Microphone in hand, speaking to the greatest basketball player to ever lace them up, sitting just 20 or so feet away in a plush lounge chair, my voice begins to carry throughout the room…

Hi, my name is Kenny Eller.  I came up from Orlando, Florida to attend the event tonight, so first of all, thank you for doing this.  It’s really great.

I have a website and its goal is…

The Unintentional Invite

Just after eight post meridiem on February 26th, I received an email from the Charlotte Bobcats inviting me to an exclusive event, Inside the Blueprint, hosted by Michael Jordan, on March 19th.

Within minutes, I had sent back my Répondez S’il Vous Plaît, made travel arrangements (I live just outside of Orlando, FL – event was in Charlotte, NC) and called my Mom to invite her to come with me and meet MJ.

Here was another opportunity to make this dream a reality.  On top of that, I’d be able to offer an amazing experience for my Mom.  The last NBA game she attended…a Jordan game of course.  Yes, she’s a fan.  A Jordan fan.

Then the next morning, things got rather interesting.

Around 10 am, I received a voicemail from the Bobcats letting me know that I wasn’t supposed to receive the invite that had come my way the night before.  To blame, a “glitch” in the marketing system.

The event was to be ultra exclusive, reserved for only the top tier of season ticket holders, and while I am a premium season ticket holder for the Bobcats (I donate the majority of my tickets back to the Charlotte Bobcats charitable organization Cats Care), I didn’t fall into the qualifying category for this event.

In fact, only 229 people did.

Obviously I was disappointed and bothered by the quick change in circumstances and after some discussion with the Bobcats, they decided to place me on a waiting list for the event.

In the end, the staff for the Bobcats felt horrible about the mixup and two weeks later, called to let me know that they would honor my initial invitation, making me guest #230!

Coincidence!?!?  Naaaaa!

Inside the Blueprint

I arrived at the arena just before 7 pm, dressed in a dark blue suit, Jordans on my feet.

There was an open bar and heavy hors d’oeuvres outlining a grouping a white linened standing tables.  To one side, a small stage, with four empty, plush, lounge chairs.  It was very well put together.

The goal for the gathering was to give insight as to the plans of the management team to the top tier of ticket holders in a private forum (no media invited) and to secure everyone’s support for the future.  The event took place right around season ticket renewal time.

After 3o or so minutes of drinks and small eats, out came MJ and the crew, as they made their way on stage.

With Michael, was General Manager Rich Cho and team President and COO Fred Whitfield.  Bruce Bowen was moderating.

Bowen went through a series of questions, meant to touch on just about any topic that a fan might have on their mind.  In succession, he went from MJ, to Rich, to Fred and did so three times.  They were pointed questions, softballs by no means, and the answering parties were very candid, detailed and sincere in their responses.

Following the prearranged questioning, Bowen told those in attendance that they would open it up to questions.  He confirmed that anything could be asked.  There were no limits.

He asked that anyone with a question raise their hand and one of two gentlemen with microphones on each side of the room would come over and allow our voice to be heard.

Hand to the Sky

Like a rocket, my hand went to the sky.

My small table of three, was positioned just one back from the stage.  That had really happened by coincidence, as I ran into one the camp participants from last summer who was standing at that table.  As we were catching up, MJ and his team had made their way on stage.

Just to the left of me, one table in front, the microphone made its way to the first voice.  While the man began asking his question, the gentleman escorting the mic around, gestured over to me that he was coming to me next.

When Your Dream is in the Room

When your dream is in the room, when it’s just mere feet away, you’d like to think that you know how you’d handle it.  You’d like to believe that when it’s so close you can touch it, that you would capture it, seize it and make it a reality.

But until you’re there.  Until your dream is looking back at you, you really don’t know how you will react.

Did I know what I was going to ask?  No, not really.  Was I nervous?  Absolutely, but I think that’s natural.

For me, as I’ve touched on before, my life experiences aid me in moments like this.  On a daily basis I meet with people, some of whom I’ve never met and ask a lot of questions to help me better understand their goals and aspirations in relation to managing their assets.  I’m used to asking questions and dealing with people.  I enjoy it.

Prior to working in private wealth management, I spent four years in sports television.  I asked a lot of questions there too.

Having said that, television was years ago and the people I help today aren’t Michael Jordan.

Still, I have some sort of a foundation of comfort established.

Still, I knew as the microphone made its way over to me, that all I can do in any moment is give my best.  My effort is the only thing I can control.

