Pass the Mic: What Would Life Be Like Without Mike?
G.O.A.T. (photo. Jordan)Last month we introduced a feature called “Pass the Mic,” where we hand the columnist reigns over to one of our readers for a day. In his debut column, Smack reader Gee suggested some NBA rule changes (moving the three-point line back, adding four-pointers, etc.) that got a pretty strong response from our readers.
We’re bringing back Gee for Round 2. Today he examines what the NBA might look like today if Michael Jordan came around…
Minus Mike = ???
I ain’t talking about the 2-3,
Mami in the zone like the homie 2-3
Jordan or James,
Makes no difference boo I’m ballin the same,
I am the Mike Jordan of recording,
You might want to fall back from recording
~ Jay-Z
What up to all!
GEE again pimpin! DIME has once again allowed a playa to wonder in writing, so to DIME, ‘preshate it for real.
Every once in a while most of us love to bring “if”-type statements into our conversations. I am just as guilty of doing this as many people. One of my best “if” statements is “T-Mac would have gotten past first round a long time ago and to a possible championship ‘if’ the GM had found a way to trade Yao for Dwight Howard.” I still believe that, too. Anyway, that is not the “if” of the discussion today.
Today’s “if” is what if a certain birth on February 17, 1963 never took place? If you haven’t guessed who was born on that date yet, it’s none other than MJ himself (not Michael Jackson or Mike Jones).
I seriously want to know what you all think would have happened if the game never had Mike. The possibilities are almost limitless (good and bad), but just to kick it off I will give you some things that could have possibly taken place without Air Jordan:
For me, it starts in 1982 with my favorite NCAA basketball squad, the Georgetown Hoyas. With No MJ there is likely no winning jumper against Georgetown in the championship game. Meaning the Hoyas would have two championships at this time. Dang Mike.
How would MJ’s absence affect the L? I present 1984. Assuming Sam Bowie and Dream still go 1 and 2, does the lack of Jordan just move everyone up one spot on the draft? Chicago fans get ready. That means instead of having MJ … with the third pick in the 1984 draft the Chicago Bulls would have selected … Sam Perkins (insert boos here) from the University of North Carolina.
Need more?
No Mike also would have possibly meant rings for the Lakers, Portland, Phoenix, Seattle and Utah.
Imagine that.
Also it means ‘Nique would ‘prolly have won more dunk contests than we know.
So what if? Who would we all “Wanna be like” then? Would it be a star of today? (Kobe maybe? How would we look at him if we had no MJ to compare him to?) Whose shoes would DIME be giving updates on as to when the next pair are going to drop with no Jordans around? What team would have possibly become a dynasty had there been no Mike? How would this have affected your team personally or you as a basketball fan personally?
So put it out there: What do you think things would have been like and would be like …if we never had Mike?
– GEE …
40:5:16
May 28th, 2008 at 10:54 am
Sam I Am says:
I’d be happy…A lot of his shoes are ugly and CLEARLY… I loved the KNICKS back in the day and it would’ve been nice to have them advance
The Wizards wouldn’t have wasted the #1 pick on Kwame Brown and Space Jam wouldn’t have come out.
May 28th, 2008 at 10:55 am
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
Thanks againg DIME hope you all get in on this one.
May 28th, 2008 at 10:58 am
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
Dang Sam you know what I didn’t even think about how the Wizards wouldn’t have picked Kwame lol dang. That could have changed that camp fa real.
Come on though Jordan got way more nice shoes than bad. I just hate the price of them mudducks.
May 28th, 2008 at 10:58 am
rashad says:
Without Mike Patrick Ewing would be considered one of the greatest centers of all-time! Ewing & the Knicks would probably have atleast 2 if not 3 or more rings.
May 28th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Sam I Am says:
LOL …
Gee the article is nice cause it’s def fun to reminisce and think about what if’s…
Trust I grew up in MD/DC and def loved the Knicks back in the day…and of course the Bullets transition to the Wizards…
I respect Jordan, believe me I do. I’m just a “go against the grain” kinda guy…like the Spurs .. BOOOOOOOO
lol… but you right, KOBE would be the ” I Wanna Be like HIM” guy
May 28th, 2008 at 11:04 am
JCUB says:
If there was no Mike, I don’t know if I’d be a fan of basketball today. It was MJ and the hype that surrounded him that drew me to the sport when I was young.
And I think Space Jam still would have happened, it just might have starred Dominique Wilkins instead.
May 28th, 2008 at 11:06 am
zach says:
Without MJ I don’t think we would have long shorts or black socks in the L. Which means the public in general would still be wearing short ass shorts. Nike might be the equivalent of Starter (MJ made Nike) and we probably wouldn’t have 97 different flavors/brands of “sports drinks.” College ball would be fine, but I don’t think that the NBA would be the global sport that it is today (it would still be popular here but without MJ on the Dream Team I don’t think other countries would be ballin like they are now, which might mean no Dirk, Peja, Parker, Ginobli etc.
May 28th, 2008 at 11:10 am
Sam I Am says:
Clearly Kobe, LeBron, Iverson…they would have held the torch as far as highlights and hype
Dunk Contests would still continue to grow in popularity
Amazing moves and plays would no longer be referenced to just one man, but everyone would trademark their own move
May 28th, 2008 at 11:15 am
chrisGO says:
- magic johnson would be the hands-down GOAT
- scottie pippen would not have reached his full potential
- charles oakley would have no one to party with
- john paxson would not destroy the bulls franchise as a GM
- the #23 would have no significance on grade school/high school/college jerseys
- the NBA would struggle with finding a ‘face’ for the nba after magic retired w/ HIV
- the ability to hand-check in the league would have survived a little longer
- longer basketball shorts would appear much later
- craig ehlo would be able to look himself in the face every morning
- cuba gooding jr would be swapping Hanes with someone else
- juanita jordan wouldn’t filthy rich from a divorce settlement
- no Air Jordan signature line from Nike (i shudder just thinking about this ‘what if’)
- phil jackson would be one of the leagues ‘recycled coaches’ (flip saunders, george karl, larry brown, etc)
- the NBA would not be a superstar driven league…meaning, I don’t think there would so much preferential treatment (officiating-wise) for the Lebrons, Wades, and Kobes.
its scary to think how much MJ changed the game of basketball (directly/indirectly), as well as the endorsement aspect of pro-athletes, and how he did a huge part in making basketball a global game.
