Do The Mike Thing

PowerJam

At the young tender age of seven, there were a variety of sports available for me to play. My decision to focus entirely on basketball was fuelled by the greatest athlete of all time. (Mr. Jordan) In that year, 1989, the Lakers were almost everybody's (including my best friend Mat's) favorite team. Jordan in full flight convinced me to follow the Chicago dream. He inspired me because it didn't always come easy, like it hasn't with me. He was cut from his high school varsity team, year after year he couldn't get the Bulls past those bad boys (Detroit Pistons) for several seasons, but he persisted and believed. To be able to take a team from the bottom to the top was a monumental achievement.

As I followed his career, mine grew including representing my school, playing at the highest level in junior grades, being a member of the state squad and travelling to the United States to play basketball against college teams. Breaking a bone in my foot put a temporary stop to following my dream. Even although my favorite number usually is seven, I asked for my district number to be 23, because I saw it as an honour to wear HIS number. All the while I was inspired by Mr. Jordan who kept producing year after year. He was unstoppable - poetry in motion! On Saturday afternoons, I was glued to the television hoping for Chicago to be playing, so I could study Jordan's amazing technique. As soon as the show finished, I'd be outside at my basketball ring trying to emulate the moves that worked so well.

Even as an adult I still go back and admire those Jordan games I'd recorded as a teenager. I've continued to stay very fit playing basketball and persisting like Jordan did, working on my skills.

Mr. Jordan wasn't the best just for his era, I believe he is and will continue to be the benchmark of basketball for all-time.

When I saw your competition it reminded me happily of the many memories I have of Mr. Jordan and it gave me a chance to look through my precious memorabilia collected over many years to prepare my unique entry. I'd love to win the main prize, but I'd also be delighted with the second prize, particularly because my mum is called Mars, so that makes me "the son of Mars".

PowerJam