Seize the Moment

As the gentleman stood next to me, with mic in hand, the second question of the evening came from across the room.

While we stood there listening, the young man with the microphone was approached by someone from the organization, who whispered in his ear.

Moments later, he leaned over to me and asked, “What’s your question?”

With a slightly irritated smirk, I responded, “It’s not about the website.”

He followed up with, “Oh no, they just want to make sure that any question asked is appropriate for the setting.”

I let him know my line of thinking and assured him that it would be fine.

I was irritated because I know that what I’m looking to accomplish is a great thing.  Beyond the game is proof that anything is possible and I want to show everyone that you can, in life, live your dreams, if you believe and work tremendously hard.

At the same time, I understood their fear.

Here I was, a guy with a website to play their owner, the Jumpman, the Legend, the GOAT, at an exclusive event I wasn’t meant to be invited to and NOW I was about to have the mic in my hand.

Their worst fears, had come true.  Honestly, I would have been afraid too, if I were them.  That is, if I didn’t understand the bigger purpose.  If I didn’t know, who Kenny Eller is.

My Question for MJ

My singular goal in asking my question was for Michael to know that I’m there.  I knew at this point that HE knew who Kenny Eller was.  His son Marcus confirmed as much, months earlier.  This would be our fourth interaction since I began this journey.

I also wanted to craft my words to him in a way that fit the setting and yet still accomplished the goal.

This is what came from my mouth.

Hi, my name is Kenny Eller.  I came up from Orlando, Florida to attend the event tonight, so first of all, thank you for doing this.  It’s really great.

I have a website and its goal is to inspire others by showing that anything is possible with faith & hard work.  So I believe.  Having said that,  I understand that any time you are chasing something great, it can be tough but I’ve found for myself that the process or the journey is where the joy is often found.

Michael are you able to enjoy the process of building this team, with the financial burden that comes along with owning the team?

Oh and (now raising my foot) I’ve got my J’s on if you want to make the other part happen and show what’s possible.

MJ Responds

The “I’ve got my J’s on” got a laugh from Michael and from those in attendance.

For the next three or four minutes, Jordan answered my question at leeeeeeength.  He gave examples of the ups and downs, the triumphs and struggles.

He didn’t touch the challenge.

The panel took just two more questions and the event was over.

Exit Stage Right

After thanking everyone for coming, MJ and the others exited the stage and made their way out of the event.

Their exit was the same way myself and those in attendance would exit, to a point, and with him being Michael Jordan, even amongst the upper echelon of income earners, MJ creates a buzz.  He stopped just off stage to take a photo with two small kids and from there, just about everyone wanted a piece…in a rather polite, controlled, I’m important too, manner.

I made my way over to Michael.  Each time someone would grab his attention for a few seconds and then he would make another few strides to his exit point.

After two failed attempts, I decided to walk out ahead of the group and wait for him to come my way.

I just wanted to get his thoughts on the site.  To see if he was up to making this dream a reality.

MJ was having no part of it on this night.

Why This Post Was Delayed

The reason it has taken until now for me to write these words, is because what happened that night was the first time I questioned this journey.

I know Michael saw me as I tried to get his attention.  I know that he knows who I am.

The fact that he wasn’t willing to take time or say what’s up, as he walked by, when he stopped at least five times to take pictures with others and two or three times to sign autographs, bothered me.

Bothered me, not because I feel he owes it to me.  It bothered me because it was the first time I felt that perhaps MJ wasn’t feeling my journey.

I will put truck loads of effort into mevsMJ.com and prove that anything is possible with faith & hard work, but not if it makes Michael Jordan uncomfortable.

That’s not the goal.

Over Analyzing the Moment

I’m an analytical guy.  A thinker.

I’m a Jordan fan.  Someone who wants to motivate and inspire.

Disappointed, I thought, maybe MJ isn’t feeling it.

On the other hand, maybe he didn’t stop, because he knew I didn’t want a picture or an autograph, I wanted time.  I wanted to set the game up.  I wanted to show what’s possible.  It would be a conversation, not a moment.

Maybe he was having a rough day.

Honestly, I’m not sure I’ll ever know what he was thinking that night.

What I do know, is that I in no way want to be viewed by him as some crazed fan traveling all over in pursuit of him.

While that may appear to be the case to someone just stumbling across this site, anyone who knows me or has invested any time in reading what I’ve written, understands that that clearly isn’t what is going on here.

