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MJ: 50
I just can't tell anyone how much MJ meant to me as a kid. He was my absolute hero. I'm sure that is the same way for many 24-30 year olds right now. I remember being in Lenexa, KS...everyone knew I was a huge MJ fan. I was 8 years old and I used to wake up at 6 AM and go to the curb to get the KC Star and memorize the box score...I kid you not...we'd share current events in 3rd grade and I'd always recite MJ's numbers...clock work. I'd watch the first half on WGN and my dad would make me go to sleep so I'd wake up super early to get the Star for the box scores...I'd watch SportsCenter too...I was obsessed. At 8. I didn't watch cartoons or Nickelodeon...I watched SportsCenter and memorized box scores.
MJ was SO POLARIZING...when he announced his retirement I was in 3rd grade at Rising Star in Lenexa and EVERY CLASSROOM had one of those roll-away TV's WHEELED into class so every student could watch his retirement speech...
IN LENEXA, KANSAS...Michael Jordan was that big of a deal...that elementary kids watched his retirement speech...
me? I couldn't handle it...my teacher (I forget her name) had to take me into some sort of office because I was bawling uncontrollably and I had to be sent home...at 8...during his retirement speech. I didn't get it. It's a memory that will never fade.
in 5th grade, MJ announced "I'm back" and it was the best day of my life...my parents were divorced and at the time I lived with my dad in Lenexa (like I said)...he came back right around my 10th birthday...I came home from school ready for MJ and his return at Indianapolis and I ran home from school and on my porch there is a package for me...
I'm confused but whatever. I open it up (from mom) and it's an MJ #45 jersey...best present I've ever gotten in my entire life. I couldn't believe it.
It's funny...when I was 19 or 20 my mom showed me a storage closet and it had all of my MJ jerseys over the years...from 8 to 18 (Wizards being the last)...there had to be ****ing 50 MJ jerseys (away red, home white, black...all of 'em) that pretty much was a barometer for me growing over the years...it was hilarious. All hanging up...from little Rick to big Rick.
I'd go to school and recite his high school stats...his FG % from 1988...it was basically the outline for what kind of Chiefs fan I turned into as a teenager/now. Now all I care about is the Chiefs. It has turned into another unhealthy obsession...
but back then...15-20 years ago...during my formidable years...it was all MJ...and I miss it.
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