3 time NBA Champion with the Chicago Bulls and Michael Jordan’s teammate, Toni Kukoc, sent me a message about my journey to play Michael Jordan!

Thank you so much Toni!!!

It’s going to happen!

me vs. Michael Jordan…the journey continues!!!

1 Game – me vs. Michael Jordan – Anything Is Possible with Faith & Hard Work!

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If you’re new here, I set out in August 2010 to get a game of 1-on-1 vs. my childhood hero Michael Jordan.  This site is about that journey…through every valley, to every mountain top of triumph!

Anything Is Possible with Faith & Hard Work!

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Connect:  Twitter (@KennyEller) and mevsMJ.com Facebook Page.

 (Friday, February 15th)

Slouched down in a forest green metal chair, with just the right amount of padding in the seat to keep me content, I know that Sunday is Michael Jordan’s birthday.

I’ve known when Michael’s birthday is for most of my life.  Maybe it was all of the books and magazines I read about him when I was a kid.  Maybe it was the back of the basketball cards.  Maybe it was because he’s the reason I play ball.  He’s the reason there is a mevsMJ.com.

I’m 11 floors up in the most luxurious hotel in Central Florida, past the sliding glass doors, on the balcony connected to my room.  It’s the first of morning and there is a slight chill dancing in the air as I sit alone, overlooking the mostly empty pool and golf course.  I can hear the constant gentle rush of the fountain down below mixed with the occasional song of birds and light child laughter.

It’s peaceful.

– Reminiscing –

When I first began attempting to “Be Like Mike” I had metal brackets in my mouth pulling with all of their might to close the large gap between my two front teeth.

The smile I have today, not originally my own.

I was so innocent then.

I remember being in 8th grade gym class on the outdoor basketball court the day after my braces began renting space.  The pain was excruciating, as the fight to correct my genetics had my nerves wailing like Stephen A. Smith.

I was horrible at the game.  Couldn’t dribble.  Couldn’t shoot.  It seemed as though every single person was better than me.

I remember to this day, stopping in the middle of playing and asking one of my peers in those early times how they could make turn around shots.  I didn’t understand how they knew where the goal was.

I can’t help but chuckle at those moments now.  It was after all, back then, where mevsMJ began.

– Emotion –

My eyes flood with tears as I sit and take time to reminisce.  Some fighting to stay in, but too heavy to hold on, fall to freedom.

I‘m emotional about this game of basketball.  I’ve loved it longer than anything else in my life, outside of my family.  I’ve spent years on courts all over because it brings me something that I can’t yet adequately describe.  Something that I’m still attempting to fully comprehend.  A sort of perfect oasis, even for a guy who was far from blessed at the game in the beginning.

I care greatly about this game and owe knowing it to Michael Jordan.

Without him my life would be so very different.

– Basketball & Life –

Basketball helped make me the man I am today.  It helped build my confidence when I had little of my own.  It showed me teamwork, as well as, how sometimes, like Mike, you’ve got to take it upon yourself and just get it done.  It also showed me that if you work at something, if you pour your heart into it, there really is no limit on where it can take you.

True never before told story:  After the first few dates with my wife, I went where I always go when I have things on my mind.  I went to use up some of the excitement that was bouncing off my insides.  I went to the court, my home away from home.  I remember taking shots, hard difficult shots, telling myself that if I make this, she’s the one.  I made them and she was exactly that.

I of course would never have left such a life choice up to chance, but I always found peace after talking with the game.

Basketball has been my refuge.

I went from watching on the side of the court as a youngster just hoping to get run time in, to years later being the guy to take every shot.

Now nearly 23 years later, I’ve got young people calling and texting me weekly wanting me to help them shoot the ball better.

To go from traveling on back to back possessions in my first homeroom basketball game in middle school, to helping others is beyond humbling.  It’s an example of what’s possible in life.  I take the opportunity to help young people very seriously.  It’s such a gift I’ve been blessed with.

Without Michael Jordan I know that wouldn’t exist…around the game anyway.