Transparency 230

Up until now, this journey has been pretty unbelievably amazing, even for me.  I had hoped that this event would be more of the same.  I had hoped that MJ would see me, laugh like he did at the camp when we discussed this site, and at the very least throw out some verbal jab, like “You are not ready!”

I hoped that I’d be able to report back and show that dreams come true.

This is the reality though.  This is me being transparent.  I thought about quitting.

I had initially planned on heading out to Vegas a few weeks later and attending his Celebrity Golf Tournament.  A friend of mine just so happened to be able to line up VIP passes to all the private events.

I decided against going.  I wanted to take time to think and make sure that I’m still doing this for all the right reasons.  I didn’t want MJ to see me in Vegas and think, this dude is ridiculous.

I contemplated stopping.

I thought about everyone that follows me and how I’d be letting them down.  I thought about how I’d break my promise to show that Anything Is Possible with Faith & Hard Work.

I barely shut my eyes that night.

A Greater Purpose

I shared my experience with just a few friends via text and phone calls.  Each of them could read and hear the weight of my experience.  They encouraged me.  They did their best to do what friends do.  My family did the same.

Then I received a text from one of them that snapped me out of it.  Not right away, but over the next few days.

The text read, “Did you ever think that maybe you weren’t there for basketball tonight?  Did you ever consider that you were there to speak Faith into Michael’s or someone else’s life in that room?”

Another friend, “He may not have addressed your challenge, but there is no doubt in my mind, when he goes to sleep tonight, he will be thinking about the message that you shared.”

My eyes welled up with tears and my belief stood up.

For some time I’ve felt like there was a much greater purpose at work here than a game of basketball.  I’ve shared that before.

Here I was in front of Michael Jordan and a group of people that night, talking about FAITH.

That wasn’t me prior to this journey.  Before mevsMJ.com, I never would have felt comfortable saying anything like that to a friend, much less Jordan.  This journey has shown me so much.  It’s given me examples that are beyond my explanation – this event another example (Unintentional invite, get to go, and then one of five people that gets the chance to ask a question).  Now I’m not trying to push a Bible on anyone, but the whole purpose of this site was to share my experience and my experience has bolstered my faith.

If that offends or makes you stop reading and supporting, so be it.

It’s Not all Roses and Rainbows

I’ve come to understand with vivid clarity, that as I trek up the mountain towards my dreams, the path isn’t going to be lined with roses and rainbows.  There is going to be disappointment.  There are going to be circumstances that challenge you to the core.

It’s how you react to those challenges that matters.

Still Going

It’s Cinco De Mayo, nearly a month and a half since all of this happened.  While some unanswered questions remain, I’m rejuvenated.  I’m training.  I’m believing.

Look, it wasn’t all bad of course.  I did get to interact with MJ again.  I also got to spend quality time with my Mom!  Both of those are great things!

I was also able to speak to one of his closest allies and Bobcats President, Fred Whitfeild, and share my journey with him.  He gave me his card and asked me to email him.  I have done so.  No response to date.

So to the question most everyone wants to know.

When will I play Michael Jordan?

I really don’t know, but what I do know, is that you should never say never.

As Michael has said in the past, “Never say never, cause limits, like fears, are often just an illusion.”

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.

On January 16th, Corey Maggette of the NBA’s Detroit Pistons found me on Instagram and it changed everything.

Just 11 days later, after some messaging back and forth between myself and Corey, I was at the Orlando Magic vs. Detroit Pistons game on Sunday to meet him, thank him for his kindness and to hand deliver a mevsMJ.com shirt!

Me and Corey Maggette (Video)

httpvh://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcYb4dBIyOc

One Man’s Kindness

It’s amazing what one seemingly simple “like” on an Instagram picture can do.

Mind blowing, the chain of reaction that one’s kindness, can begin.

After the game on Sunday, I asked Corey how he found me and he told me that he’s just always searching around for things.

His search, turned into a “like”, which led to a retweet of this site to his +1 million followers on Twitter and then 11 days later, me meeting him in person and hand delivering a mevsMJ.com shirt!

I mean, it is overwhelming that an NBA player like Maggette knew me when he came out of the locker room.  Just wild that he has my shirt.  Wow!

For me, it was awesome to have the opportunity to thank Corey in person for helping me show others, like YOU, that everything I’ve been saying is true!  Anything really Is Possible with Faith & Hard Work!