May 28th, 2008 at 11:20 am
Jim says:
It’s crazy to think of how differently we might see Ewing, Malone & Stockton, etc. if he hadn’t been around. I wonder how many rings Isiah would have added?
I also wonder if ticket prices would be a lot lower and franchises would have trouble making ends.
May 28th, 2008 at 11:21 am
chrisGO says:
zach- jordan did NOT make nike…did he help them become even richer? yes. but they still would have succeeded and prospered in a world without MJ. their marketing team was just on point from day 1.
ie. bo jackson, andre agassi, tiger woods, deion sanders, etc.
those athletes would have signed with Nike regardless if MJ was part of the brand or not. $$$ talks.
May 28th, 2008 at 11:21 am
dukesman2000 says:
On the good side…Charles Barkley, Malone and Ewing would all have rings.
May 28th, 2008 at 11:26 am
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
Lotta folks thinking the Knicks would have had a couple of rings. I can see that. They had a squad that even me being a Rockets fan used to root from time to time. Rashad I’ll say 2 rings but not 3.
Sam preshate it. I most def. think Kobe would be the man, but because people always need a hero I think they would have crowned magic or someone before Kobe because it would have been to long to wait till Kobe got on the scene.
Zach I was like dang at Jordan’s impact when writing this. He is most def. the greatest of all time in regards to impact on a sport. Without him to you missin a lot of references to Jordan in rap songs lol.
JCUB I would still be a fan even with no Jordan, I mean even outside of dude you had a lot of great players to enjoy Magic, Bird, Nique and Dream.
ChrisGO lol but you right on all accounts Juanita did get the hook up.
May 28th, 2008 at 11:28 am
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
duke don’t know about Malone though cause the Jazz wouldn’t have likely got Stockon…Dallas might have if everyone moves up one in the draft.
Dallas also might have gotten Barkley so then you have Stockon and Barkley not Stockon and Malone.
Malone might have still been ringless.
Stockon and Barkley might have been that hit though?
May 28th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Andrew-PL says:
Wow isnt this article a perfect setup for Dime to do a do-over draft from 1984 but with no MJ? Than we could really see who gets whome and how it could all play out.
May 28th, 2008 at 11:47 am
Sam I Am says:
NO ANDREW-PL it wouldn’t be a nice set up lol
May 28th, 2008 at 11:48 am
zach says:
@chrisGO
I disagree about Nike would still have Tiger etc. I don’t think they would have had the $$ to throw at him and the superstars of now. People (like Lebron, Tiger etc) want so badly to be a Nike endorser because Jordan made that the mark of basketball superstardom. Reebok or even Converse could be the supreme apparel company now. (It’s not like nike’s quality is any better than the other brands, they are all made in Malaysia or somewhere for 11 cents an hour) what would have made the future stars flock to Nike? and how many people do you know that rush out to buy a tennis player, or baseball/ football players shoe (you referenced Bo and Agassi) People buy basketball shows.
May 28th, 2008 at 11:53 am
DaPro says:
Chicago would burn down for the second time
I’d start the fire
Part of the reason why I started to watch hoopz was the emergence of the Bulls. Without MJ, we probably don’t get Pip who was my fav and we damn sure don’t get 6 (count em 6) chips
May 28th, 2008 at 11:54 am
DaPro says:
GEE neva, neva ,eva bring this up bro
I’m slit’n my wrist just think’n bout the L without ever having MJ
“Can’t be life, can’t be luv”
May 28th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
Big V says:
Life would have been great without that fool.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
I think Nike would still be on point but they wouldn’t be the empire they are now. Things would have went to Magic till Kobe came. So you prolly would have kids wearing lol Magics or some ish. Perish the thought right lol. Commercials would have been “If I could be like Magic”. All that until as someone stated before the HIV deal and then on to Kobe.
DaPro most def. Chicago would have been pitiful lol. Sam Perkins? LOL
Don’t slit ya wrist though homey lol.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
DaPro says:
I’m slit’n someone’s wrist if there was no Mike
Magic was the truth but he left the game as a player in 92,
that’s a big azz gap in terms of having “marquee superstar” that trandsends race, sport,etc…
May 28th, 2008 at 12:17 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
yea the NBA would have had a dead period. Kobe still would have the NBA back on the scene.
Shaq too now, as much as I can’t stand dude, his impact would be greater with no MJ.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
chrisGO says:
@zach
yeah, basketball shoes sell…i get that. i would never lineup for a tennis shoe on release date. but when you ask ‘what would have made the future stars flock to Nike?’- money for one thing, but are you suggesting that merely MJ being part of the company swayed heavily on players decisions?
(for the sake of argument, lets disregard Nike owns Converse) look at Dwyane Wade…LOVED the air jordan signature line, don’t you think he would’ve endorsed Nike? He didn’t- he opted for Converse because they were giving him his own signature line of shoes and ’say’ in the creative making process…all that in addition to a @#%! load of $$$.
Its the money and incentives they’re chasing. Sure Converse and Adidas might’ve been the premier apparel company over time, but at the time Nike wasn’t a lightweight in the industry either. Nike’s other areas (tennis, cross-training, soccer, running, etc) were successful areas by themselves…with the money they used on MJ, (if there was no MJ) they could have used that money for other endorsement deals.
Nike knew how to stack their chips and play the field. MJ’s success with them wasn’t the driving force behind all their endorsements (investments).
May 28th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
ChrisGO but couild another player, with no MJ, have made one of the others greater than NIKE though??
