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Prequel of an Era
Michael Jordan played collegiate basketball at the University of North Carolina in 1981 to 1984 averaging 17.7 ppg (sophmore year was his high with 20.0 ppg) in all 3 seasons. In 1982, Michael Jordan was named ACC Rookie of the Year and also became a member of the NCAA Division I Championship team claiming his first collegiate title. Jordan went on to win other various awards such as the NCAA college player of year, and was also elected to the First Team All-American the next two seasons. After three years with UNC, Jordan declared himself to be eligible for the NBA draft. Year Gp Fg Pct Ft Pct Reb Avg A S Pts Avg ----------------------------------------------------------------- 1981-82 34 191-358 53.4 78-108 72.2 149 4.4 61 41 460 13.5 1982-83 36 282-527 53.5 123-167 73.7 197 5.5 56 78 721 20.0 1983-84 31 247-448 55.1 113-145 77.9 163 5.3 64 50 607 19.6 Total 101 720-1333 54.0 314-420 74.8 509 5.0 181 169 1788 17.7 Chapter 1: The Beginning
1985 should be considered one of the most memorable NBA draft. The Houston Rockets, Portland Trailblazers and Chicago Bulls were the top three teams in the first round of the NBA draft. The Houston Rockets selected Hakeem Olajuwon who is one of the most well around respected centers in basketball. On the other hand, the Portland Trailblazers would get the lower end in terms of a quality player in selecting Sam Bowie (Is this guy still alive?). Who would've thought that the next player in the NBA draft would become the best there is, was, and ever will be (no, not Bret "Hitman" Hart) to play the game of basketball? With the next pick, the Chicago Bulls selected Michael "Jeffrey" Jordan as their first round pick of the NBA draft. 
After being drafted by the Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan would definitely make his mark in the NBA. Jordan would torch and light up teams (scored his career high 63 points against the Boston Celtics in 1986) with high flying dunks and driving hard to the basket doing air reverses with graceful movement. In 1985, Jordan's total average for the year was 28.2 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.8 APG, and 1.7 STLPG in his rookie campaign as a Chicago Bulls which garnered him NBA Rookie of the Year honors as well as being listed on the NBA All-Rookie Team. Of course, Michael Jordan's achievements did not stop there. Jordan went on to show his high flying acrobatic dunks in the ever classical matchup against Dominique Wilkins (This guy is wicked!) in the NBA Slam Dunk Championship winning both titles in 1987 and 1988. Not only did Jordan show off his smooth dunks, but also displayed his skills and talents appearing in his first of several NBA All-Star games (1985, 1987-1993, 1996-1998) along with winning his first of three All-Star MVPs (1985, 1996, 1998). Michael Jordan's talents became so known that he was elected to play with the USA team in the Olympics and garnering a gold medal in 1984 and 1992.
Jordan's statistics grew ever with the following statistics.
With Jordan's success and rising reputation status, Jordan has featured in numerous companies and commercials. Big companies such as Nike, Coke, Gatorade, Oakleys, and miscellaneous commercials (dial-collect, Hotdogs, and batteries?). No doubt the biggest impact Jordan has made in terms of products has been his shoes (Air Jordan's). He has also starred in a motion feature flick entitled "Space Jam" with Warner Brothers' cartoon character bugs bunny. In the later years of Jordan's life, decides to endorse his own products and own line of clothing titled "Jordan".
Chapter 2: Truimph, Tragedy, and Return
With all the achievements Michael Jordan has recieved over the course of his career, there was always that one thing that has alluded him, and that was namely, the NBA Championship. After much persistence and work, the challenge was finally overcome as the Chicago Bulls defeat Ervin "Magic" Johnson and the Los Angeles Lakers to win their first of three NBA championships. The later two NBA Championships would come from the defeats of the Portland Trailblazers in 1992 and the Phoenix Suns (John Paxsons game winning 3) in 1993. Michael Jordan would go on to take NBA Finals MVP in the three following years of the Chicago Bulls reign (1991, 1992, 1993). 
After winning three NBA Championships, celebrations calm to a halt as Jordan's father James, was murdered in a robbery in 1993. This sudden altercation led to Jordan's decision to leave the NBA. He had claimed that his father had saw his last game and that basketball wasn't a challenge that he wanted to overcome anymore. After the retirement of his Chicago Bulls jersey number 23 in Nov-11-1994, Jordan then goes on to play a sport that he played in his early childhood days of Americas favorite past time baseball. Jordan played in the Birmingham Barons minor league association and eventually played some games with the Chicago White Sox. 
Although Jordan had his various talents and attributes in baseball, his swing of the bat was not up to par, thus leaving the game of baseball. With nothing else to do and not denying the churning and burning love for the game of basketball, on March 19-1995, Jordan announces his return to the NBA. With the retirement of his original number, Jordan dons number 45 in his first game versus the Indiana Pacers. Chapter 3: Truimph Strikes Again
The following year after 1995, the Chicago Bulls would go on to win 70 of 82 regular season games. The same year, Jordan and the Chicago Bulls would go on to defeat the Seattle Supersonics in game 6 to win the NBA Championship. In the following two years, the Chicago Bulls would play the Utah Jazz. Not only beating the Utah Jazz in 1996 (Steve Kerr's game winning pass from Jordan), but in 1997 as well. Jordan would cap off a game winning shot against the Utah Jazz making the Chicago Bulls repeat three-peat in winning NBA Championships (1995, 1996, 1997).
End of an Era Game 6 of the 1997 NBA Finals Championship against the Utah Jazz would not only be the end of perhaps the greatest team ever assembled in the 90s, but also the last shot Michael Jordan will ever take in a Chicago Bulls uniform. There will perhaps never be another player that was as exciting and skilled as Michael Jordan was, but only time will tell. One thing is for sure is that memories of his royal airness will never be forgotten. Y2K
MJ is presently owner of the NBA team Washington Bullets. He is also doing numerous commercials and endorsing his own line of clothing entitled "Jordan". There is also a movie based on the NBA player entitled "Michael Jordan to the MAX" in several (not sure about other states) IMAX theaters in Chicago.
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