Michael Jordan. The name elicits a vast array of
emotions for anyone who lived during the 1980s-early
2000s. Even those who were not sports fans could tell
you who he was; perhaps the greatest basketball player
of all time. However, in the year 1994, after winning 3
straight NBA championships, Jordan decided to retire
temporarily (although the choice seemed permanent at
the time) to pursue a career in professional baseball.
Now, the popular consensus has largely been that
Jordan's baseball career was a disaster (reference
baseball segment in original Space Jam movie).
However, that's not necessarily the case.
I think a couple things should be considered before
we make that harsh criticism of Jordan. First, the man
hadn't played baseball since high school, or over a
decade. Imagine trying to play in a professional
orchestra because you played cello ten years ago. Any
amount of achievement in that venture would be
considered a success. Second, Jordan was certainly
motivated by his father's murder. "It was really his
father's dream that he play baseball," Phil Jackson
observed. "His father wanted to play pro ball and did
play semi-pro. When his father passed away, I think
Michael was kind of living out his father's dream." So,
quite possibly Michael was hated for trying to pay a
tribute to his dad and work through the grieving
process after his father's murder. The hatred came
because he was a successful pro basketball player. If
your everyday Joe tried to do the same thing, they
would be praised for their courage, etc. and I'm willing
to bet that the majority (Maybe 99.999%) of those who
criticized Jordan would not have achieved anywhere
close to the success he did given the same
circumstances. Believe it or not, he actually was
successful.
First thing to consider, he started his career in the
AA level of the White Sox organization. Thousands of
very talented, professional athletes never even reach
this level. Also, many times players are called up to the
major league level from the AA team, so this was not
easy or light competition. If you include guys sent
down for injury rehab, etc, eight of the seventeen
position players who spent time on the Baron's roster
(Jordan's team) played at the major league level to
some extent or another, including the great Steve Sax.
Jordan stole 30 bases this year, second on the team,
trailing only Doug Brady who recorded 34. Brady would
go on to see some time on the MLB club the next year.
Brady also had 70 more plate appearances than Jordan.
Jordan had a higher walk rate than Brady, and more
RBIs. (Runs Batted in, a stat that essentially measures
how many runs are scored due to your at bats). In fact
Jordan ranked fourth in the team with 51 RBIs, only
trailing slightly Kerry Valarie's team leading 58.
Incidentally, Jordan and Valarie both hit 3 home runs
that year. In fact, Jordan's 3 home runs were only
bested by 4 of his teammates, including Glenn
Disarcina, who slugged 7 and lead the team in that
category. Jordan also had 46 runs scored, 17 doubles,
and posted a .202 batting average. (It should be noted
that the team batting average was .248, so Jordan
wasn't as far off that mark as some think) True he did
lead his team in strikeouts with 114, but he hadn't
played baseball in over a decade, not to mention his
strike zone was quite large due to his 6' 6" frame.
Jordan actually had a decent season (and in some
categories, excellent) against high level competition,
while dealing with the constant criticism and
magnification of any perceived mistake. There is a
reason Terry Francona, who coached Jordan, and would
go on to win 2 World Series coaching the Red Sox,
stated, to paraphrase "I’m going to guess if he would
have invested a couple more years, I bet he would have
found his way to the big leagues.” (Two more years in
the minors, which isn't unthinkable since Doug Brady,
whose stats were eerily similar to Jordan's, played on
the big stage the next season.)
There is a lot we can learn from Michael's baseball
story. First, people can always find something to
criticize if they really want to. In spite of the odds, and
the fact that he had just lost his father, Michael put
together a good first year. However, our society often
doesn't value relative success, but absolute success.
"He was such a great basketball player, why would he
waste his time in baseball?" Or, in a gym scenario
"That was a pretty good lift, but nothing compared to
what I saw on YouTube." Popularity is fleeting
anyways. If Michael Jordan couldn't maintain 90%
public approval his whole life, who can? Therefore, the
goal of popular adoration is a vain pursuit, as it is often
very temporary. Surely the criticism hurt, but Michael
was able to overcome it by focusing on what he could
control. For any worthy goal, this is vital, even goals
outside the gym. You can only control what you can
control. Tune out the negative, and focus. The next
thing we can learn from "His Airness" is success
happens over time as you are consistent. Michael
practiced as hard as anybody and knew success
happens bit by bit, not all at once. His methods were
beginning to pay off, as he achieved a .252 batting avg.
in the fall league, a full .050 higher than his time with
the Barons.
The next point we can learn from Jordan is his lack of
fear for failure. As he once said "I have missed more
than 9,000 shots in my career. I have lost almost 300
games. On 26 occasions I have been entrusted to take
the game winning shot, and missed. And I have failed
over and over and over again in my life. And that is why
I succeed." Failures and setbacks will always be part of
the path to success, no one is exempt from this.
Anyone can be a critic. It's easy to find fault with others,
whether real or imagined. Many people take joy in
kicking a "dog when their down." Listening to people
like this will not get you anywhere. Also on that same
note, as you seek to help and lift others instead of
tearing others down, you will find that you yourself will
be uplifted, and even perform better. It is ok to have
setbacks, because they are temporary. I hope we can
follow Michael's example, and follow our heart over
popular opinion.
Sources
1. 1994 Birmingham Barons Statistics -- Register |
Baseball-Reference.com. (n.d.). Retrieved June 23,
2016, from http://www.baseball-
reference.com/register/team.cgi?id=dfd224a8
2. Terry Francona says Michael Jordan could've played
in the MLB. (n.d.). Retrieved June 23, 2016, from
http://chicago.suntimes.com/sports/terry-francona-
says-michael- jordan-couldve- played-in- the-mlb/
3. Lazenby, R. (2014). Remember Michael Jordan;s time
in baseball, 20 years later. Retrieved June 23, 2016, from
http://www.sportsonearth.com/article/74071860/chicago-
bulls-michael- jordan-20th- anniversary-retirement-
baseball-white- sox
4. Michael Jordan Quotes | Basketball Quotations | Bulls |
MJ. (n.d.). Retrieved June 23, 2016, from
http://www.sportsfeelgoodstories.com/michael-jordan-
quotes/
No comments:
Post a Comment