He allowed me to tell him all about my journey, never seeming rushed and listening intently the entire time.

I could tell he got the bigger purpose behind what is mevsMJ.com.

Truly, such a nice guy.

Maggette’s kindness also led to more….

Joe Dumars and Bo Outlaw

While waiting for Corey to come out of the locker room I was able to share my faith and my journey to play Michael Jordan with two former NBA greats, Joe Dumars and Bo Outlaw.

Both were kind, generous with their time, extremely encouraging and genuinely interested in the mission.

At one point, as I was describing what this journey is about and all that has happened thus far, I said to Joe, “God is so amazing!”

Joe smiled, shook his head in acknowledgement and replied, “That’s why I’m (Joe) standing here talking with you right now.”

Before we took the picture and he left to make his way to the team bus, he encouraged me to stay persistent in my pursuit.

I most certainly will!

me vs. Michael Jordan…the amazing journey continues!  As always, thank you for following along!

1 Game – me vs. Michael Jordan…it’s GOING to happen!

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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!

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

Last night I asked for support in my quest to play Michael Jordan 1-on-1.

I put a grouping of words together on Instagram and asked others to support my pursuit.

I stated something that I live and believe, at the end of my ask and that was, “Anything is Possible with Faith & Hard Work!”

Then something amazing happened!

I received a random and very unexpected LIKE from the NBA’s Corey Maggette!

Sitting on my couch at home, stunned, I leaned over and showed my wife what had just happened.  Both of us amazed, I declared, it’s a God thing!

God wasn’t done.

Corey Maggette Shares mevsMJ.com with over 1 MILLION people & Follows ME on Twitter!

I then sent out the following tweet, which linked back to the Instagram post above.

Just got an instagram like from the NBA’s @ghostc5m (Corey Maggette) – Your support means a lot! (MEvsMJ.com instagr.am/p/UkW2-TC_5i/

— Kenny Eller (@KennyEller) January 17, 2013

Within a few minutes Maggette had retweeted that to all of his followers!!  ALL 1,011,205 of them!

Then to top things off, he FOLLOWED ME on Twitter!  (He only follows 1,880 people on the social media platform.)

Did I mention that last year Corey played for Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Bobcats!?!?!!?!

Just a coincidence?  Naaaaaa!

I know some will think it’s a coincidence that an NBA player randomly finds a posting of mine on Instagram and chooses to like it.  A posting that in total received just 31 likes.

Some will think it’s a coincidence that the same NBA player took my message and gave it to the +1 million followers he has on Twitter.

Some will go on thinking it’s merely a coincidence that Maggette chose to also follow me on Twitter, when he follows just .185917% of his followers.

And some will then of course think it too is a coincidence that Corey played for and knows Michael Jordan.

Some will think that.

I know better.

Anything Is Possible with Faith & Hard Work!

Honestly, when I posted that grouping of words on Instagram, my hope was that I’d pick up a few likes.

God gives us a dream and then in moments like last night, with me, He says DREAM BIGGER!

He says BELIEVE FOR GREATER THINGS!

My belief that I carry around with me, is that Anything Is Possible with FAITH & Hard Work!

I hope through this journey of mine to play Michael Jordan that you are seeing that!

I hope that this is another example to you that YOU CAN experience the things in life you were created to experience!

I hope you know that amazing moments aren’t reserved for just me and others.  Amazing moments are here for us all!

Thank you for all of your support!  It means so much to me!

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

** UPDATE 1/18/2013 **

After all of this happened, one of the people that I shared this with was my great friend Dave Hopla.  Dave is an assistant coach for the New York Knicks.

NOW IT GETS EVEN MORE AMAZING!

I asked Dave, if he had a chance, to please tell Corey that I appreciate his support and that it means a lot to me.

Today, just before 6pm, I received a message from Dave letting me know that he had spoken to Maggette about me and my journey to play Michael Jordan before their game in London.  Yes, the Pistons were in London to play the Knicks the day after all of this happened!  

Another coincidence?  Naaaaa!

He said that Corey thought my journey to play MJ was really cool!  

WOW!

Two people from the small family that is the NBA, talking about my journey to play Michael Jordan, on an NBA court, in London, England!

I’m telling you!  ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE WITH FAITH & HARD WORK!

me vs. Michael Jordan…it’s going to happen!  So blessed!

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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!

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

My shoulder hurts.  The right one.  The one I’ve used over and over again during my life to make thousands upon thousands of shots.