– The Journey –

The journey here began over 2.5 years ago with a rather self-centered goal of playing MJ in basketball.  It was about me and MJ.

That however transformed into WE just a few months in.

Due to the response my walk generated, both good and bad, it became my goal to inspire and offer proof that anything is possible with faith and hard work.

For years, I had struggled with understanding why God made a small kid (I was only around 5’3″ then – currently 6’2″) fall in love with a game he had such a tough time with.

I’ve tried nearly every other sport during my life, but none of them tugged at my heart anything like the game of basketball.

It never mattered that I was more predisposed to success in other sports.  That round ball and 10 foot hoop always kept calling my name.

I never grasped the reasoning until I began this site.

– Face to Face with MJ –

Seven months ago I walked towards Michael full of hope.  I was living every single letter of the dream.

We talked, smiled and laughed as if he knew what the time meant to me.  He seemed to thoroughly enjoy the fact that I was brave enough to wear my shirt in his house.  He seemed to enjoy the fact that I was the me and he was the MJ in mevsMJ.com.

Proof of his liking would be found moments after we began talking, when he brought over one of his closest friends and allies, Fred Whitfield, to check it out.

Michael couldn’t have been more gracious.

It went how a storyteller would tell it.

– 50th Birthday –

Michael’s birthday will be celebrated all month for his greatness on the court but I celebrate his 50th for a different reason.

I celebrate it because I can’t imagine not knowing this game.  It’s been such a huge driving force in my life.  I value the pain and the pleasure it has brought me.

Now the game has become a vehicle for me to help and inspire others.  To show as I stated earlier that anything is possible with faith & hard work.

What a blessing.

I owe all of that to the man that grew up as Mike, who is globally known as the greatest, the MJ in mevsMJ.com, Mr. Michael Jeffrey Jordan.

Happy 50th Birthday Mr. Jordan!  I appreciate you.

me vs. Michael Jordan…the worthwhile journey continues.

1 Game – me vs. Michael Jordan – Anything Is Possible with Faith & Hard Work!

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If you’re new here, I set out in August 2010 to get a game of 1-on-1 vs. my childhood hero Michael Jordan.  This site is about that journey…through every valley, to every mountain top of triumph!

Anything Is Possible with Faith & Hard Work!

####

Connect:  Twitter (@KennyEller) and mevsMJ.com Facebook Page.

Charlotte, NC – 

It was last Wednesday afternoon, in the 23^rd month of this journey, and there he was, Michael Jeffrey Jordan – the six rings, the 32,292 points, the 6x NBA Finals MVP, the game winners, the G.O.A.T, the reason I play basketball and the inspiration for this site.

Just minutes after his welcoming speech at the 4^th Annual Charlotte Bobcats Fantasy Camp, he stood alone on the side of the court as the camp staff ushered us off, so that group photos could be taken.

I was just feet from Michael Jordan, the MJ in mevsMJ.com and I almost didn’t approach him.  Internally I battled as to whether or not it was the right time.

I figured surely I would see him again or would I?

Hours Before

In an oversized chair located in the dimly lit lobby of a Charlotte hotel, I sat and reflected.  I thought about all of the places this journey had taken me, what I’ve learned about myself and others, the people that have encouraged, supported and helped and of course those that have been less than stellar in my pursuit.

I was just hours away from, well I wasn’t exactly sure, but what I did know was that Michael Jordan would be there and with that came an opportunity to realize the dream.

An Unexpected Phone Call

Two weeks prior, at an all day breakfast joint in downtown Orlando, in between bites of omelet and sips of coffee, I received an unexpected phone call from Charlotte, North Carolina that changed everything.

The caller after having identified himself as being with the NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats, said he was calling to make sure my experience with the Bobcats had been a good one this year.

I thanked him for calling, but explained that I hadn’t been to a game, which left him in silence.

He asked, really?

He regrouped and said that perhaps I had attended a concert or some sort of an event at the arena this year.

When I let him know that I had never been to Charlotte and that I in fact lived just outside of Orlando, Florida, he couldn’t believe it.

