That dude is a huge race-baiter. Saying that, MJ has always taken some heat for not being very invested in helping the black community. I’m sure he’s donated money, but he never wanted his face in front of it, and I think it was probably a pretty conscious decision on his part. He didn’t want to alienate anyone, even republicans. He wanted to smile for the cameras, and that’s it. To each his own, I guess.
For sure, that "reporter" or whatever he was was a moron.
But yeah, Jordan has always taken flak for that. He's always been seen as a guy who only cared about competition and money. He has donated a ton of money to Democrats, but never associated publically with them, because he didn't want to alienate possible customers. Not saying that is wrong or right, but it is true.
Demand....expectation....whatever you want to call it, it's not rational to ask for someones public support and than hold it against them if they are not interested. I used 99% b/c almost zero people stopped buying his stuff.....or watching him.....or saying he was the greatest of all time. People do not get to decide whats important for another person to stand up for. They have the freedom to hold it against him---but it isnt right. Robertson/Ali/Kareem will not be remembered by the masses on the level Jordan is/was/will be.
First off, Ali will DEFINITELY be remembered by the masses on the level of Jordan. Dude, Ali is one of the most famous humans on earth. I get that he is older, but that is nuts. And Kareem... dude, who do you think ISN'T remembering Kareem? Okay, they may not be the faces that launched Nike and Gatorade, but trying to argue that those guys aren't going to be remembered in the same way is silly. They will be remembered differently.
And just because people didn't stop buying his stuff or thinking he was the greatest of all time doesn't mean it didn't matter to them. You can say "Damn, I wish so and so would do this thing" and still like them and appreciate them and think they are great or whatever. It isn't black and white like that. The fact that two of the only black posters here have said that it mattered to them and they remember it should be a pretty good indication that yes, it DID matter to some people, even if it didn't matter to you, and even if they don't let that single aspect of it change their opinion of his basketball ability or whatever.
It was a big deal here. I was living in San Diego at the time but being from here my family and friends were clued in big time.
Yep. I think people are not quite understanding how all this stuff is connected. When MJ was born, segregation was still legal. His parents, his family... they lived through it. MJ himself talks about the Klan in North Carolina. The fact that there was a chance for the first black man in NC history to take a seat from Jesse Helms, who was the FACE of segregation in the South, was most assuredly something every black North Carolinian knew about, and I don't think MJ, who was from North Carolina and who had very aware parents and who played for Dean Smith and actually played in North Carolina and donated to the campaign, didn't know about it. While the sneakers comment was off-hand (and witty), it did sort of show his approach to it, right or wrong.
LOL, MJ would've won just as much with or without Steve Kerr. Kerr was barely a factor on those teams aside from hitting couple memorable shots. Lots of revisionist history trying to paint Kerr as a key member of the dynasty just because he ended up one of the most famous. He was extremely replaceable.
The guy who shot the highest three point percentage in history and who hit some huge shots was extremely replaceable? Uhhhh... okay. What about Rodman and Pippen?
As to the actual obvious bigger point: do you disagree that many of the players we see as the GOATs played with other players who were great, and that plays a big part in the accomplishments that make them so great?
