“Like Mike, if I can be like Mike”–Gatorade Commercial, ca 1992
The documentary series “The Last Dance” was intended to detail the 1997-98 season of the Chicago Bulls, the end of a dynasty. It was touted as you being immersed into the collective experience of that team. Yet for me, it obviously centered around one person: Michael Jordan. It was an exploration in the present of his enduring legacy, spanning and delving into his childhood, high school experiences, collegiate career and into the NBA, culminating in his 6 NBA titles. This post is about what I took away from watching this documentary.
I grew up watching Michael Jordan. Admiring Jordan. Amazed by his his inclination to not be affected by gravity which made him inhuman. He transcended the limitations of what a human could do. I wanted his success. However, after watching “The Last Dance”, I don’t know if I want to “Be Like Mike”. What I saw in the documentary is someone who is yet to find rest. There is no peace. To me, Michael Jordan played the game of basketball better than anyone, and he has the hardware to prove it. But playing and winning at a game is different than cultivating inner peace through conscientious evolving of character and developing moral excellence. The motivation that clearly drove Michael Jordan was pain–whether it was actual, perceived or self-created pain. And the need to avenge pain to be the best and to maintain being the best. Disrespect, disregard, “distancing from” fueled MJ. And so Jordan begs us to ask: Is pain the predominant path to reach the highest pinnacle of sport achievement? And for that matter, does that mean “success”? Whatever your answer, in “The Last Dance”, Jordan displayed, intended or unintended, the cost to living that path. You can see it in his eyes, in his speech, in his body language. And in his tears. But can you blame him for walking that path? All that reward, recognition, and the unbridled adulation from millions can inform you that what you’re doing is “right”. Then you become God in judging what is right when you stand alone at the top. He wanted to share that success with others–that is clear. But he projected what worked for him on to others, in effect saying “Do what is right and what works.” For better, or for worse? That is for each of his teammates to decide for themselves and perhaps share with us mere mortals. This was somewhat explored with Pippen, Rodman, Kerr, Kukoc, Paxon and others more, but for me, I would like to have heard more. In the end, and again, I am not sure if it was intended, “The Last Dance” portrays a man with a heavy burden who is alone with that burden. It is hard to be a god.