Michael Jordan’s on-court brilliance led to jaw-dropping moments, while his competitive nature elevated his already magnificent skills to immortal realms. And that competitive drive and passion went beyond the basketball court. Former New York Giants linebacker and Hall of Famer, Lawrence Taylor, was left in awe of MJ on several occasions, experiencing the fiery side to the Chicago Bulls legend’s persona firsthand while playing golf.
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Although Taylor played against some of the greatest players in the NFL, he considers MJ to be the most competitive person he knows. Even when it comes to simple bets, Jordan always wants to win.
“Of all the people I know, he’s probably the most competitive person I know. He’ll bet on a daggone 50-foot putt and goddammit, if he bets on it, nine times out of 10 he’s gonna make it. Don’t get it confused. He is trying to win every bet. He might not care, but he is trying to win every bet. Everything that is out there. He’s trying to win at all times. And there’s nothing wrong with that,” Taylor told the New York Post.
Jordan always found a way to increase the stakes in any competition. He would make bets with Taylor when they played golf, and more times than not, come out victorious. Jordan would come off as nonchalant but deep inside he intended to win every bet. Although his approach on the golf course was different from his NBA days, he wanted the same results.
Taylor and Jordan are longtime friends and the basketball legend’s competitive nature isn’t anything new to him.
Taylor and Jordan’s friendship
Taylor and MJ became pals when they were in college. After the Giants selected Taylor with the second overall pick in the 1981 NFL Draft, he went back to North Carolina to finish his degree. During that time he met Jordan on campus.
“My senior year when I went to the Giants, I came back to school to finish up that summer,” Taylor said. “And he was there at Carolina getting ready for the season, but we played a lot of basketball, we hung out a lot. I consider him a good friend.”
Taylor noticed something special in Jordan back then during their various battles on the campus court. His skill level exceeded anyone the linebacker had ever seen.
“Sometimes you think he’s from another planet,” Taylor added. “The things he can do you don’t see every day. Every hundred million people that are born, there may be one like him, OK?”
Taylor accomplishments in the NFL are not less by any means. Many widely consider him to be the greatest defensive player of all time. And both Taylor and Jordan’s greatness changed their respective sports for the better.