Sure Nike is more than MJ, but again he heavily helped them in terms of popularity, money and otherwise.
So no MJ, and lets say Magic, Kobe or Shaq go with another company, could they have passed Nike?
May 28th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Bron42 aka coffee black says:
ya’ll are missin obvious stuff, specially wit this “o if it wasn’t mike, kobe would be the next guy” umm chances are, if mike doenst play, kobe ends up in italy playing soccer. If jordan doesn’t exist, half the allstar guys you named (iverson,kobe,lebron) play other sports since the guy they say was their role model never exists. Its not like iverson was a larry bird fan. Think of how many NBA allstars say jordan was their idol growing up. Suddenly kobe is a soccer player, iverson and lebron are in the nfl, gatorade is bought by Hi-C, Nike Gets bought by converse thanks to Dr.J and Barkley, The NBA falls off once magic and bird retire and space jam suddenly stars clyde drexler instead.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:29 pm
Bron42 aka coffee black says:
and chrisgo, lets be serious…when people think nike…they don’t think tiger woods or tennis. They think hot expensive as shit basketball kicks. Why, cuz jordan, so no chances are nike would of fell off a minute ago because jordans star power is what made them fashionable. And like i said, no jordan, means dwade played completely different. Its like the comic books, you change one thing in the time line and suddenly half the people are missin or doin other shit.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:32 pm
chrisGO says:
GEE…
as far as ‘passing Nike’, are we talking straight up financially?
May 28th, 2008 at 12:33 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
Bron42 what up first. Coffee black Bron??? LOL oookaay.
Bron see what you saying in regards that he was who they wanted to be and a big part of why they got in the game. Still I think most of them would have gotten in the game regardless cause again, the NBA machine would have pushed another hero upon us.
So instead of MJ dudes would have just been hpynotized to another player and still in the game saying so and so is who I always wanted to be like.
LOL @ Kobe and Nash playin soccer against each other.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:34 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
Chris passing them commercially and finacially.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:36 pm
DaPro says:
chrisGO
Dwade as well as other players either
A) don’t get their own shoe with creative decisions involved in the designing of the shoe
or
B)don’t get the opportunity to sign meg-endorsement deals with gatorade, reebok, addidas, sprite, etc
He revolutionized the icon status around the globe. He had six year olds in italy, germany, and africa sticking their toungue out and wanting to be like Mike.
Here in Chicago as well as other cities young brotha were getting shot, stabbed, and jumped over a pair of Mikes. People wait hours in line to cop a pair of Mikes. This is nothing to be proud of, I’m stating that for some its a status symbol a way of life.
May 28th, 2008 at 12:56 pm
chrisGO says:
@bron42
we’re talking about if there was no MJ, and its quite possible that people would immediately think of Tiger when you hear ‘Nike’. And yeah, Nike is synonymous with expensive as sh!t kicks…but you’re saying anyone else they may/may not have signed to endorse the brand would have brought them money? Nike falling off because their basketball line of shoes isn’t as popular as the next brand? Wake up dude, basketball isn’t the only sport to be catered to. Sure Jordan made nikes fashionable, but whos to say other people/players wouldn’t do the same (obviously not to the degree that MJ did it). Nike aint no dummy…the know how to market to the individual and take advantage of a business opportunity. Case in point- the Nike SB line.
@daPro
Im taking away from what MJ did with the game of basketball as an icon on a global scale. I’m from Chicago too, so I know all too well about getting jumped for a pair of J’s (I always had to watch my back when I was rocking the infrared 6s as a shorty. The argument here is that Zach said that MJ made Nike.
@gee
Speaking globally- Yao Ming. Because of his popularity in China, he could push Nike past the competition financially as well as commercially. In regards to the US….you’ve got me there, cant think of anyone that could single-handedly do what MJ did. (still does not mean I think Nike would file for chapter 11 had there been no MJ, LOL)
May 28th, 2008 at 12:58 pm
chrisGO says:
*edit*
@daPro
Im NOT taking away from…
May 28th, 2008 at 1:03 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
lol naw I most def. don’t think they would file chapter 11 cause I agree 1. They would have pushed someone else and though they may not have been Mike they still would have been successful. 2. Nike gone get money from some sport(s) or another lol.
I am telling you kids would have been rocking Magics lol sounds weird and corny but they would have marketed the mess out of em. LOL
May 28th, 2008 at 1:06 pm
chrisGO says:
gee…
i actually had a pair of the magics back in the day…i won’t lie, wish i still had a rockable pair nowadays.
May 28th, 2008 at 1:11 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
LOL wait I must have missed those, I never knew an actual pair exisisted lol. Where did you find them joints lol? I am cracking up. Truth. Were they corny or cool?
May 28th, 2008 at 1:12 pm
Big L says:
GEE…
Kids were rockin Magics back in the day, they were called Weapons by Converse, Magic, Bird and Isiah rocked them. That being said they would be no AIR anything by Nike if there was no Mike.
May 28th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
James says:
No Mike- I wouldnt be the same person today- who would i of looked up to as a kid- where would that $100 been spent that was used to buy a ticket to see the airness himself play for the last time- life would not be the same- it would have been sad with no mike- i would never be the fan that i am today without him-and i would need a new wardrobe
May 28th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Bron42 aka coffee black says:
chrisgo, you need to wake up…if theres no jordan, nike doesnt LAST long enough to sign tiger, nor is it a big enough name at that point. Nike gets high end athletes like jeter, roy jones, melo because of what jordan made nike, not just because nike is cool. Name another star who carried nike during jordans era and sold like he did…name another famous nike shoe in that era the sold close to what jordan did. Case and point, no jordan, and nike loses millions. You think spike lee is tryin to sell kicks with andre aggasi? you think 90% of athletes consider nike better than converse or rbk if jordan didn’t cosign? without jordan, nike is the same as most other shoes. so basketball or not, unless someone like michael johnson suddenly turns into a global ICON like jordan (who none of the other athletes you named were even close to at the time) nike doesn’t become nearly the item it is today. Thats like sayin without bill gates microsoft still reaches its apex…at that time…jordan made nike, it wasn’t sellin millions of track flats or tennis cleats. without jordans big name carrying it, most athletes wouldnt flock to it, nor would it have the 90 million to shell out on guys like lebron and kobe. and this is comin from a guy who got to meet phil knight while in college and i can promise he would tell you the same thing. In order to market, you need somebody that people a) look up to b) relate to and outside of jordan (which is why jordans are probably bigger deals than ANY OTHER NIKE SHOE) who was doing it?
