Michael Jordan has never wanted to be called humble. And for the greatest of all time, monikers like that hold little to no regard. For Mike, winning was everything. When he made “The Shot” in 1989, he was not going to hold back his words.
Advertisement
MJ has always expressed himself clearly, even if it meant being absurdly profane. And there is nothing wrong with profanity, after all, it is a grown man’s sport.
But to do it with such panache and flair, was a sign of things to come. Looking back at this instance, one thing was clear – MJ would go on to be as ruthless as he was. And even today, his recollection of the events will tell you the same story. He did not care.
Michael Jordan’s own account of “the shot”
When the Bulls defeated the Cavs in 1989, one thing was clear, it was the coronation of the NBA’s newest emperor. He averaged a ridiculous 39.8 points per game along with 8 assists and 3 steals, inhuman.
After the game, Michael Jordan talked about the performance and the shot, in a rather excited manner. He said, “The damn look that everyone was giving us, even I asked you in the locker room and I asked everybody, what was the feeling in Chicago”
Safe to say he proved his doubters wrong. When describing his reaction in The Last Dance, Michael Wilbon talks about how when MJ hit the shot, his exclamation was “go home motherf**kers, go home”.
Jordan in the last dance further elucidates his reaction. He talks about how he felt, he says, “Get the f**k outta here, get going, f**kin anywhere, but you outta here“. He adds, “whoever’s not with, all you f**kers go to hell”
The very mentality that forged Michael Jordan
MJ’s persona was forged in a fire. A cauldron that held the most indomitable of wills. Jordan has possessed the toughest mental tenacity we have ever seen from anyone. Not even Kobe could match it.
And it is that mentality that has made him into the person he is. The greatest NBA player of all time. 6-0 in the Finals. Iconic buzzer beaters. “The Shot” is a 33-year-old moment etched onto history. And perhaps we will never truly consider Michael’s profane outburst but given the status of the shot, we cannot.
