoughtotheseguys.I’vegottoprovetheseguysthatIdeservewhatIgotatthislevel.Nomatterwhatpeoplehavesaid,ifitisrumor,Inevertookitistruth.Butyouguysneverfrozemeup,becauseIwasyethappytobetherenomatterhowyoulookatit.Fromthatpointforward,Iwantedtoprovetoyou,Magic,Larry,GorgeandeverybodythatIdeservetobeonthislevelasmuchasanyoneelse.AndhopefullyoverthewholeperiodofcareerIhavedonethat,withoutadoubt.EvenintheDetroit,we’vedonethat.
PatRiley,youandIgowayback.IstillrememberinPatRiley,inPatRiley.Iwascominginthere,gotleaving;youdecidedtostayacoupleofdays.Youwerecomingintomysuiteandtoldmetogetoutofmysuite.Youslidanoteontheleakofmydoor,althoughyouhadtomove,youdidn’tmove.Youslidthenote,saying”Ienjoyedthecompetition,congratulation,butwewillmeetagain.AndItaketheheartinthat,becauseIthinkinallIcanseeyouarecompetitiveandevenfromacoachstandingpoint.YouchallengemeeverytimeIplaytheNicks,theHeats,Idon’tthinkyouarewiththeLakers,buteverytimeIplayagainstyou,youhave“JordanStoppers”onyourteam,youhaveJohnStarkswhoIlove.YouevenhadmyfriendOakleysays“Wecan’tgotothelunch,wecan’tgotothedinnertogether,becausethisguyhitmeharderthananybodyelseintheleague.Hewasmybestfriend.PatrickErvingandIarethesameage.Wecameupatthesametime.Butwecan’tgotothelunchtogether.Whyisthisanissue?YouthinkIplayagainstPatrickanydifferentthanIplayanybodyelse?No,no.TheyhadyourlearnedguybecametheNicks,coachafteryou,Jeffvangundy.HesaidIcan’tbeplayerfairlyandImaydeadonthebasketballcourt.Whereisitcomefrom?Ijusthappentobeafriendlyguy.Igetalongwitheverybody,butatthesametimewhenthelightcomeson,Iammorecompetitivethananybody.Soyouguys,ImustsaythankyouforgivingmethemotivationthatIdesperatelyneeded.
PhilJacksonis,tome,isaprofessionalDeanSmith.Hechallengedmementally,notjustphysically.Youknow,heunderstoodthegame,alongwithTexWenter.Theytaughtmealotaboutthebasketballgame.Texbeingthespecialist,IcanneverpleaseTex.AndIloveTex.Texisnothere.AndIknowheishereinspirit.Icanrememberagamecomingafterthebasketballcourt;weweredownfivetotenpoints.AndIgooffabout25points,wecamebacktowinthegame.AswewalkedoutthefloorandTexlookedmeandsaid“youknow,thereis‘I’in‘team’.”Isaid“thereisnot‘I’in‘team’,butthereis‘I’in‘win’.”Ithinkhegotmymessage.Iwilldoanythingtowin.Youknow,thatmeansweplayteamformattowin.ThatmeansIwilldowhatIhavetodo.Nomatterhowyoulookatit.Thenyouhadallyourmediamessage“Scoringchampioncan’twinaNBAtitle”.YouarenotgoodasMagicJohnson,youarenotgoodasLarryBird.Youaregood,butyouarenotgoodasthoseguys.Ihavetolistentoallthis.Andthatputsomuchwoodonthatfire.Itkeptmeeacheverydaytryingtogetbetterasabasketballplayer.Iamnotsayingtheywerewrong.Imaylookatthemfromadifferentperspective.Butatthesametimeasabasketballplayer,IamtryingtobecomethebestIcan.Youknow,forsomeonelikemewhoachievealotinthiskindofcareer,youlookforanykindofmessagesthatpeoplemaysayordotogetyoumotivatedtoplaythegamebasketballtothehighestlevel.Becausethat’swhatIfeelwhenIassailatmybest.
Andmylastexampleandthelastyouguysprobablyhaveseen.Ihatetodoittothem.Heissuchaniceguy.WhenIfirstmetBryonRussell,JohnandKarl,IwasinChicagoin1994.Iwasworkingoutforbaseballandtheyallcamedownforworkoutandshootingaround.Icameoverandsay“Hello”,andatthistimeIhadnothoughtsofcomingbackandplayingthegameofbasketball.BryonRussellcameovertomeandsaid“whydidyouquit?whydidyouquit?YouknowIcouldguardyou,ifIeverseeyouinapairofshorts”.Doyouremember?John.WhenIdiddecidetocomebackin1995andweplayedUtahin96,I’matthecentercircleandBryonRussellisstandingnexttome.Isaid“Youremembertheconversationyoumadein1994about‘IthinkIcanguardyou,Icanshutyoudown,Iwouldlovetoplayagainstyou?’Well,youareabouttogetyourchance,andbelievemeeversincethatdayhegothischance,Idon’tknowhowsucceedhewas.Ithinkhegothischance.Fromthisdayforward,ifheeversaymeinshorts,Iwouldcomeathim.
Iknowyouguysgottogo.IknowI’vebeenupherealotlongerthanItoldmyfriendsIwasgonnauphere,Icried,Iwassupposedtogetup,said“Thankyou”andwalkedoffandIamnotabletodothat.SoIappreciateit.Thankyouverymuch.Iappreciateit.AsIclose,thegamebasketballhasbeeneverythingtome,myrefuge,aplaceIamalwaysgonewhenIneedtofindcomfortandpeace.It’sbeenasourceofintensepainandasourceofmostintensefeelingsofjoyandsatisfaction.Theonethatnooneofyoucanimagine.It’sbeenarelationshipofnumberofintersection.Itgavemethegreatexpectsandloveforthegame.ItprovidedmewithaplatformandsharedmypassionswithmillionsinthewayIneitherexpectednorcouldimagineinmycareer.Ihopeit’sgivenmillionsofpeopletouchandoptimismtoachievetheirgoalsthroughhardwork,perspirationandpositiveattitude.AlthoughIamrecognizedwiththishonorofbeingintheHallofFame,Idon’tlookthismomentasfinalrelationshipbetweenmeandthebasketball.ItsimplyacontinuationofsomethingIstartedalongtimeago.Oneday,youmaylookupaseniorplayeratagameof50.Oh,no.Don’tlaugh.Don’tlaugh.Neversaynever,becauselimits,likefear,areoftenjustanillusion.
Thankyouverymuch!