Still surprised and probably not quite sure where to take the conversation at that point, he closed with, “Well, I’m not really sure how we have your information, but if you are ever in the area and you’d like to come to a game, please let me know if I can help.”

I thanked him again and then right before we ended the call an image of a 48 year old Jordan dunking flashed through my head.  With nothing to lose, I figured I would ask about the event that was held last year in which MJ did this.  He knew what I was referring to, so I then asked if they would be doing a similar event again anytime soon.

He let me know that the Bobcats were and within hours I was confirmed for the camp to be held exactly two weeks later!

Nerves

I’m not someone that generally gets very nervous.  I don’t get star struck either, ever.  My time in sports television cured me of that as a young man.

I admit, sure I was a little nervous/excited before my speech at the Chandler Parsons basketball camp recently.  I think that’s normal though, as I just wanted to do my best and make an impact on the young people.  I was excited before my time with Mark Cuban.  More excited than nervous before playing pros.  All what I would say are quite normal feelings.

This whole trip to Charlotte was at another level though.  I had adrenaline overload for almost the entire 14 days leading up the the camp!  Sleepless nights on the regular.  I’d wake up at 2am and think it was time to go get some makes in.  That happened multiple mornings.  The day of the camp I had to force myself to eat.

I suppose it was all of the unknowns, the uncontrollables.  Would I get to speak with Michael, would he like what I was doing, would he agree to play, would he get that my goal is bigger than a game of basketball?

I didn’t know any of the answers to those questions, but that is where I had to lean on my faith.

There wasn’t an ounce of me that thought that the phone call I received was any kin to the word accident.

Shoot Around & My mevsMJ.com Shirt

I arrived at the arena right at 4:30 pm, checked in and was given a nice big Jordan brand bag, branded shorts, shirt, socks and Gatorade.

I changed like everyone else into the given attire, with one exception.  Instead of donning the sweet Jumpman camp shirt, I slid my mevsMJ.com shirt over it.

I had thought I would just warm up with it on and then take it off, as it isn’t a dri-fit type of shirt, but rather a cotton one.  That of course means it can get a little hot.

After 30 or so minutes of shooting though, it hit me.  The day wasn’t about me shooting the ball well or performing well.

My sole purpose was to get my message to Michael Jordan – and with that I decided to wear the shirt the entire time.

I’m glad I did.

Me and Michael Jordan

As everyone was making their way off the court for group photos, I took a step towards Michael, then still battling myself internally a step away, before deciding to just go for it.

I walked up, introduced myself to Michael Jordan and then the man I watched dominate so many basketball games, made it so easy.

After the intial hello, I asked while pointing to my shirt, “Have you had a chance to check out my site mevsMJ.com?”

He leaned around and read it aloud, “me verses MJ dot com”

I interjected, “I gave you a card down in Orlando.“

He began to smile as he shook his head no, saying “mevsMJ.com.  No, no, I haven’t had a chance to check it out, but I’m going to go upstairs right after we are done taking pictures and take a look!”

I began telling him what I was looking to accomplish, what the site has become, when he then reached back and got the attention of Bobcats President and COO Fred Whitfield.

He said, “Hey Fred, you gotta check this out.  He’s got a site called mevsMJ.com.  We’ve got to go check that out upstairs as soon as we are done here.”

Fred nodded in agreement as we spoke.

Explaining that my purpose was bigger than basketball, I then turned around and asked Michael to read the back of my shirt.

He placed his hands on my shoulders and read the message I’ve been spreading aloud, “Anything is Possible with Faith & Hard Work”.

He then read my name which runs vertically on the back of the shirt and said with one of his famous mannerisms, “OK, I’m going to check it out!”

As I took a step away, he asked, “Is it hot?”

Looking back, before I could respond, he asked again, “You got anything hot on the site?”

I said, “Of course!”

He then smiled again and said, “OK, I’m gonna go upstairs, check it out, and then come back down here and tell you if it’s hot or not!”

