The Two Sides of Michael Jordan

Paper Summary:

The paper reviews 2 books written about Michael Jordan and summarizes the authors' main points. The paper also gives insights into the authors' choices of their characterizations of Jordan. The paper concludes that Smith's depiction of "Goliath" (Jordan's nickname) as less considerate and compassionate than Jordan's public relations machine wanted the public to believe is probably the more accurate of the two.

From the Paper:

"Chicagoans, basketball fans and basically everyone in the world knows that Michael Jordan is the most affable person/celebrity alive. Or do they? While publicly Jordan is quick to flash a smile, crack a joke or otherwise be wholesomely genuine in his agreeableness, does that attitude carry over behind closed doors? Jordan is the subject of countless commercial ads, the target of more Make-a-Wish foundation wish requests than any other athlete/celebrity, and continues to be sought after in many capacities based on his perceived likeability and commercial ability. In which case, there must be some truth to the phenomena of Michael Jordan being a naturally sociable person, right? Surely, it is not fathomable that the saintly Jordan could be a devil in disguise, that he was so valuable that everyone around him protected his image at all costs. Jordan was a fierce competitor on the court and presented a teddy-bear image off it, which sincere or phony, he used to win over the world."

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