Up yours, Jordan

[Matt Foley]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=aw-jordanhall091209&prov=yhoo&type=lgns

[Darth Biscuit]

Michael dunked on that guy once... he's just bitter.

[Panthro]

He's a douchebag....one of the greatest but still a douchebag

[Scrumtrilescent]

Yup.

[Kevin Greene]

Takes arrogant to a new level.

[Britneck]

Flying the guy in, who got your spot on your high school team, to rub it in his face is a dick head move. He is the greatest to ever play and when i was a kid i tried to copy all of his moves and dunks as did many kids who grew up watching him. Now Im realizing more and more how much of a prick this guy is and its kind of ruining my memory of him.

[Guest]

Jordan is a dickhead.

[Matt Foley]

If I ever see him in pickup basketball, I'm freezing him out.

[tarheelblue89]

He's the greatest to ever pick up a ball. He can say anything he wants.

[Jangler]

Flying the guy in, who got your spot on your high school team, to rub it in his face is a dick head move. He is the greatest to ever play and when i was a kid i tried to copy all of his moves and dunks as did many kids who grew up watching him. Now Im realizing more and more how much of a prick this guy is and its kind of ruining my memory of him.

He didn't have to go. Everybody is a prick to somebody else at sometime, So what.

[Guest]

He didn't have to go. Everybody is a prick to somebody else at sometime, So what.

If Jordan told him "I'm going to rub your face in poo if you come with me" then your point is valid.

[pstall]

Jordan came across bitter, lonely and hollow.

You have accomplished everything you set out today but ahh Mr.Jordan. All that money can't buy true friends and happiness.

Bringing up stuff from 85...seriously MJ. Let it go my brotha. I'm sure they have.

[Squirrel]

Anybody consider that Skipper Beck was killed that morning and maybe Jordan wasnt thinking right?

[Woodie]

After watching his acceptance speech, I have to say that there is A LOT of bitterness and resentment oozing from the author of this article. He obviously did not understand the context in which all these things were said (or chose not to?). And it's not surprising that he could find a couple of NBA insiders that also shared his view since there was always quite a bit of resentment/jealousy towards Jordan from some league personnel.

However, most of Jordan's speech revolved around his competativeness, and how that is what drove him to reach the levels he did. In each of the instances the article used to point out Jordan's "bitterness," MJ was just exemplifying them to show how he looked for any little slight to motivate himself and work harder to get better and prove something. In fact, he even thanked them because they helped make him into the player he became. What came glaring through was that Jordan could, and would, make anything a competition. If he felt challenged or slighted in any way, he would set his sights on the source, and try to prove them wrong.

So, based on what I heard in Jordan's speech, I don't think there was any slight intended or that he has any lingering bitterness. But the thing that each of these things had in common was that they all drove and motivated MJ...and he was just acknowledging that.