May 28th, 2008 at 1:15 pm
chrisGO says:
gee-
they were pretty fresh…the color-blocking was on point (laker colors)
if i remember correctly, my folks bought them for me at Sears, Marshall Fields, or Montgomery Ward (lol…old school).
May 28th, 2008 at 1:16 pm
Bron42 aka coffee black says:
i mean look at all the other athletes who had shoes and didnt sell close to jordan….larry johnson had shoes…remember when grant hill had those fila bubble shoes…how many other nba guys sold kicks with nike and still didn’t get to where jordan did his rookie season.
May 28th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
Wow chris and Big L I have truly learned something lol I got to go google them just to see what they look like lol. That is crazy. Don’t know how I missed them or don’t remember them.
Is Montgomery Ward still on the scene?
I think I rocked maybe 1 or 2 pairs of Jordans back in the day. My fam. didn’t have cash like that so shoes were never a big deal in the house.
I like the older stuff more than the new stuff now though. His joints cost a nice bit though. I figure I’d rather my own personalized shoe and pay bout the same than for his.
I am still trippin how it would have did the draft. Imagine a Stockon and Barkley combo, and would Pippen have even been the Pippen he was with no MJ? I doubt it.
May 28th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
sweetv0mit says:
wasnt MJ the one who started wearing longer shorts?.. just imagine the ballplayers of today still looking like john stockton or isiah thomas…. haha
May 28th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
sweetv0mit says:
wasnt MJ the one who started wearing longer shorts?.. just imagine the ballplayers of today still looking like john stockton or isiah thomas…. haha
May 28th, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Tean says:
No Mike! Don’t be ridiculous! Basketball wouldn’t be basketball without Mike! Nike wouldn’t be the Nike it is without Mike…nuff said!
May 28th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
It’s possible a lot of females wouldn’t know about basketball or like it. I have ran into many ladies that got into basketball because of MJ.
May 28th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
Big L says:
Old school weapons commercial.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJasNo0An28
May 28th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
DaPro says:
@Chris
you’re right Nike wasn’t made by Jordan, the AF1’s are timeless and thats b4 MJ, but MJ was as influential on the court as off the court with his shoe game
Damn catz used to split wigs over Jordans, Towel coats, and Starter Jackets in the Chi
May 28th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
Tean Nike, Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, Gatorade, McDonald’s, Ball Park Franks, Rayovac, Wheaties, Hanes, MCI, Looney Toons, NBA, videogames and others likely wouldn’t have got what they got with no MJ.
May 28th, 2008 at 1:45 pm
DaPro says:
GEE
Speaking of video games why the hell isn’t Jordan on the last few 2k’s and Live????
We need MJ on them shitz
May 28th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
chrisGO says:
@bron42
Whos to say that Nike doesn’t last long enough to sign a Tiger or a Lebron? So when someone says that MJ made Nike…I’m supposed to buy that they still wouldn’t have found other ways to make money and prosper as a business? They wouldn’t have stacked chips to make a run at the ‘next big thing’ (however long it might’ve took)? First and foremost, I agree, nobody sold like Jordan did during that era, it was unheard of at the time, and it made Nike millions easily…but Nike as a brand wouldn’t collapse or ‘fall off’ as you put it had there been no MJ (the main hypothetical of this dime post). Would they have all the big names that they do now? Maybe, maybe not. Nowhere was I trying to diminish what Jordan did for the brand and what he did the endorsement aspect of professional sports. But Nike as a business, like any other business, would have found a way to make its money and keep the shareholders happy. I never said that they would be as huge as they are now had there been no MJ, he had a huge impact on nike, its just ignorant to believe that they would fallen off.
May 28th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
DaPro I don’t know what is up with that dawg. I am wondering if dude stop letting his likeness go on games again or something. It’s only like what bout 3 games that you can play Jordan on. NBA street (I forget which volume is one I think). Crazy. I agree MJ should be on any basketball game that comes out.
May 28th, 2008 at 1:56 pm
chrisGO says:
@daPro
remember when those pullover Starter jackets came on the scene…kids were getting beasted in alleys for the Charlotte hornets, LA Raiders, LA Kings coats.
May 28th, 2008 at 1:58 pm
chrisGO says:
Gee & daPro
i think MJ (like barkley and shaq) trademarked their likenesses so games would have to pay additionally to get them in the game…back then vid game companies were different and couldn’t spend as much as they do now. i hated playing with “player 24″ on the Bulls back on NBA Live.
May 28th, 2008 at 1:59 pm
BiG_RoB says:
What you guys are missing is that without MJ would there be cats like Kobe Wade Bron doing Jordanish things….
May 28th, 2008 at 2:01 pm
DaPro says:
Yeah no doube early 90’s you had the Georgetown coats and the Orlando Magic coats
If you were gangbanging it was the official jackets endorsed by the “hood”
As great as MJ was/is on the court and iconic as he is/was, I’m dissapointed that he never took a stand for anything
He made $200 shoes and kids were getting killed for them, he never took a stand in the City. He had the power to influence alot of people off the court besides marketing
May 28th, 2008 at 2:05 pm
DaPro says:
Yeah MJ on BULLS VS BLAZERS was sick
He had the patented dunk from the wing that was like a windmill only in 8 bit graphics
May 28th, 2008 at 2:06 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
BIG_RoB I get that but since I think the NBA would have pushed another hero they would be doing Magicish things or Dominqueish things.
chris I remember that lol. I used to crack up at that. I was like how they gone have player 24. Junk used to make me so mad.
