Former Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan takes his place in the basketball hall of fame today, in Springfield, Massachusetts. Although he’s been retired for eight years, his legacy still affects the game today.
OMAR (outside the United Center): The Chicago Bulls play their home games here at the United Center on the city’s West Side. Outside the arena there’s a statue of Michael Jordan, and on it, it says simply “The best there ever was, the best there ever will be.”
You won’t find too many people in this town that disagree with that sentiment. I catch Al Perry of Des Plaines, Illinois snapping a picture of the Jordan statue with a disposable camera.
PERRY: Well Michael Jordan was a popular person and I really liked him a lot, I’m a good fan of his.
OMAR: What did you like about him?
PERRY: His talent, the way he played, he was just a great talent, he was great.
And it’s not just ordinary fans like Al Perry who’ve been singing Jordan’s praises, ahead of his Hall of Fame Induction today. Other basketball greats are also giving him his due.
DWAYNE WADE: It’s just unbelievable. All of us in Chicago are excited and happy that we get the opportunity to see, probably the greatest player of our time be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
That’s NBA superstar Dwayne Wade. He plays for the Miami Heat. And he’s considered one of the best players in the game today.
Wade grew up in Robbins, Illinois, in Chicago’s South Suburbs. Watching Wade play, it’s easy to see that he modeled his game after Jordan. That’s something Wade freely admits.
WADE: Just like a lot of us did, when Michael did something, I tried to go out in the gym and do it, or go out in my back yard and do it. Because he was the best, and if you want to be good at something, why not imitate the best?
Wade notes Jordan’s actions off the court are just as influential as those on it. He calls Jordan a pioneer for the athletic endorsements and sponsorships that are so commonplace these days.
WADE: You know he was the first basketball icon, model, and pitchman to really, really do it on a major scale, and so the things that we’re doing now, we’re just following the blue print of what Michael laid down.
Jordan’s endorsement portfolio includes high profile deals with Nike, McDonald’s, Gatorade, Hanes, and a slew of other companies. And his appearance in the movie Space Jam helped him cross over even more.
Of course, endorsements aside, it was Jordan’s exploits ON the court that made him famous, and shots like this playoff buzzer beater over Cavs’ guard Craig Ehlo that made him legendary.
ANNOUNCER: The inbounds pass comes into Jodan. Here’s Micheal at the foul line, a shot on Ehlo… GOOD!!! THE BULLS WIN! THE BULLS WIN!!
Jordan’s career included two Olympic gold medals, 5 league Most Valuable Player awards, and of course, six NBA championships. The last of which was secured in dramatic fashion. Jordan locked up that title by leading a late comeback against the Utah Jazz in 1998.
ANNOUNCER 1: Jordan. Open. (sound of ball going through net) CHICAGO WITH THE LEAD! Timeout Utah, 5 seconds left!
ANNOUNCER 2: He’s a killer!
Back at the United Center, I run into Charles Smith. He’s been selling parking spots at the arena and its predecessor, Chicago Stadium, for 25 years. Today it’s a children’s ice skating show.
SMITH: Ice Show! 10 dollars for the ice show.
OMAR: On that statue over there, it says’ Michael Jordan is the best there ever was and the best there ever will be, what do you think about that?
SMITH: I believe they’re right. They got it right.
OMAR: What was your favorite memory of Jordan?
SMITH: The six championships… was pretty good...
Pretty good indeed. And now Jordan has one Hall of Fame induction to go along.