mobile app bar

“Fishing helps me calm my competitive nerves”: Michael Jordan talks about getting rid of his excessively competitive nature and finding new hobbies

Arjun Julka
Published

"Fishing helps me calm my competitive nerves": Michael Jordan talks about getting rid of his excessively competitive nature and finding new hobbies

NBA legend Michael Jordan talks about taking up fishing to get rid of his excessively competitive nature.

There is no doubt that the 6x NBA champion was one of the most competitive athletes in American sports history. This was clearly visible from the assassin mentality he exhibited on the court.

Jordan’s long list of achievements and accolades are proof of his excessive competitive drive. The superstar’s hunger to always win is what made him the GOAT.

Nonetheless, post his retirement in 2003, the 6x Finals MVP found it difficult to get rid of his unhealthy competitive nature and decided to take up fishing as a therapy to combat it.

MJ couldn’t keep himself away from the sport of basketball for too long, and in 2010 became the majority owner of the NBA team Charlotte Hornets. Jordan’s competitive drive was such that he tried his hands in other sports as well, including investing in a Nascar team.

Also read: “Back at it, doing my homework”: Lakers’ LeBron James watches Michael Jordan’s ‘Last Dance’ after 4th NBA Title

Jordan said that fishing calms his competitive nerves in an interview with Australian Story executive producer Caitlin Shea.

Michael Jordan talks about taking up fishing as a hobby to get rid of his excessive competing habit

The 10x scoring champion seems to have found a lot of solace in fishing, “Now, the challenge is to calm those nerves. That’s why I do a lot more fishing now,” Jordan said.

“I would have never thought I would get on a boat and go fishing, but the competition of patience and trying to catch a fish, trying to be patient. It’s not gonna happen. You can’t make it happen. You just got to be ready when it does happen.”

He added,

“Those are all things that I think calms me down a lot more than if I’m playing any sport, if I’m playing golf or if I’m doing anything competitive because I think that’s what I need. That’s the therapy that I need to help soothe some of this competitive juices that I have.” concluded the Bulls legend.

Earlier this year, MJ and his Catch 23 fishing boat won the 58th Buccaneer Cup Sailfish Release Tournament. Thus showing us everything he touched turned into gold.

Also read: ‘Michael Jordan is still the GOAT, not LeBron James’: Skip Bayless weighs in on Lakers star winning 4th NBA Title

MJ won 6 NBA championships during his career and was crowned Finals MVP in each case. Jordan’s greatness was not limited to the basketball courts but expanded to the deep waters as well, which he proved by winning a fishing tournament.

About the author

Arjun Julka

Arjun Julka

x-iconlinkedin-icon

Arjun Julka is a NBA author at The SportsRush. Basketball isn’t just a sport for this 26-year-old, who hails from Mumbai. He began watching the sport after stumbling upon a court in his society, helping him identify an undiscovered passion for the game of hoops. Now an ardent fan, Arjun supports Stephen Curry and the Warriors but also enjoys watching Giannis Antetokounmpo own the paint. When it comes to the GOAT debate, the TSR author feels LeBron James is yet to receive a lot of his due but cannot deny marveling at Michael Jordan’s resume.

Share this article