Have to think no Jordan would have influenced college a lot. Especially UNC. I don’t think their recruiting would have been as hot.
May 28th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
DaPro wasn’t dude real charitable though?
May 28th, 2008 at 2:15 pm
yallallreadyknow says:
yeah dime…
let me host a section too
May 28th, 2008 at 2:26 pm
Gotti says:
1st off the Fab Five are the ones that made long shorts and black socks the shit. Not untill they did it was it hot. And sports as a whole changed after mike. The whole adverstising industry changed after mike came thru with thoes banned commercials. And no at the time there wasnt anyone brash, cocky or known enough to get it done like mike. Just like he wasnt the first to take off from the free throw line, he just made it look ALOT
May 28th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Gotti says:
more like flying than the Doc did!
May 28th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
DaPro says:
GEE depends on how you look at it
He threw money causes but never said a word about them
His image was carefully crafted by several people, I’m a huge MJ fan on the court and his swag was crazy but as an African American male growing up in the “hood” he never stepped out to support causes of his own people or those who suffer in general
I’m a believer of those you profit off should profit as well
We could afford Mikes in my house, many couldn’t but that didn’t stop people from finding ways to get them
May 28th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
bron42 aka coffee black says:
Gee, back then there was no one else the nba really could of pushed is what i’m sayin… you make it like they weren’t trying to do that before mike and even magic and bird who were the golden boys never sold like jordan himself did. Hakeem wasn’t gonna sell, ewing? drexler? none of those guys had the star power. Like i said, think how many guys even after mike, the nba has tried to market and have fallen off. Carter was hot for a minute with his nike shox but never really got there. Shaqs shoes suck. Grant hills sucked. All had like a 1 year stint in the shoe business as elite guys. This isn’t wrestling where the nba can just give a guy a push and make him a star (although their trying with lebron) and also think, back then, guys didnt have computers and youtube etc…to bring guys into public eye. You either had it or you didn’t. Clyde drexler was supposedly BETTER than jordan early on, you think the nba could of turned him into what jordan became as a sales image? no. You think yao ming will ever sell like jordan did? no. They got kobe jumpin over fake cars and all jordan had to do was bounce a jumper off the score board,off the 3rd row, between the bleachers nothing but net. Marketing jordan was ahead of his time and there werent tons of other marketable guys at the time, like there are now. ANd plain and simple, if jordan isn’t there to carry nike into the new era, there is no tiger signing or anyting likee that because nike becomes equal to new balance since it wouldn’t have the big names. Someone would of had to raise the brand level and no one else could at that time. Nike is known for basketball shoes more than anything else.
May 28th, 2008 at 2:33 pm
bron42 aka coffee black says:
ps: remember when jordan was player 99 on kobe bryant courtside for 64? He was just like a generic character with crazy stats.
May 28th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
Da Pro no doubt. I’ll agree on Mike could have made more in where he stands on things so people would have known more of him as to what he is about other than ball and gambling.
I most def. wish he would have at least said more during the time when kids was gettin done for his shoes, jersey and stuff. At least A.I. was even more outspoken on that.
Gotti I am with you but even with no Mike someone would have come along and recreated that and it prolly would have been still like flying.
You wouldn’t have had the in air switch hands for a lay-up deal though. That was so sick. I was like come on Mike you just being ill now.
May 28th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
boogeybanger says:
The NBA would be more fundamentally sound and it wouldn’t have the popularity it does now. I’m not saying that Jordan wasn’t fundamentally sound. But his shear athleticism was envied by every gm in the L. Guys like Baby Jordan Minor etc would have had to work on their jumpers instead of their dunks. MJ made 1 dimensional people starters in the L instead of the 11th or 12th man. Seriously how much starting burn would BJ Armstrong, Paxson and Kerr get on any other title contender. If you guessed none your estimate might still be high. Also, there was no one who could have carried the NBA to the next level in the mid to late 90’s. If everything else played out the same - Bird and Magic were done in 91 and 92. Chuck Wagon was too controversial. Ewing was a goof to the media. Shaq wasn’t ready and the Jazz trio have never been media friendly. MJ was and is still the most recognizable face in the world behind Mickey Mouse. If Jordan wasn’t there basketball wouldn’t be at the point it is today. This isn’t ball washin, it’s the straight truth. I don’t care how hillbilly/redneck you were at some point you turned on the tube to watch Jordan. Nuff said
May 28th, 2008 at 2:47 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
Bron I remember them crazy stats lol. Crazy.
Bron I hear what you saying and see your point. I agree no one could have made it the way Jordan made it at all.
I am saying though that I think there would have been someone that would have put Nike over. Mind you it wouldn’t be the Nike we know now but still I think they (Nike) through marketing and all would have been above par.
No nothing would have been close to where Jordan has taken it. I still think the NBA would have made a main star. It is like wrestling in the since of no wrestler will ever have the impact Hogan did, but you still have had The Rock and Stone Cold and others.
My point being is nothing is as great as it would be without the greastest making it is what it is. It still would be excellent though in that there would be someone to be “the” star.
Sure the NBA might have tried it and those stars didn’t catch on like Jordan. No star will or would have ever caught on like Jordan but still there would have been someone that would be “it”.
Just not the “it” Jordan was.
May 28th, 2008 at 2:59 pm
DaPro says:
The League and the media marketed Jordan, with high-flying dunks and athletic plays to appeal to mainstream fans, it was the opposite of Magic and Bird who had mad skills but couldn’t jump out the gym
Everybody (almost) wanted to get on the court and shoot fadeaways and stick thier tounge out or rock his kicks or go with the fresh baldy cause of 23
May 28th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
SunnyD says:
Ok, not only Nike and Hanes, but remember all those McDonald’s, Coca-Cola, Chevy and Wheaties commercials? Of course someone would have filled the void if there were no Mike, but no one with as much charism, style and class. LOL @ I have ran into many ladies that got into basketball because of MJ. That’s cause we are trying to figure out if it’s boxers or briefs!
