Tag: michael jordan

If I Could Be Like Mike

Last night I finished watching “The Last Dance.” This is a documentary miniseries co-produced by ESPN Films and Netflix. This 10-part series centers on the career of Michael Jordan. In particular, the film focuses on Jordan’s final season with the Chicago Bulls.

For those of you who may not know who Michael Jordan is, he was a professional basketball player who is considered by many to be the greatest to have ever played the game. He was a person that I idolized when I was younger. I was fortunate enough to meet him when I was 12 years old. This was a thrill of a lifetime.

Watching “The Last Dance” for me was a particular treat, as it brought back many of the memories that I have of watching the Chicago Bulls in the 1990’s. They were an exciting team to watch. I feel lucky to have seen them play live at the Chicago Stadium before it demolished in 1995. The stadium was aptly nicknamed “The Madhouse on Madison.” This is perhaps the loudest place I have ever been.

It held just a little over 18,000 people for basketball games, which is quite small compared to the stadiums of today. However, when the Bulls were playing the building shook as fans stomped their feet and roared with excitement. There were times when it seemed as if the place might just crumble into a heap as a result of the noise coming from the crowd. I relived some of this excitement as I watched “The Last Dance.” I also felt proud to be a fan once again.

Michael Jordan is human being. He has faults, as we all do. He has been criticized by some for his overly-competitive nature. It is true that he was cruel to some of his teammates and competitors. However, I appreciate the drive that he had. He sought perfection in everything that he did. This is something that I admire. It is a quality that I long to see in myself at times. I’d like to be driven enough to eat healthier, to exercise as I should, and to practice other habits that I know would improve my quality of life.

I am aware that it is unhealthy to compare yourself to others. However, I think we can look at others and learn from the examples they have set. Michael Jordan was focused on excellence in his professional life. He worked on improving his skills every day. This is something that I think we all can do. Jordan has not always been successful at everything he has tried. For instance, his foray into professional baseball lasted only a short time. Despite these failures, Michael Jordan never stopped striving to become better.

Despite his faults, Michael Jordan is someone that I look to as a hero. He played his sport to the best of his ability. Furthermore, he drove others to perform at their highest level. I find that inspiring.

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100!

When I started writing this blog back in January of 2019, I wasn’t sure where it would lead. At first my goal was to focus on issues related to my disability. However, my life really isn’t defined by having spina bifida. Therefore, this blog has expanded to be a place where I can share my thoughts on current events, give insights on what living life with a disability is like, and just share humorus observations of the world around me. I hope you have enjoyed following me on this journey.

This particular post will be the 100th post that I have written. I thought in keeping with that, I’d create a list of 100 lessons that I have learned, observations that I’ve made, or opinions that I have formed. Every day there are new lessons to be learned and new experiences to be had. These are just a few of the things I have picked up along the way. Let me know if I have missed anything. Here is my list in no particular order.

