“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.

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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.

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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.