I laughed and said, “Sounds good!”

Video of Me and Michael Jordan

Here is some video from my interaction with Michael Jordan.

 httpvh://youtu.be/wnA1goOWwxU

[If you are reading this via email/feed – click here to watch video.]

Fantasy Camp

With my group, I took my photo with Michael and the other coaches.

I then went through the camp, won the shooting contest and was the last person to leave the arena.

The ushers actually had to come take the ball from me, but not before I made my 10^th free throw in a row.

Michael never came back down, but I fully understood as he and the Bobcats’ staff was working on a possible trade for the team.

Anything Is Possible with Faith & Hard Work

After 23 months of effort, thousands upon thousands of words, through training at all hours, the injuries, rejection, doubt and pessimism, through life changing experiences, to the testing of everything I believe in, on July 11th, 2012, the dreamer won!

I’ve always believed that if the purpose was pure, that ANYTHING Is Possible with FAITH and HARD WORK!

Sure, Michael and I haven’t played 1-on-1 yet.

But we all know, it’s only a matter of time now.

me vs. MJ…the journey continues!  As always thank you for following along.

Me and Michael Jordan Photos

 [slider_pro id=”1″]

[To see full images – click here]

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Connect:  Twitter (@KennyEller) and mevsMJ.com Facebook Fan Page.

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If you’re new to the site, I set out in August 2010 to get a game of 1-on-1 vs. my childhood hero Michael Jordan.  This site is about that journey…through every valley, to every mountain top of triumph!

It was game four of 2-on-2 this past Saturday.  After having scored eight points in a row, I was struggling.  I was gassed and couldn’t find my wind.

Hands on my knees, stripped of energy, I pleaded to my brother, my teammate, slow it down!

An hour and a half before I had been bent over and clutching my bathroom sink, throwing up.   I wasn’t feeling well, but I didn’t let my opponents know that.

When I got to the gym that morning, as I attempted to force down an energy gel pack, I mentioned to my brother in passing that I had been sick earlier.  I then proceeded to let him know that I’d be fine and walked onto the court to warm-up.

I wasn’t fine, but I wanted to play.  I needed to play.

Now in game four, that need, had me running on fumes.

Up 8-3, I made my way to the three-point line and received the inbounds pass.  As my brother began running to the opposite wing, in an almost whisper like tone, he said, “Michael Jordan.”

A thousand images flashed through my mind in a split second.  I saw MJ back in Utah, wrinkled jersey, playing not on energy, but with HEART!

I pump faked, jab stepped to the middle, and went hard left for the lay-in.

9-3.

Success in life isn’t as much about winning or losing, as it is about NOT QUITTING!

An amazing friend of mine posted the following quote on the mevsMJ.com Facebook page the other day:

“Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired in the morning, noon, and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired.” – George S. Patton, U.S. Army General, 1912 Olympian.

Last Saturday, my body wanted to quit, but my MIND and my HEART would not allow it!

We played seven games that morning and won four of seven.  We battled when we WERE NOT at our best!  We battled when MOST might have quit.  We battled because SUCCESS doesn’t come easy.

When you fight through struggle, YOU APPRECIATE the good times even more!

At some point this weekend, I will walk out on the basketball court ready to play.  Because of what happened this past Saturday, I will know exactly what I’m capable of when my body screams at me, “You’re tired!!”

I will know that to QUIT is not an option in this journey.  To LET UP is what others do.  To fight through the pain is what WINNERS like Michael Jordan do!

Michaaaeeeeel Jorrrrrrdaaaan….

Who’s ready to get better?!?!  Who’s ready to fight for their dreams?!?!

me vs. MJ…the journey continues!

The “Flu Game”

Here is video of Michael Jordan’s incredible 1997 NBA Finals performance in Game 5 against the Utah Jazz.

httpvh://youtu.be/OLQl7UJOYUs

March 10, 2011

Mr. Michael Jeffrey Jordan
23 G.O.A.T Court
Charlotte, NC  32292

Dear MJ:

When you came into the league (NBA) in 1984 I was seven years old.  My big focus was getting to know my new classmates and learning how to read small books with a few words in a big font on each page.  You went on to win Rookie of the Year with a stat line of 28.2ppg, 6.5rpg, 5.9apg, and 2.4spg.  I had a knack for being able to spell and led my class in gold stars.

