When Did You Know MJ Was MJ?

[NealKleren]

When playing NBA 2K11 doing the first Jordan Challenge I thought then and now that I really have never heard alot of the younger MJ and was wondering when he was considered "MJ" or the "GOAT". Was it during the years before he won his first title,once he won his first title,once they had their 3 peat,their second three peat,ect. I ask this because I was born in 1992 and know that I will never be able to live to see MJ evolve like others have. I remember still as a young kid and while MJ was still with the team I remember watching Bulls games but of course I didnt remember specific moments like his last shot or anything else and I was wondering what you guys thought and knew when MJ was MJ.

 

[Crystallas]

October 26th, 1984.

Watching that game was like... "Where the hell did the usual Chicago Bulls go?" It was like flipping on a switch, and you KNEW he was going to have a bust in the Hall one day.

As for when he was the GOAT? I think people put a lot of buzz around it around 88, that he could be the next great. But it wasn't until he retired in 93, and everyone just sat on their hands, that the general consensus was basketball would not be the same without him. I would almost say with extreme confidence, that retirement dropped more jaws, than any sporting retirement ever. Even Lou Gehrig was a notch below because his skills never make him the extraordinary global icon, than MJ was. And mind you, the NBA had always pushed their best players to be the face of the league. It wasn't until MJ, that the whole world actually witnessed the legend.

When he came back, the phrase "**** Yeah" took on a whole new meaning, and Spike Lee cried for 2 months straight.

 

[pinkizdead]

when i realized patrick ewing and the knicks just wouldn't cut it.

 

[WindyCity7]

October 26th, 1984.

Watching that game was like... "Where the hell did the usual Chicago Bulls go?" It was like flipping on a switch, and you KNEW he was going to have a bust in the Hall one day.

As for when he was the GOAT? I think people put a lot of buzz around it around 88, that he could be the next great. But it wasn't until he retired in 93, and everyone just sat on their hands, that the general consensus was basketball would not be the same without him. I would almost say with extreme confidence, that retirement dropped more jaws, than any sporting retirement ever. Even Lou Gehrig was a notch below because his skills never make him the extraordinary global icon, than MJ was. And mind you, the NBA had always pushed their best players to be the face of the league. It wasn't until MJ, that the whole world actually witnessed the legend.

When he came back, the phrase "**** Yeah" took on a whole new meaning, and Spike Lee still hasnt stopped crying.[/QUOTE]

couldnt have said it better

 

[houheffna]

Around 85 or so was when the whole Jordan phenomenon started to become a huge success. I remember the first pair of Jordans, I remember the hair he had on his head at the time and I remember going to my first game in 6th grade. That is when it hit me personally. Jordan was sick that game and the Pistons won by a basket. Jordan missed the last shot at the end. That was my first and last Bulls game at the Chicago Stadium. That was March 13th 1987. I brought a poster at that game...Jordan dunking with Magic Johnson and Michael Cooper looking up at him...It would be 8 years before I see another Bulls game. But I definitely enjoyed myself.

Detroit Pistons at Chicago Bulls Box Score, March 13, 1987 | Basketball-Reference.com

 

[Chi-Town Brahma]

I was 5 when I first started liking them.....that was 1992. Grew up in a Boston Celtics household to boot. I can't remember all over my early years as a fan because I was a little kid......the retirement on through the 2nd 3-Peat is my main block of the championship years. I also wish I was old enough to watch him in the late 80's. That would have been great!

 

[WindyCity7]

I was 5 when I first started liking them.....that was 1992. Grew up in a Boston Celtics household to boot. I can't remember all over my early years as a fan because I was a little kid......the retirement on through the 2nd 3-Peat is my main block of the championship years. I also wish I was old enough to watch him in the late 80's. That would have been great!

i grew up in a household where my pops was from la he hated the bulls & called every chip a fluke he called the exact time when mike pushed off on russell (& every one before that finals push also)he called every travel on mike saying he was palming the ball 7 the refs were in his pocket but iwatched every game i could & was hooked no matter what my pops said mj could do no wrong in my eyes

 

[Chi-Town Brahma]

i grew up in a household where my pops was from la he hated the bulls & called every chip a fluke he called the exact time when mike pushed off on russell (& every one before that finals push also)he called every travel on mike saying he was palming the ball 7 the refs were in his pocket but iwatched every game i could & was hooked no matter what my pops said mj could do no wrong in my eyes

haha I hear that. I guess I've been that way toward Cleveland the last couple of years........deference is they have no titles to prove from it. :bowrofl:

 

[Shakes]

My perspective from down under is that I knew MJ was MJ because he made this country care about basketball. When MJ retired people realised the interest wasn't in basketball, it was in MJ. After 1998 the NBL (local Australian league) disappeared from network TV and they've only just started experimenting with bringing it back now they have digital channels with airtime to fill.

So I'm going to say that it was only after he retired that I realised MJ was MJ, he's the only basketball player who will ever make the Australian general public interested in basketball.

 

[Diddy1122]

87-88 season, I was in first grade & we went to the Cavs-Bulls game around Xmas. MJ dropped 50+ that game & immediately became my favorite player. Up til that point, Larry Bird & Charles Barkley were my two favorite players thanks to both my parents being from the East Coast. I watched the Bulls, & liked MJ, but I supported the Sixers, since my entire family is from Philly, but from that game on I knew I would live & die with this team every game for the rest of my life. And I hounded my parents for the newest J's every year from then on, getting my first pair from my aunt just before the playoffs started in '88.

 

[Crystallas]

Id like to change my answer.

When Did You Know MJ Was MJ?

When my eyeballs were functional.