Michael Jordan: The Life by Roland Lazenby

Michael Jordan: The Life by Roland Lazenby




                Michael Jordan is the man who was born on February 17,1963 who would win six NBA Championships with the Chicago Bulls. He was born in Brooklyn, New York to James and Deloris Jordan. He would be raised in Wilmington, North Carolina with his two brother and two sisters. The family wouldn’t live too far from his grandparents and their family’s beginnings in Teachey, North Carolina. Michael would be cut from his high school’s varsity team as a sophomore, only to return as a junior and dominate the team. He would go on to play for the North Carolina Tar Heels bringing with him a NCAA Championship. After his third year in college he would be drafted third in the NBA to play for the Chicago Bulls. This is the story we know of Michael Jordan and his legend. Lazenby, in this biography, reveals the aspects of Jordan’s life and character that many people hadn’t known or understood.
                Michael Jordan: The Life starts well before Michael was ever brought into existence, with first introducing Dawson Jordan, Michael’s great grandfather. By observing Dawson’s life and his struggles, Lazenby set the tone for Michael’s young life and the challenges that he would face within his family. Dawson was the first to persevere and persist, characteristics that Michael would eventually inhabit. The biography continues through all of the men leading to Michael Jordan. The knowledge Lazenby’s provides about Jordan’s family would somewhat help in understanding Jordan the child, the man and eventually the basketball player. A thorough look at his parents and the dynamics within his immediate family would further our knowledge of Michael’s competitive nature and the issues he developed with trusting others. Throughout his years the traits he developed in his youth would make him an amazing basketball player worthy of the accolades that were bestowed upon him but other characteristics would leave many wondering exactly what kind of man Jordan was.

                This was a very in depth biography of a man whose adult life continues to play in the headlines. This book is well over 500 pages and full of information regarding Michael Jordan from everyone’s opinion as a player, his gambling habits, his issues with family member and his treatment of others. Let me caveat this by saying I have never been a Michael Jordan fan. This biography was actually a present for this year’s theme in order to provide me more knowledge of this sports icon. After reading this I can say that I am still not a fan of Michael Jordan, though I can as I always have, respect him and his abilities as a player. This biography did a great job at revealing the motives behind many of Michael’s decision regarding his career, like the three retirements, his stint in baseball and his time as a Wizards owner. What I found most interesting though, were how others around Jordan who had knowledge of his habits would describe him. I can’t say it was an even split between those who looked at him positively and those who had negative things to say. It was interesting to read the different comments made by players that I am familiar with regarding the legend that is Jordan. All in all I enjoyed this rather informative biography. I give this 4 out of 5 stars and would definitely recommend it to any basketball or Michael Jordan fan. It wasn’t a page turner in my opinion but I was definitely fascinated by his story and enjoyed the biography. 

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