It’s painful.  I’ve never been stabbed, but if I were to guess what that feels like; it would be how my shoulder feels most of the time these days when I shoot the basketball.  Sharp stings.

The cause, I can only trace back to the large stacks of push-ups I did on a nightly basis during the NBA playoffs.  Not the brightest thing I’ve ever done.  I’ve had massages, treatments and have done my best to stay away from the courts as much as possible over the last two months, in an attempt to let it heal.  But I missed the game.

This week I said hello again to the game I love.

***

Thursday evening, after an hour and a half of makes and misses wrapped in pain, I sat down and talked some basketball history with a friend at the rec center.  We talked about MJ of course.

It was my third trip to the courts in the last four days.

Each day a bit better than the one before it, I could see my shot beginning to shine more and more and resemble its former self as I polished away.

After 20 or so minutes of conversation, I got up and asked my friend, “How many makes in a row before I leave today?”

He spat back, “10…wait, are you talking free throws?”

I said, “No man, threes!”

“You can’t make 10 threes in a row,” he quipped.

I shook my head at his lack of belief and responded, “OK, you just sit there and watch.”

44 Minutes

I honestly expected it to take me less than five minutes for me to make 10 three pointers in a row.

A few months ago, making 10 from downtown was easy earned.  I won’t say easy, because that would be a lie.  I’ve earned the right to make shots through tons of repetition.  It was never easy.

After just two or three minutes I was up to 8 in a row.

Miss.

Make, make, make, make, make…miss.

This pattern continued for the next 44 minutes as I shot one ball after the other.

Soaked with effort down through my socks, legs tired, arm fatigued, shoulder smarting, quitting without a doubt crossed my mind.

The thoughts, who would know or care if you stopped now and it’s ok to quit because you should take it easy on your shoulder, said hello.

But I refused to quit and kept shooting.

Then it finally happened.  14 makes in a row later I had accomplished my goal.

Where You Find Success!

Success isn’t as hard to find as people say it is.  It’s found right behind faith and a lot of hard work.

If you want success, just do what you say you’re going to do!

It won’t be easy.  But it’s possible!

While I was shooting, two others joined me in the task of making 10 three pointers in a row.  They were both really good shooters and one of them even got to 9 in a row once.  But they both quit before realizing the goal.

Today I know that I was the best shooter in that gym…and so do they.  That’s a HUGE difference in mindset and it comes by DOING or the lack there of.

The Magic is Within You!

A great friend of mine, Robert Brown, has a saying.  He says, “It’s no magic trick.  If you work hard you’ll be better.”

He’s right.  The magic is within you!

Two Things That You Control Today, That WILL Change Your Tomorrow

Success comes down to what you believe and the effort you put forth.

You control both of them.

Now you don’t get to control much in life, but you do control what you believe and how hard you work!

Belief

I consistently and constantly feed myself encouragement.

It’s going to be a great day!  I will be blessed in my business!  I am a great shooter!  I am a great writer, I am a great speaker, and on and on and on!

Now I want to improve in all things, but I feel that I’m destined for greatness!

That’s not being cocky.  That’s living your purpose!

You have to see it to believe it!

You have to believe it before you can achieve it!

Hard Work

Then I take that faith and belief and work really, really hard.

I keep going when others stop, because I’ve already seen my success!

I know I just need to have faith and keep working hard!

Michael Jordan and My Dream

Before I shook hands with Michael Jordan and told him about mevsMJ.com, I saw it happen!

I’ve seen the 1-on-1 game with MJ!

I’ve seen myself speaking to thousands, encouraging young and old what I believe, that Anything Is Possible with Faith & Hard Work!

I’ve seen lives changed!

What Do You See?

Whatever your mevsMJ.com is, I know it’s possible!

You’ve just got to have faith and you’ve got to work hard!

It’s waiting for you!

I will play Michael Jordan and impact lives!  What are you going to do?

me vs. MJ…the journey continues!

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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!

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

Do you know that this almost never happened?

Do you know that I almost quit before I began?

Do you know that I have the same haunting voice that you have, telling me that I’m not good enough?

Telling me that my dreams aren’t important enough.

Telling me every single reason why my dreams will never come true.

Do you know that this almost never happened?

Do you know that I almost let that voice win?

I am no different than you.

Not more special, not more inclined.

Please don’t be satisfied with just being happy with every step of my success.

That’s not what this is about.

There was almost no me versus Michael Jordan.

But there is and the game will be.