  • 100. Never take a hansom cab ride in New York City.
  • 99. Never be afraid to try something new (except for that hansom cab ride in New York City).
  • 98. Holding a grudge against anyone is pointless.
  • 97. God will indeed give you more than you can handle at times.
  • 96. Don’t ever give up. Things will get better. It might just take time.
  • 95. Life is unfair.
  • 94. Anxiety can make you feel like you need to do everything all at once. You actually don’t need to do this. Just slow down and take things one step at a time.
  • 93. The smell of the air just before it rains is one of the best scents.
  • 92. The smell of a baby’s head just after they have had a bath is THE best scent there is.
  • 91. The love that a dog has for its master is one of the purest forms of love there is.
  • 90. Losing someone that you love is one of the most painful things you can ever experience.
  • 89. Working hard to achieve a goal is one of the greatest feelings that you will have.
  • 88. Sitting outside in the winter in a place where there is very little, if any, light pollution and looking up at the stars on a clear night is something everyone should try at least once.
  • 87. Going on a road trip with someone you love is a lot of fun.
  • 86. Dorothy was right, “there is no place like home.“
  • 85. Take time to pray every day.
  • 84. Dirt tastes like dirt (yes, I have tried dirt before).
  • 83. Beets taste like dirt.
  • 82. Walnuts taste like dirt.
  • 81. The taste of soap is not pleasant. (Yes, I have had my mouth washed out with soap. It was at church no less).
  • 80. Cilantro tastes like soap.
  • 79. Eating a bag of peanuts on a warm, summer day at baseball game is one if the most relaxing experiences there is.
  • 78. Take time to listen to the stories that your grandparents tell. I am fortunate that I did. I will treasure these memories for as long as I live.
  • 77. Learn about the things that have happened in the past. You can learn a lot from history.
  • 76. You can never read enough books.
  • 75. Learning to adapt to change is difficult, but it is well worth the effort.
  • 74. Being a homeowner is both a blessing and a curse.
  • 73. It pays to do things correctly the first time.
  • 72. I’d rather have more time to do the things that I want to do in life than to make more money. Time is far more valuable than money.
  • 71. There are still very kind people in the world. Many of them live in the U.K.
  • 70. Listen to your parents. They know more than you do.
  • 69. Do at least one thing you enjoy doing every day.
  • 68. Never pray for patience. God just might answer your prayers in ways you don’t expect.
  • 67. When working with others it is often best to let them speak first. You just might gain some new perspective.
  • 66. Donuts are little bites of heaven.
  • 65. Mashed potatoes are the best food ever!
  • 64. Chick-fil-A is overrated.
  • 63. Fountain Coke at McDonald’s is the best.
  • 62. Hot McDonald’s french fries are the best.
  • 61. The Blues Brothers is one of the best films ever made.
  • 60. Somedays you just have to listen to the Beatles.
  • 59. You will never get everyone to like you.
  • 58. Pancakes made at home are better than you can get in any restaurant.
  • 57. NASCAR is not a sport.
  • 56. Everyone should make a trip to the ocean at least once.
  • 55. Everyone should travel overseas. You will gain a new perspective on life.
  • 54. There is nothing like a good night’s sleep.
  • 53. Spending time in the mountains is one of the most peaceful things you can do.
  • 52. Disney World is overrated.
  • 51. Bacon tastes best when crispy.
  • 50. Cats can indeed be needy (I live with two who are very needy).
  • 49. Sunny days are the best kind of days.
  • 48. Never have your eyes dilated on a sunny day.
  • 47. You can’t properly eat Oreo cookies without a glass of milk.
  • 46. Getting an unexpected package in the mail is better than gifts on Christmas Day.
  • 45. No one has ever sang the National Anthem better than Whitney Houston.
  • 44. No one’s instrumental version of the National Anthem has been better than Jimi Hendrix’s rendition from the Woodstock Festival in 1969.
  • 43. September is the best month when it comes to weather, at least here in Illinois.
  • 42. Rollercoasters are not fun!
  • 41. There is no ceremony quite as somber as the “changing of the guard” at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.
  • 40. Ken Burns knows how to make a documentary film better than anyone else. If baseball doesn’t start soon I might have to dive into his 23-hour epic on the sport.
  • 39. Don’t ever try smoking.
  • 38. Tell the people you love how you feel while you still can.
  • 37. Sometimes you just need to eat a big, greasy, cheeseburger.
  • 36. It is never too cold to eat ice cream.
  • 35. Read to your kids when they are young.
  • 34. Walter Payton is the best football player I ever saw play the game.
  • 33. Hot dogs should never be eaten with ketchup.
  • 32. Thanksgiving is the best holiday.
  • 31. Christmas becomes less fun the older you get. However, I suspect this changes once you start having your own children.
  • 30. One of the best sounds you can hear is a baby’s laugh.
  • 29. Many of the best things in life are free.
  • 28. Treat others the way you would like to be treated.
  • 27. A soft answer often turns away wrath.
  • 26. Sometimes it best just to remain silent.
  • 25. Autumn is the best season.
  • 24. Always apologize when you are wrong.
  • 23. Michael Jordan was the best basketball player I have ever seen play the game.
  • 22. Don’t argue about politics on social media.
  • 21. Forgive others when they wrong you.
  • 20. Don’t pour gasoline on a fire.
  • 19. Voting for the lesser of the two evils still brings you evil.
  • 18. Finish your work first then you can enjoy your play all the more.
  • 17. You often get what you give.
  • 16. Cynicism isn’t always a bad thing.
  • 15. Always finish what you start.
  • 14. Let your yes be yes and let your no be no.
  • 13. Family is important.
  • 12. Steak is best when cooked medium. Anything else and you cook the flavor out of it.
  • 11. Help others when and where you can.
  • 10. As long as you are alive there is always hope.
  • 09. Nothing quenches your thirst better than water.
  • 08. Admit your mistakes and learn from them.
  • 07. Always tell the truth.
  • 06. Don’t expect others to respect you if you don’t show respect yourself.
  • 05. Every thing should be done in moderation.
  • 04. Always say “please” and “thank you.”
  • 03. You get what you pay for.
  • 02. Fear can be a good motivator.
  • 01. The love of a good woman is a very special thing.
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Acceptance

I appreciate people who do things with excellence. Perhaps this is something I come by naturally. My father was a perfectionist who was a skilled craftsman. He was not only a talented carpenter, he was also a welder. His work was done with precision and skill. These traits are ones I have always admired in others.