May 28th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
SunnyD lol always boxers lol. I remember them commercials. My favorite MJ commercial is where he tells all his flaws to explain why he is so great.
I agree SunnyD and DaPro. Only MJ could do it like he did.
Also no MJ means Sheryl Swoopes has someone different to name her boy after to raise with her lesbian partner lol.
May 28th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
Bron42 aka coffee black says:
GEe wrestling is different, cuz on a base to base level, guys like the rock and stone cold have done just as much as hogan did for their generations. That was acutally my point. The NBA didn’t have anyone who could fill that void if jordan wasn’t. Thats why we have guys like hogan, teh rock, and no john cena, who can carry a company by their charisma alone and other mid card guys cant. In the nba, like boogy said, none of the other stars had that level of draw. Think of it like golf since we mentioned tiger…sure there are other good golfers outside of tiger, but when tigers not there do people even really watch? Does that mean if tiger retires,golf ceases to exist? no but at the same time, the pga couldnt just push sergio or phil into the spot light and expect them to carry the sport or make it big time like tiger has. Same with nba…sure other guys COULD have tried to be jordan, but they didn’t have it AND jordan paved the way for guys who do it now just like Dr.J did for him. case and point, no jordan means lebron grows up idoling charles barkley or someone and kobe never gains that killer instinct.
May 28th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
Bron42 I feel like we saying the same point, so I agree with what you are saying. No one could have done it like Jordan at all but it still would have been “someone”.
This is all about “if” anyway and I still think Kobe gets it because Kobe would be that “someone” and kids would be trying to be Kobe. I think all things would have pointed to Kobe had their been no MJ.
Kobe doesn’t have that warm personality like MJ but I still think Kobe would be as close as you will get to life with out MJ. Marketing, endorsement and amazing wise.
May 28th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
marcus the great says:
JOHN STARKS WOULD BE THE MAN!!!!
May 28th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
girlybballluver says:
Who would’ve made driving to the rim, and goin’ up with your tongue out cool?
May 28th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
DaPro says:
KOBE on the court GEE , Bron off the court
May 28th, 2008 at 3:54 pm
girlybballluver says:
Who would’ve made baldies cool? It’s still the most popular way to go in Chi.
May 28th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
DaPro I agree with the on off deal. Makes sense.
girly LOL I will say MJ made baldies reallll popular.
marcus …not so much on the John Starks deal lol he still had consistency issues be it a mj or no mj lol.
girly was it the tongue or the shoes…gotta be the shoes?
May 28th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
Mike Sellers says:
If there was no Michael Jordan…Michael Johnson (Track & Field- World Record Holder in the 200m and 400m) would be the most famous Michael (and MJ) in sports. (Track & Field for life, lol!!!)
If there was no Michael Jordan…I would’ve never watched Basketball as a child, or worse, wouldn’t know what Basketball was.
If there was no Michael Jordan…Eastbay Magazine would be 2-4 pages short.
May 28th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
Brazil says:
No MJ and I would be naked ,,, I only wear Jordan stuffs ,,,
May 28th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
DaPro says:
pause
May 28th, 2008 at 4:45 pm
Bron42 aka coffee black says:
ya but gee, look at the gap between mj comin into the league and kobe comin into the league…what i’m sayin is kobe wouldnt be kobe because he would of had no one to emulate. I mean the league took a big hit just from jordan retiring the first time, let alone if he never played lol. I can say one thing, guys like barkely and payton would be much nicer people since they would have rings by now.
May 28th, 2008 at 5:12 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
Jordan was Jordan and who did he emulate? His big brother right? Kobe might not have been the Kobe we see to many degrees but he still would have been most likely the “Star” of the L.
NBA wouldn’t be the NBA we know now but I think Kobe would carry it pretty well aside from Colorado lol.
I most def agree that Barkley would be nicer. Payton would be extra nice lol.
LOL DaPro but yea …pause
Big Mike what up!!! Cuz glad to see you come on in. I am going to have to agree to cuz MJ would stand for track and field with no MJ. Best thing I can say about M. Johnson is no illegal drug situations have come his way. Hope it stays that way.
Hey Cuz no Jordan and Mike Johnson might not have been rocking the gold cuts. Wasn’t those Nike too? He might have opted to go with a different company that could have possibly been bigger than Nike.
May 28th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
ldawg23 says:
Im not sure if anyone has said this…But think about it…With MJ…There prolly is NO KOBE, JAMES, WADE…Kobe played soccer in another country when he was younger. MJ prolly made him much like he made ALL of us wanna play ball. Same as James, Wade , Iverson, etc… But lets say Kobe and them still play…They learned how to train to be great from MJ. He laid the ground work. Kobe might be good, but not what he is today if he doesnt have a PROVEN PATH to follow…..
Now lets say kids follow Magic…More kids would be practicing there passing skills not shooting skills.
No MJ, the sport , the players, the league, the fans AS we know em dont exsists…Thats just fact
May 28th, 2008 at 5:42 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
ldawg23 can’t be a fact cause it has not happen or been proven. Also like you made reference if Magic becomes the greatest you just have kids trying to make more passes and shoot than dunk and drive (although MJ could shoot too).
The L. would very much be here, maybe not as on the scene as it is, but still here and doing well in my opinion.
In as much as MJ inspired many people to play, more than likely they would have been inspired by someone else. Course many dudes call out MJ but lets not forget Zeke, Bird and Magic inspired cats too.
May 28th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
Nimit says:
if there was no mike the biggest difference would be in today’s superstars..
Kobe has the talent and the potential to be better than MJ…in fact, if he does win another ring this year i think he’s already level with him in terms of achievements. His game is already at the same level.