The very next year you got injured and played in just 18 regular season games.  I can’t say that I was fully aware of how tough that must have been on you then, as I was just in the third grade.  Even though management wanted you to sit the year out, you came back, helped the Bulls to the playoffs and put on a show.  On April 20^th you dropped an NBA playoff record 63 points on Larry Bird and the Celtics in the first round!  Unfortunately I was unable to see the game live, as we only had one TV and at eight years old I didn’t get to pick the channels.

At the age of 28 you won your first title with the Chicago Bulls.  By this time I had read every article I could get my hands on and every book I could beg my parents to buy for me.  I knew so much about you and your teammates that I felt like I was a part of the team too.  I was also starting to put quite a few hours of my own into learning the game of basketball.

By the time you had won your third straight title I had just finished my first year of JV basketball.  I was just 5’9” at the time but used to pray that I would be tall and even tried hanging on the monkey bars because I heard that’s what you did growing up.  My parents are only 5’8” and 5’6”, but your parents weren’t tall either, so I thought I had a chance!  The best thing about my game in those days was my Jordans.  I had the shoes, the jersey, the shorts and shirts.  I watched every VHS tape I could rent from the local video store over and over again trying to pick up on every little thing that made you great.  Books written about you consumed my nights.

Throughout my high school life I was never really that good at the game Dr. James Naismith invented.  I got my butt kicked over and over again in hoops, but never gave up.  I was totally self-taught and finally by my senior year I was catching up physically and skill wise with the other guys.  Even though I was more B.J. Armstrong and less Michael Jordan, I had a blast and had fallen in love with the game.

You went to baseball and I followed.  I even had my Mom take me out of school one day and we drove 2.5 hours to see a spring training game in Sarasota.  You didn’t play much that day, but around the sixth inning as you were leaving, you walked right by us, literally just feet away.  I was one happy kid!

You came back to the league and I taped every game.  Still have them all on VHS.  I began interning in the sports department at the local abc affiliate when I turned 19 years old.  This was right as you and the Bulls were on your way to going 69-13 and winning your second title in a row (5th overall).  It didn’t take the sports guys at the station long to realize how big of Jordan fan I was.  The first time you came to town they sent me out to get a comment on the following day’s big game.  It was late, and you had just gotten off the bus at the hotel.  You didn’t talk to me, actually no one really did, but I was as close to you, Pip, Phil, Dennis, Randy, Toni, Steve and the rest of the guys as anyone could ever be.  I wanted to tell you then how big of a fan I was, but that was against the journalism protocol.

You went on to win your sixth title and I got to see most every game that was in Orlando from 96-98.  I even got to come to the locker room and ask Scottie and some of the other guys questions.  You always had the most people wanting to talk to you and I was always too nervous then to ask you anything.  Instead I would stretch my arm out as far as possible with the mic in hand and battle my way in to get the sound of your voice.  The truth is I felt like I knew ya.  I didn’t want to ask you one of five routine post game questions the guys always asked.  I wanted to go into the Chris Farley “Remember When” skit.  I was a FAN!

You retired and I felt lost.  The team was dismantled and I couldn’t believe it.  I still supported the guys and did my best to keep up with Pip out in Houston when I could.  They didn’t really show all that many Rockets games in Central Florida though.  In the end, it just didn’t seem right with you not playing.

A few years later you came back!  I was 24 years old and had moved from sports to banking as a career.  Those days in Washington weren’t exactly like the days in Chicago, but myself and every Jordan fan in the World loved every minute of it!

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So I’m not sure if you’re aware, but in August of 2010 I began mevsMJ.com, My Journey to Jordan Camp.  I had been waiting for years to be old enough to attend your Michael Jordan Senior Flight School in Vegas.  The goal of the site was to chronicle each and every step I took along the way as I prepared myself for your camp, which was to be held exactly one year from then.

