Last Friday, Dennis Rodman was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. He made a couple of unsuccessful attempts to start his speech with former coach Phil Jackson nearby. Rodman, who was considered flamboyant and is more than colorful, was colorful only in appearance. Rodman struggled to maintain control over his voice and emotions. His speech talked about how he struggled to get out of the projects. While he did mention his dad with contempt and his mother with a sense of disappointment, he spent most of his speech thanking the people that made him into the Hall of Famer. Throughout Rodman's address, he looked like he felt undeserving and overwhelmed. He admitted that he should have been a better father, husband and son. Rodman even went as far as to vent that he hopes to one day be a better son for the mother he sounded disappointed in.
Two years earlier, Rodman's former teammate Michael Jordan received the same honor. While Jordan was as emotionally honest as Rodman, maybe these were emotions that would have been better reserved for a book or an in-depth interview. Unlike Dennis, Jordan came across as incredibly arrogant. He spent the better part of 20+ minutes talking about how people constantly set hurdles in front of him and how he overcame them. Jordan had his thank yous but also had his moments of "I succeeded in spite of you." While those words never left Jordan's mouth, (and personally I am not sure that this is the way he wanted to come across) that was the impression most people left with.
In the 1990's Jordan was a god. He was literally worshipped by fans across the nation. I was guilty. If it had Jordan's name on it, people had to have it. I just couldn't afford it. Gatorade even ran the ad campaign "Be Like Mike" in associating itself the the pinnacle of the sport. The nation mourned for him at the revelation that his father had been murdered. Yet, when the moment to honor Jordan came, he took one last chance to honor himself.
It is interesting how we as fans cannot separate the person from the athlete. Jordan's speech by itself was not an indication of who Jordan was. However, it was the reports that popped up in the following days stating that the speech should come of no surprise to those who followed Jordan behind the scenes. To us who treated Jordan as a god and excused whatever "minor" transgressions he had committed, it was stunning.
Jordan pointed out his high school basketball coach as one of many who added "wood to the fire." Rodman started by thanking his assistant basketball coach at Southeastern Oklahoma State Lonn Reisman. (Shameless plug of Alma mater: Lonn Reisman is now the basketball coach at Tarleton State University.) Who thanks the assistant coach at a no name college? Jordan spoke on why he was great. Rodman thanked those who made him great and apologized to those he failed. Jordan's speech can be found in three parts totaling 23 minutes and 20 seconds. Rodman's can be seen in one clip and falls just short of 13 minutes. Jordan was proud. Rodman was humbled.
I do not know either man personally. I do know they were great on the court. Honestly, I felt Jordan might have come across in a way he didn't intend. Or at least I hope that is the case. Otherwise his ego will never allow him to see the contributions others have made toward his success.
Side Thoughts
-Texas A&M threatened to join the SEC last year but they didn't when Texas declined to join the PAC-10. This year they threatened again. Unfortunately, the SEC was unaware that they had even extended the invitation. That is because they hadn't. Longhorn coach Mack Brown stated that the Big "12" would be fine. So A&M is left looking unimportant in two conferences.
-While on the subject of A&M, I would like to direct my attention to one of their esteemed alum. Governor Rick Perry invited several thousand people to get together for a day of prayer and fasting. For the record, I am completely for believers getting together and praying. However, this did not seem like a meeting for spiritual purposes. It felt more like a "rally-the-conservative-Christians-together-because-I-am-about-to-run-for-president" rally. Two scriptures came to mind as I read about this event: "And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full." (Matthew 6:5) and "Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud" (1 Corinthians 13:4).
-Carlos Zambrano "retired" after being ejected from a game. I sincerely hope, he pulls everything together and returns to the pitcher he once was. Otherwise, what a waste.
-There is a quarterback controversy in Denver. Tim Tebow vs. Kyle Orton. I was really hopeful for Tebow. I thought he had a chance with Josh McDaniels as his coach. McDaniels has done some great work with quarterbacks. Unfortunately, Denver fired Tebow's best shot at being a success. I hope he succeeds. I just don't believe he will.
-Oklahoma Sooners' toughest games: at Florida State, vs. Texas in Dallas, and at Oklahoma State. There is no reason they should not be playing in the national title game. However, one slip-up, and they won't be.
-Lastly, I will allow my nerdiness to shine through on this one (as if I don't already). WWE's SummerSlam looked like it had a good ending. CM Punk defeats John Cena while his foot is on the rope. This would allow for the story to continue. Instead, WWE decided to trot out Kevin Nash to jackknife CM Punk. Okay. Unexpected but that is a good thing. Then... Albert the River (or as Vince McMahon wants me to refer to him as Alberto Del Rio). Walks out, takes advantage of rules I won't get into and wins the WWE championship. Royal Rumble winner, Money In the Bank winner, WWE Champion and no one still has a clue as to who this guy is. That doesn't speak well of Mr. the River.
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