But what drives him more than everything else is the need to prove that hes better than Michael Jordan. Think about it. If he did’nt have that motivation, he’d prolly have been happy with his 3 rings. Prolly never would have become the dominant superstar that he is right now. Yes, hed still have been a great player. But the chance to emulate MJ’s success and maybe even surpass it is easily his biggest motivator.
May 28th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
ldawg23 says:
@Gee…
How many people do you hear say, LIKE BIRD, if i could be like BIRD???
Basketball is a great sport, and still would be great. But MJ brought alot of people to the sport. If you loved him, or you hated him you watched CAUSE OF HIM…That turned alot of kids into basketball dreamers…
May 28th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
ldawg23 says:
If those kids dont become basketball dreamers…They dont work hard or nothing…Hell without Jordan, and the money he generated, AAU and all those basketball highschool factories we know of prolly dont exsist.
Hell people (parents) saw the kind of money MJ made, and parents wanted that for there kids. KG doesnt leave early for the NBA. He wanted the money, and needed the money. MJ showed us HOW MUCH MONEY COULD BE MADE…
MY mind is swimming if we dont have MJ…KG goes to play college ball, maybe tears something never plays again.
Maybe they fall into the streets like Pee Kirkland…CRAZY
May 28th, 2008 at 6:23 pm
ldawg23 says:
@chrisgo
And with the shoe’s homey…How does Nike have the money to throw at big stars without MJ???? 150 per pair…Thats money, without that revenue coming in, they cant offer MORE MONEY to other stars…They would just be Fila….
So no MJ no NIKE, cause NIKE wont have the money to throw at others
May 28th, 2008 at 6:47 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
ldawg23
I have heard a lot of other players call out Bird and others as their motivation or who they looked at tried to become in getting into the sport. MJ is not the only player to live homey.
No not everyone watched because of him. Don’t forget the NBA was there before he ever came. You making it sound like the NBA happened right when MJ came on the scene.
Just like it was there before dude and even here after he retired…it would have still been here. Other cats would have made money so players still would have been working hard to get in the L. Dudes wasn’t working hard just cause of MJ. Please. He might have helped and inspired more than any other player but he wasn’t the end all for everyone.
Don’t be dilusional in thinking the world would end with no MJ. Granted things would change, but it’s not to say all things would be bad.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:17 pm
doc says:
Gee there wouldnt be a Kobe without Mike.He do everything like him.Its like he watched come fly with me and playground all day everyday.His game would be like Clyde Drexler or one of them lames.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:32 pm
doc says:
gee.Niggas grew up singing if I could be like Mike.without him some of these dudes Aint here because he made people play the game.Fucking Kobe walk and talk like the man.We dont even know the real Kobe because he Mike for the cameras.And D.Fisher would be your favorite player.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:43 pm
tealish says:
Off the top of my head…if there was no Mike then…
-Kobe wouldn’t be rocking #24.
-Kobe wouldn’t be holding out a clenched fist after sinking a dagger.
-Melo wouldn’t have retardedly said what he said about the presidential campaign.
-Stockton and Malone would have at least 3 rings. Payton would have one too I guess.
-Sam Bowie wouldn’t have been ridiculed as much as he has been.
-Finally, there wouldn’t have been the “GOAT” title. No one else stands out as much as MJ has. That’s the truth.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:50 pm
K Dizzle - Pasadena - Laker fan since 1982 says:
Damn, Gee. No Mike?
No Bulls Dynasty?
UNC just another university cuz Vince and all the players that wanted to be like Mike went to Chapel Hill were goin somewhere else?
Phil just another coach tryin to prove that the triangle could work but no hardware?
Kobe can’t be Kobe cuz Kobe wanted to be Mike cuz Mike was the best and no Mike means Kobe wants to be like the next best guard but Magic’s game ain’t the game that Kobe wanted?
No increase in the global game from Barcelona?
Nike ain’t ish without Mike. I don’t even remember what Nike was before Mike. Who was wearin they joints? Like they say, Mike transcended race, gender, age all that ish like nobody else in history. Think on that. Black, White, Asian, man, woman, old folks, little kids. Didn’t matter. EVERYBODY know who Mike is. Everybody wanna be like Mike. It;s a issue of sustained excellence so bron42’s got that right. No Jordan, no Jordan brand, no Nike dominance. They could ride with the Air Niques or something but nobody did it like Mike. Even Kobe got his missteps and phuck-ups so nobody can get to that MJ level
May 28th, 2008 at 8:53 pm
doc says:
tealish GP got 1 so u saying he would have 2.
May 28th, 2008 at 8:54 pm
doc says:
If Mike aint fuck with Nike they would be reebok
May 28th, 2008 at 9:13 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
tealish I am with what you wrote mostly. Still don’t think there would be a Stockon and Malone with no MJ though.
doc first gp prolly would have 2. doc by your own admission there would still be a Kobe he would just be different be it possibly lame. There would still be just a different Kobe than what we know.
doc I ain’t saying that Kobe ain’t like MJ cause he is. I am saying for people to be like “Kobe wouldn’t even be born if there was no MJ” pretty much is crazy. Sure he is as close to MJ as you can get, but I think he still would have been on the seen with no MJ.
Added to that if Clyde was the greatest due to no MJ then all the suddent that changes this very convo.
It would have been what if there was no Clyde and you would be on some “GEE if there was no Clyde there would be no Kobe” and more than likely Clyde would be tight to us cause we (the world) wouldn’t know anything greater.
As far as D. Fish. Just tell me if that crow you was eating this morning was delicious homey lol. Yo boy Parker was lame as usual, meanwhile my dude made the defensive play of the game foul or no.
You got a lil crow on still left on ya jaw pimpin, wipe that up lol.
K Dizzle it’s crazy how lame UNC might be now because of no MJ. As far as someone getting to his level …give Kobe some time. Even with his mess ups, cause Jordan had some too although not of Kobe’s magnitude (gambling and possible infidelity) Kobe has the best chance to pass Mike. Kobe very well may pass Mike and I think more than likely he will.