I began shaking off the rust, conditioning myself and even attended professional basketball training in the beginning of November.  To prepare myself as much as possible, I also began lining up and playing games of one-on-one with top tier players so that I could be at the top of my game when we played 1-on-1 at your camp.

In December 2010, I found out that you canceled the camp this year.  I was devastated.  I had waited years for this, but was determined not to give up.  I knew when you canceled that you didn’t mean any harm.  You don’t even know me, yet.

####

I say all of that to say this.

I want to play basketball with you Mr. Jordan.  I want to play you 1-on-1.  I want to lace up my Jordans, check the ball in and give you every bit of my basketball game.  I get that I’m not the worthiest opponent when it comes to skill level, but there won’t be another human on this entire planet that will put more effort forth than when we play.  I promise you that.

I also want to show people that anything really is possible.  I want to show everyone that a regular guy who’s not even the best basketball player in his town can play his childhood hero and the greatest basketball player to ever live if HE WORKS EXTREMELY HARD AND BELIEVES!

At the end of the day, I need your help.  I need your time.  I need you to believe in what I’m trying to accomplish as much as I’ve always believed in you.

I had a dream last week.  In the dream, as I was walking out of the gym you were walking in, dressed in Jordan gear, bag hanging loosely over your shoulder.  I mustered up the courage and asked if I could please shoot around or play hoops with you.  You thought for a half of a second and said, “Sure, let’s go!”  The thing is I was nervous even in the dream!  The first time you passed the ball to me it felt like it was loaded with concrete.  My arms felt like noodles when I took the very first shot.  I had so much adrenaline running through me.  My dream had come true.

Somehow I hope this letter finds your eyes.  Somehow I hope you take the time to read it.  I hope that you connect with my dream.  I hope you feel my passion.  I pray that you say “SURE, let’s play Ken”, and make me vs. MJ a reality!

Sincerely,

Kenny Eller (Your BIGGEST Fan and NEXT 1-on-1 Opponent)

If you could retweet this letter to MJ, post it on your facebook, send to friends and family, send it to your local paper, anything to help get this message out so that it may find its place in front of Michael Jordan, I would really appreciate it!  Thank you in advance!

It’s time for a little game.  A game to get you thinking.  Ready?

OK, here we go.  Fill in the blank:

I currently do __________ for a living, but wish I could do __________ instead/also.

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I know a handful of people reading the sentence above, who can’t fathom how anyone would ever think that way.   Just do it already, they might quip.  If you’re one of those people, stay with me, I will need your help in a bit.

Today’s reality however is one where most, including myself at times, does think or has thought that way.

So why doesn’t everyone stop talking about it and “just do it”?

Fear?  The unknown?  Fear of the unknown?  What if things don’t work out?  What if I wish I had never stopped doing what I was doing?

Sound familiar to anyone?

The King

The year was 1993.   The Chicago Bulls had just won their third NBA Championship in a row, the first team to do so in 27 years.   For the third consecutive year Michael Jordan was named the most valuable player (MVP) of the NBA Finals.   In that Finals series against the Phoenix Suns, Jordan averaged an NBA Finals record 41 points per game, and still grabbed 8.5 rebounds per game and dished out 6.3 assists.

Put your eyebrows down and close your mouth.  In case you forgot, MJ was a bad man!

He was the very best in the game.  The King.

A few months later, following the sudden tragic loss of his father, he walked away from his Kingdom.

The King becomes a Pauper

Jordan walked away from the game of basketball while standing on its peak and went to the first step of another sport he hadn’t played since he was a kid.   He tried his best at the game of baseball and took all the curious eyes and ridicule that came along with it.

He made a decision to walk away from comfort.   To put aside something he had mastered and pursue something he was passionate about.

Not many believed in him or supported him.  Most in the baseball world couldn’t wait for him to fail.

There was nothing easy about the voyage, but yet he pushed off.

