Michael Jordan, the widely accredited GOAT of basketball, is known as one of the toughest individuals to step on the court. The 6ft 6″ guard went through various arduous tests during his career on his way to success.
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“Jordan Rules” for instance, marked one extremely physical test Jordan had to scale prior to reaching his professional peak. Taking hits, jabs, and thrown elbows wasn’t something new for the Bulls star.
Throwing in the towel without giving any contest a go wasn’t something the GOAT did. And the legend goes that this attribute was present right from the moment of his birth.
And no, we aren’t making up this piece of information. Modern myths are not uncommon among superstar athletes with fanatic fanbases. However, in this case, the source of information is as verified as they come. It was none other than James Jordan, MJ’s father.
How did Michael Jordan prove to be a tough cookie right from his delivery?
According to James Jordan, Michael faced quite the challenge while making it out of his mother’s womb. The delivery was far from non-complicated, as baby Jordan struggled.
Breathlessness and a nosebleed featured complicating things. MJ even had to be admitted for three whole days after he was delivered. Quite a struggle to enter the world he would later dominate.
“Michael Jordan’s delivery was a particularly hectic scene that Sunday, February 17, 1963. Deloris had gone into labor a bit early, which was how she wound up at Cumberland Hospital in Brooklyn, even though her doctor was in Manhattan. Even before the hospital attendants could get Deloris onto an emergency room gurney, the large, strapping male child made his startling appearance, clogged with mucus and struggling to breathe.
“When Michael was born, we thought there might be something wrong with him,” James Jordan revealed years later in an interview with the Chicago Tribune. “He was born with a nosebleed. The hospital kept him three days after Deloris was discharged. He’d have nosebleeds for no reason until he was five, and then they just stopped.” “After Michael’s birth the doctors did keep him a couple of days to be sure that his lungs were clear of some mucus,” his mother recalled.”
If things are as narrated by his parents, Jordan really faced quite a struggle at his birth. Clearly, MJ was ready for the fight from day one.
His Airness achieved it all. But clearly, nothing was granted on a silver spoon. A struggle from day one literally followed Jordan all along. In the end, it was genuinely worth it, though.
Was the issue at birth a precursor to an injury-ridden career?
Initially, it seemed that the injury bug would be an issue, with Michael Jordan’s career. MJ missed the vast majority of his second season in the NBA with a broken left foot.
However, after that, Jordan seemed to be a symbol of resilience and durability in the league. No Flu or weakness or “Jordan Rules” seemed to hurt him enough.
His Airness proved to be a symbol of durability, and he often led the league in minutes. The complications at his birth and the first step of his career proved to be false alarms alone.