For instance, I grew up idolizing Michael Jordan. He was the greatest basketball player ever to play the game. His skills on the court were legendary. However, they were developed over years of dedication and practice.

Another person I grew up admiring was Neil Peart. Neil was the drummer of Rush, a Canadian rock band known for crafting pieces of music that were very intricate and complex. Neil passed away early last month, but he left behind a body of work that will stand the test of time. Besides being one of the best drummers that has ever picked up a pair of sticks, he was also a brilliant lyricist, as well as a very gifted author. His books are some of my favorite biographical works of literature that I have ever read.

Music is something that I have often looked to for inspiration, escape, and solace. I think listening to others express themselves through music gave me hope. I was not the only person who felt alone or angst-ridden.

Growing up I often felt alienated from my peers. I was different. My body did not look the same. Likewise, I wasn’t always able to do the things others my own age could do. Therefore, I often retreated inward. I was not a talented person. I was not able to build anything, play basketball, or write a song. However, I did appreciate the people who could do these things.

I still feel like I am not particularly good at anything. I am okay at doing a few things. However, I don’t have any skills that stand out as exceptional. The older I have gotten the more accepting of this I have become.

I’ll never be a craftsman, and I will never defy gravity on a basketball court. I will also never write any great pieces of music. However, that is okay. I am learning to appreciate who God created me to be. I still have work to do. Hopefully, 2020 will be the year I reach some of the goals I have set for myself. I keep hoping there is a novel somewhere inside of me just waiting to be written.

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Air Jordan

I’ve heard it said that one should never meet their heroes. I believe there is some truth to this, as it does diminish some of the mystique surrounding their persona. However, as a 14-year-old boy I did meet one of my heroes and it something that I will remember for a lifetime.

It was Saturday, January 11, 1992. I awoke at 9 a.m. and was hardly able to contain my excitement about the day’s events. I got dressed, did some last-minute packing, and then walked out of the house to get into the car. As the car pulled out of the driveway, my family and I were filled with anticipation as we began our drive toward Chicago.

Our immediate destination was the Hyatt Regency Hotel on Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. Upon our arrival at the Hyatt we were greeted by a doorman who took our bags and escorted us to our complimentary room. After depositing our bags in the room, we went off for a walking tour of the area and to get a bite to eat.

It was an enjoyable afternoon taking in the sights and sounds of the “Windy City.” Our walk took us a few blocks south of our hotel, before we stopped and ate lunch, which was also compliments of our hosts for the weekend. As we left the restaurant, we decided to go back to the Hyatt to rest up for the events that were to occur that evening.

At 5 p.m. we left our hotel room to go down and get a taxi that would take us to our much anticipated event. After a brief ride, we were there! We were standing outside the Chicago Stadium where my family and I were to be Michael Jordan’s guests for the evening.

I felt rather important as we entered the stadium through the doors which the players entered each night. While were waiting for our escort, we saw John Paxson and B.J. Armstrong enter and head toward the locker room.

When our escort arrived, we were given VIP passes and were led out onto the floor. How exciting it was to be walking right next to the court! On the floor the Luvabulls (cheerleaders) were warming up, camera men were preparing their gear for the night, and Bill Cartwright was practicing lay-ups. Soon we were joined by another staff person who worked for the Chicago Bulls. This individual escorted us down to the locker room.

As we were making our way toward the locker room, we walked past several other players and the Bulls mascot, Benny the Bull. He was standing just outside the locker room door. The one we were about to enter!

As we entered the locker room, my legs felt just like rubber because there sat Michael Jordan along with Horace Grant and Scottie Pippen. Michael greeted me with a handshake and there were introductions all around. We visited for a few minutes while Michael and the rest of the starting five signed some basketball cards and other memorabilia for me. Game time was rapidly approaching, so we had to return to the arena to find our seats. I was privileged to have a seat at the end of the Bulls’ bench.

Throughout the game a few of the players talked to me and made me feel like one of the guys. As the game ended, I realized that this was an evening I would never forget as long as I live.

Just this past week Lebron James surpassed Michael Jordan on the list of the NBA’s top career scoring leaders. There has been much debate as to whether Lebron or Michael should be deemed the greatest of all time. In my opinion there is no contest, Michael will always be the greatest. Now if I could just sell all of those unopened Wheaties boxes with his face on them that I have stored in my basement. Anyone interested?

Michael and me in the locker room of the Chicago Stadium
The letter from the “Starlight Foundation” confirming our invitation. The “Starlight Foundation” was the organization that granted me my wish to meet Michael Jordan. Those toll charges to and from Chicago have more than doubled now and I am sure it is probably closer to $50.00 to park at the Hyatt these days.
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