He Tried

Baseball didn’t work out for Michael Jordan the way hoops did.   He went back to basketball less than two years later and the rest is roundball history.

How he did at baseball in the big scheme of things doesn’t matter.  The most important part is that he tried.

He did the one thing that so many are unwilling to do.

Your Turn to Try!

I know people that sing like birds, write as well as best selling authors, rap like they should be getting paid, cook like Paula Deen, train like Jillian, build like Bob (making sure you’re paying attention, haha!), and on and on and on.

Know this…before the artist wins the Grammy, before the author tops the New York Times best seller list, before he was Kanye West, before she was Paula Deen and before she was Jillian Michaels, they had to begin with a single step forward.

They were all just “regular” people before they did.

One or Two Things I NEED From You!

Ok, we are finally to the “what I need from you” interactive part of today’s post.  Please don’t just pass over this.   This is VERY important!  Your effort could help guide someone’s first step.  Thank you in advance.

1. What Have You Always Wanted To Try?

Leave one thing you’ve always wanted to at least try in the comments section below.   If you’re advanced and I know you are, tell me why you have never moved forward with it before now.

2. What You Have Done?

If you’ve done something really cool in the last year, leave that in the comments section as well (even if I already know about it).  Look at it, not as a gloating session, but as positive reinforcement for all.   Proof that it can be done!  (Remember, not everyone thinks like you may, so please take the time to share.)

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Thanks! I’m hoping for lots of feedback and even more newbies giving new things a try.

Monday:  The Journey Begins!

I left for Sarasota at a little after 1pm.  The original plan was to leave very early Monday morning, as the first workout was scheduled for 8am. However, during the first part of last week, Matt (trainer) emailed and asked if I could begin at 5pm on Monday and then finish on Saturday because he was going to be out of town until Monday afternoon.

I checked with the hotel and the change was made.

I got to the hotel around 3:30pm, brought all my stuff up to the room and unpacked.  I then changed into my basketball clothes and before I knew it, it was time to make the short drive to Impact Basketball.

The Arrival and Realization

I got to Impact Basketball around 4:50pm, entered the building and as I came to the end of a corridor I could hear sneakers squeaking and basketballs bouncing.

A few more steps and I saw some BIG kids playing hoops.

I mean BIG!  7 foot 3 inches of BIG!

There were 6 foot 5 inch shooting guards and lightning quick point guards.

Blocked shots against the backboard, bodies flying, it was intense.

I watched for a few minutes, a little shocked at the skill level and size of the players and then continued on looking for my trainer for the week, Matt.

The realization that this was going to be perhaps more than I even expected, rushed over me.

Quick chat, Tour and Medical Check

I found Matt, who is the director of player development at Impact, we talked for a bit and he gave me a tour of the facility.  He let me know that today he wanted to get a sense of where I was as a player on the court, so we would only be doing court work today.

He double checked my medical history and to the court we went.

Keep in mind that Matt, besides training a current group of young men in which four of every five will go on to play college ball…at least, has also trained the likes of Kevin Garnett, Chauncey Billups and Rudy Gay.  To have him as my trainer for the week is beyond special!

Toughest Workout of My Life

After he cleared the court of the younger guys, Matt took me through some stretching.  Things I’ve never seen or done before.

He explained that he would be able to tell based upon my flexibility, how explosive I would be.  I then asked him to make me 1,000 times more explosive.

On one stretch, he said, “You’ve probably seen this one before,” I did the stretch and then let him know that I hadn’t…haha.

After stretching, we worked on numerous shooting drills all at GAME SPEED.

Now, if you’ve been following along, you know that I’m in pretty decent shape these days.  I run +15 miles a week and play hoops twice a week.  When I’m on the court, I’m the guy that can always keep going.

Well, I say that to say this…I GOT MY BUTT KICKED!!!

I can’t remember ever gasping for air like I did tonight.  EVER!

Near the end of the workout I was standing at the free throw line, trying to pull myself together for two free throws and no matter how hard I tried I couldn’t get my wind.