May 28th, 2008 at 10:05 pm
tealish says:
Doc: That’s my bad. I meant to say the Glove would have a meaningful chip. One in which he was The Man. I’m sure that would’ve meant tonnes more to him and the rest of us, than the one he won in South Beach.
GEE: Ah yes, wasn’t thinking about the draft positions. But that’s hard to say. When you get into the teens of picks, it’s not as clearcut as the top 3 or 4 where the order would just move up. But certainly possible, yes. And I like the fact that Barkley has no ‘chip so I’m not gonna throw JStock his way haha
May 28th, 2008 at 10:58 pm
GEE...cause I explode, & my 9 is easy to load says:
tealish thats cold. Why you dont wont barkley to have one? lol i think barkley and stockon would have been the bomb. you right about later in the draft but with no MJ, man that would have shook things up.
May 28th, 2008 at 11:10 pm
GEE...cause I explode, & my 9 is easy to load says:
Hey just want to thank all those that came on in today on my lil section. i preshate you all and i guess the best thing is that there was and is a Mike Jordan. Thanks to all for wondering with me and thanks DIME for the space y’all some cool cats. As always Houston up! GEE
May 29th, 2008 at 4:15 am
karan says:
if no MJ, no kid in the playground would be sticking their tongue out while balling!
May 29th, 2008 at 9:17 am
GEE...Only talk to one cat and he won't squeal says:
Karan no doubt. I wonder if anyone has ever bit their tongue trying to be like Mike lol. I would be so pissed if it was me.
May 29th, 2008 at 9:24 am
ldawg23 says:
@ Gee
Im not the only one saying it. MJ had the “IT” that brought people to the game. Without him bring people to the game, others might not be turned on by the game. Therefor we dont see certain athletes we see today.
Pee Kirkland didnt play in the L cause he didnt think money could be made from it. Jordan changed all that. Not even Bird or Magic had the same money making star power Jordan did. When They saw what Jordan was doin, THEY started making money to. And Then every player realized THEY to could be money making machines.
Dean Smith used Jordan name on SO MANY recruiting trips its not even funny. Now players go there cause of Jordan. If it wasnt for him, DUKE would be (which im not sayin it isnt) The college everyone wanted to go to. Imagine VC wearing Bluedevil Blue????
May 29th, 2008 at 10:41 am
chrisGO says:
so ldawg23…youre saying that had there been no MJ, nike wouldn’t be able to make ANY money? i know how much he $$$ he brought to the brand, and i’m not trying to refute that…but to think they wouldn’t have any success in other facets of the business is plain stupid.
May 29th, 2008 at 10:59 am
GEE...Only talk to one cat and he won't squeal says:
chirs exactly on that.
Also how you gone say it wouldn’t be any Kobe when Kobe’s faaaaaaaaather played in the NBA also. So there very well again might be a Kobe just not the Kobe we see now.
Yes Jordan up it all in terms of money in all that he was involved in. What I am saying though is that even with no MJ the game will go on, players will still play and money will still be made. Now will it be like it is with MJ no but it will be there.
May 29th, 2008 at 1:02 pm
ldawg23 says:
@chrisgo
Im not saying they wouldnt have made money…They still would be selling shoe’s, but not like they GIANT they are now…Homey money makes money…MJ MADE them TONS of money, which allowed them to now chase after other big fish.
MJ allowed them to earn more reveune to and use his name to chase after offers. Tiger even said he prolly wouldnt had gone to NIKE if it werent for MJ. And last i check with Tiger going to NIKE, there GOLF line started making MAD money
May 29th, 2008 at 1:31 pm
sans says:
Mark Price would be a definite HOFer after grabbing some rings without MJ there to fux with the Cavs. Faux reel, Mike dismantled our dreams year after year after year, and that’s not even including The Shot. A whole lot of kids would never have gotten shot for their kicks. Shoes, in general, will never get as high up their on the ticket cost. I feel you Gee on Nike being a Spaulding brand (remember when they hooked with Dream to make an old-school Starbury kick–I was broke, I had them. Yeah, I slapped up some kids that laughed.) Kwame still would’ve been picked early that year, if not #1, because gms were looking for a savior pick that year, akin to Dwight and Bron.
Who knows what would have happened without MJ? If you believe in butterfly effect ripples in time continuums, like Bron talked about in comic books, we could have seen the Pistol play past 30, Len Bias never pick up a rolled bill, or Hank Gathers be born with a healthy heart. Shit, Bo Kimble, without the heavy yoke of wanting, so badly, to Be Like Mike, might have manned up and taken over the League. Maybe Sabonis comes over earlier, unafraid of American’s with Jordan athleticism, starting the Euro players off well before The Dream Team. AI and Charlie Ward would have met in a SuperBowl had MJ never played ball at all, let alone never been born. Other sports would be more lucrative to athletes, because, without Mike, no one would ever have been payed $20Million without the Greatness flying around for so many years.
So much would be different.
May 29th, 2008 at 1:52 pm
sans says:
And to everyone else, the first GOAT was Earl Manigault, who Kareem, and anyone else that played against him, said was the Greatest Of All Time. He built Rucker Park when it was nothing more than a hookup spot for junkies and those that prey on weaker brethren. oh, and I bit the ish out of my tongue when I was 13, playing with the adults. It was one of those fouls where one of my teammates (who I didn’t even know) almost fought the dude that fouled me because I was “just a kid.” I still open my mouth when I dribble past people and make moves, but my tongue doesn’t dart out like that anymore.
May 29th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
Reed Ewing Frazier says:
Pat Ewing Charles Barkley and Karl Malone would have at least one ring
Knicks Up!! all the rest down!!
May 29th, 2008 at 9:29 pm
GEE...cause I explode & my 9 is easy to load says:
Reed where you been pimpin lol and yea they all might have some or a ring.
sans sorry bout the tongue homey lol but no doubt before MJ it was Earl.
sans very well said and put.