Overly Positive

Today’s topic is seemingly not on something a geek would normally talk about, but stick with me here – it gets relevant.

As someone Chicago-born and raised, it’s my pleasure today to be alive to have seen one of, if not the greatest basketball player of all time in Michael Jordan. The Chicago Bulls, while comprised of many pieces that were responsible for multiple NBA championships, had none that shined brighter than Michael Jordan. Game-winning shots, a complete game that struck fear into the hearts of many opponents, and a way to just get the job done and make it entertaining doing it – Michael had it all.  Today, he gets inducted into the Hall of Fame, a foregone conclusion early in his career, but a day that has been a long time coming. If you’re interested, you can see ESPN‘s celebration of the top 23 moments of Michael Jordan’s career.

But what does an athlete like Michael Jordan have to do with a geekery blog comprised of folks who would probably never take an interest in sports? Well, boiling it down, it all comes down to one word: inspiration.

As someone who has the jump shot of a grade school player and the basketball handling skills of an elephant on roller skates, I sat down to live athletic basketball success through Michael Jordan many times. The Bulls won 6 NBA championships in the 90′s, and it would have been more had Jordan not become distracted by a brief foray into baseball, or the team prematurely broken up. The things that Michael did for his fans were far beyond entertaining on the court. When you saw someone achieve the things that Michael did, when you saw the crazy tricks and skill, and finesse that he exuded, it was almost surreal to watch. Some people would attribute it to God-given natural talent, and they’d be partially right.

But I think I identified with Michael because in many ways, he was a geek, too – a geek who knew the ins and outs of basketball and the game as much as any of us do about our favorite MMOs or the best and latest technology. Offense, defense, strategy, pacing, skill – Michael knew it all, and executed it all, a reflection of his dedication and study of the game itself. Sure, raw talent figures into this, but it also takes someone willing to dissect the game, take it apart, put it back together, and process it to really succeed. All the greatest athletes have this very geek-like talent, whether they realize it or not, and Michael was no different.

A player like Michael Jordan inspired me to rise above the current level I was at, not be satisfied with meeting the status quo, and feel confident in succeeding in the areas that I knew I could do well. Sure, there were going to be bumps, and failures, as Michael had in his career. But the perserverence with which he continued despite those led to great things for him, and to many of us who watched him, for us as well.

As a result, I can say that with no ego meant at all that there have been times when I’ve been a Jordan in my life – when I’ve saved the day, made the call or the decision that allowed victory, led and worked and gritted out success despite obstacles. I will never have Michael Jordan’s talent on the basketball court, but I will have the tools he used to succeed, or to aspire to do such. That’s what “role models” are, anyway – agnostic to whatever you’re trying to do, they serve as a means to encourage and motivate – and Michael Jordan was no different.

Here’s to you, Mike. Thanks for the help to make this geek a better person.

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• Sloan, Stockton Entering Hall of Fame (nytimes.com)
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• Michael Jordan’s Top 23 Moments (37signals.com)