Umm, and tonight’s workout was only 55 minutes!

In those 55 minutes I took around 400 shots at game speed.  Everything off of some movement, no set shots.

Matt broke everything down from my footwork, to explosiveness, to how I should prepare myself to receive the pass, to where my shoulder and foot should be coming around a screen.

The guy kicked my butt and I LOVED IT!!!

I feel like I learned so much in such a short period of time and I can’t wait for tomorrow (Tuesday)!

“Are you the guy playing Michael Jordan?”

About midway through the workout, as I was coming back from a short water break, one of the young guys working on the other end of the court asked, “Are you the guy playing Michael Jordan?”

I was really surprised by this!

We chatted for a second, chuckled about my age, and he asked if I had ever seen Jordan play.  When I told him I had as a member of the Chicago Bulls, he and the other young guy thought that was the coolest thing.

You see, the two guys I was talking with are just 19 years old, so the only Jordan they really get to see is highlight reels.

As I walked back to continue the workout, I felt very fortunate to have seen Greatness!

“You’re better than I expected.”

At the close of the workout, Matt handed me a protein shake and said, “You’re better than I expected.”

I took that as a huge compliment, thanked him again for doing this whole thing and was on my way back to the hotel.

Rest and Day 2

As I type this post Monday evening, my legs are toast.  My arms feel like noodles and my eyes are even tired.  I’m exhausted in every sense of the word.

Day two is going to be interesting.  It is to consist of two sessions, with the first being around four hours.  Mentally I can’t even wrap my head around that right now, but I’ll be there at 8am ready to give it my all!

By the time most of you are reading this, I will be heavy into session two.

Pray for me, wish me luck, whatever it is you do…please do.  I will be needing it for sure!

me vs. MJ…this journey is getting very interesting!!!

The Chicago Bulls were in town (Orlando/1997) and going through the pregame warm-ups prior to facing off against the Magic.  I was in my usual “TV” seat, second row, one seat from the end, closest to the goal, on the baseline.

It was a regular season game, but when the Bulls and Jordan were in town, it might as well have been the playoffs.

During my days in television, I always liked to get to the games as early as possible and watch players and their pregame routines.  A lot of players were and are very methodical in what they do as they warm up.  Really it sways to superstitious more than anything.  When certain players would come to town I could tell you then exactly what they were going to do before the game, prior to them even stepping on the court.

On this night I wouldn’t learn a new pre-game routine.  Instead, I would get a glimpse into what it takes to be great.

The Bulls were going through the line, one after the other, in the most pure pregame basketball warm-up…the layup line.  Michael Jordan would get the pass and usually never even take one dribble.  Instead he’d smoothly jog to the basket, as it only took two long strides once he caught the ball, and lay the ball in.

Ron Harper came through the line and put the ball up haphazardly and it rimmed out.  As he ran to get in line behind Jordan on the opposite side of the court, MJ’s face was scolding hot.  He seemed so bothered by his teammate’s lack of focus.

I was amazed by this.

Even I knew that making or missing a lay-up in pre-game drills wouldn’t affect the outcome of the game.

Or would it?

Now some years later, due to my line of business, I’ve had the blessing of being around and having in depth conversations with many entrepreneurs and business leaders.  The one factor that I have picked up on with the great ones is their attention to detail.  Not only are they visionaries, they also capture every aspect of each project with microscopic precision.  They understand that being excellent at all the small pieces will ensure overall greater success…or greatness.

This is exactly what Jordan was doing on that evening in Orlando.

Michael Jordan was a top tier athlete, but the NBA is filled with rare athleticism.  Michael is six feet, six inches tall, but the NBA is overflowing with men that height and taller.

Michael became the greatest because of his attention to detail.  His focus on every aspect, including pregame lay-ups.  His relentless pursuit of excellence at every small part of the big picture that is basketball.

The silhouette of MJ stretched out, flying through the air, hasn’t become a Worldwide symbol for him, brand Jordan, and greatness by accident.

Being Great is SERIOUS business!