On Jordan

Chicago Bulls great and basketball legend Michael Jordan will be inducted into the basketball Hall-of-Fame tonight.  ESPN.com has a page dedicated to quotes from notable basketball people talking about Jordan.  ”I was reminded recently that when it came time for me to announce the No. 3 selection, I simply said, ‘The Chicago Bulls pick Michael Jordan, University of North Carolina,’” said NBA commissioner David Stern.  “That’s it.  Shame on me.  Did I have any idea how good he would become?  None at all.”  Nobody knew how good Jordan would become.  How could you?  This was before the age of intense scouting where the top amateur players are scrutinized from the time they’re in middle school.

“What I saw was a guy who could play at an extremely high level in back-to-back games,” said Phil Jackson.  ”I’d been on the Knicks with Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe, and they scored a lot at certain times.  But this was new: A guy that good night after night.”  That was perhaps the thing that was so darn impressive about Michael Jordan, that he’d bring it every night.  He had a competitive fire that was unmatched by anyone he’d be playing against, which gave him the first of many edges.

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