Lots of people have lots to say about why they like Michael: He’s poetry on the court; His physical and athletic abilities surpass all others; He is capable of playing so consistently at the top of his game night after night; He has an unparalleled combination of defensive and offensive skills; His leadership on the court enables him to take over a game at will; His will to win and desire to have the ball in the final seconds ensure that his team is always in the game, etc. etc. etc.

So why do I admire Michael enough to make this web site? For all of the above. But also, and most importantly, his will. To have such a will, to be able to exercise such incredible physical, mental and emotional control with such consistency and regularity as Michael can is an extremely rare gift.

But there is yet more. Michael combines that with a charisma and innate leadership which rivals the most gifted military, political, or corporate leaders of this time. True leadership requires that followers respect and admire their leader. Michael’s intelligence, his unrivaled basketball skills and his personal values, learned as a child from his parents and role models, and his discipline in living up to those values on and off the court, make him a role model who earns and deserves the respect of all around him each and every day. On the floor he commands his teammates as no other, bringing the level of play of all those around him to their maximum potential and sustaining it throughout the game and night after night.

Putting all of this together and wrapping it in a package with Michael’s will to bring it all to bear in the critical moments in the most intensely focused way, makes Jordan an almost unstoppable force. His mental and intestinal fortitude and unbelievable stamina which, combined with his focus and incredible will enable him to bring it all to bear not only in critical moments, but also to do so consistently, night after night and carry his team with him makes him without question not simply the greatest basketball player of all time, but also one of the greatest athletes to have ever lived.

Indeed, if even a small fraction of our business and political leaders could live up to Jordan’s standard in their respective professions, the world could be a far better place. Thus, this tribute is to someone who represents that which, were it observed in everyone as they pursue their own aspirations, would make the world a better place. It is also to someone who provided untold hours of entertainment to countless millions with his fade-away jump shots, aerobatics, ball-handling, slam-dunking, smothering defense and last second plays. It is a tribute to Michael and all that he is and all that he represents.