It’s changed my life.

Changed it in ways that far outstretch the limits of a basketball court.

What could your dreams do for you, if you allowed them to live?

Do you know that this almost never happened?

me vs. Michael Jordan…the dream is alive!

This Almost Never Happened

httpvh://youtu.be/wnA1goOWwxU

[click here to watch video]

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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!

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

httpvh://youtu.be/SfN16daQ300

When I began this site with my rather large dream of playing my childhood hero Michael Jordan 1-on-1, back in August of 2010, I knew then that I’d need a lot of help.

I knew I could work on my game and get in the best shape of my life and do all of the things that I could control, but that in the end it would take the HELP of someone else to make my dream come true.

I never thought that when I began this mevsMJ.com journey that I would be placed in a position to HELP someone else’s dream come true, but on Thanksgiving Day, that’s just what happened.

Just as I was getting ready to head over to my parents to enjoy the Thanksgiving festivities, I received the following email from a young man sharing his dream with me.

Hello,

I just found your website mevsMJ.com.  What a great idea and website! You are an inspiration for me. I also am a big fan of Eric Griffin from Campbell University and I saw that you interviewed him. He is a great dunker and a great all around player. Do you know how I might get in touch with him? Maybe you have his email or phone number? I’ve been a Campbell University fan my entire life. I’m 13 years old and I’ve loved them my whole life cuz my favorite uncle went there for college and I want to go there too. I just want to tell Eric how much I like watching him play basketball. Maybe one day I can play at Campbell too.

Thank you for your great website and for any help you might offer to get in touch with Eric Griffin. 

Sincerely,

Adam Thompson

Me and Eric Griffin

If I think about how I met Eric Griffin and now perhaps why I met him, it makes me appreciate this amazing walk of mine so much more!

Shooting alone in an empty gym one morning back in May, I met Coach Kevin Sutton.  We talked about my journey to play MJ and within minutes Coach Sutton, one of the kindest men I’ve met, was inviting me for an informal workout with a group of high level ball players, so that I could better my game.

I went to the first workout and as fate would have it, was paired with Campbell University’s high flying Eric Griffin.  Through the some two-hour session, we did ball handling drills, shooting drills, and so on with one another.

Eric impressed me with who he was as a person, as much as he did with his sick basketball game, so when I came up with the idea of 23 Questions, a sort of informal interview that would allow some insight into the lives of the best basketball players I knew, I thought immediately of Eric.

Now some seven months from when Eric and I initially met, the reason for our meeting, came to light in an email from a young man, just 13 years of age.

Thanksgiving Day Dreams

When I got Adam’s email I was immediately almost overwhelmed with emotions, because I know what it was like to send an email filled with hope.  I’ve sent tons of them during this journey.  Too many to count at this point.

Most people I’ve reached out to, never respond.  Some brush me off with a less than half hearted response and then no longer reply when I kindly continue to pursue their assistance.  Others have cast their negative views on my walk, missing the whole point along the way.

I’ve always done my best to quickly shake my head free of the hurt and push forward, but honestly at times it’s been tough.

So when I received Adam’s email, I spent a good period of time at Thanksgiving dinner working on making his dream come true.

Because I knew I could!

“I would love to!”

Between the love filled food and family stories at Thanksgiving dinner, I sent Eric Griffin a message telling him that I had just received the coolest email from a young man that was a big fan of his.  I went on with how it would be amazing if it turns out that Adam is local to set something up so that he could meet him!

It took Eric less than a minute to reply with, “I would love to!”

I told him great and then forwarded him Adam’s email so that he could read it for himself.

Adam’s Dream Comes True

Less than 24 hours from Adam’s initial email to me I received another email from him:

Hello Kenny,

Thank you so much! I got email from Eric! WOW!!!!! Best present I got in a long time! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Eric asked about coming to his game and my mom says maybe later in season. WOW!!! I am trying to do interview with Eric for school cuz I have homework to interview someone who works in the job I want when I grow up. Thank you Kenny. I hope you play Michael Jordan!

Sincerely,

Adam Thompson

Dreams Do Come True!

So I’m going into the 16^th month of mevsMJ.com and while my dream of playing MJ still hasn’t come true, it’s the best feeling in the world to play a part in helping someone else’s dream come true!

I’d like to give HUGE SHOUT OUT and THANKS to my man Eric Griffin (@The21Story) for being so kind and willing to take the time to impact someone’s life in such an amazing way!

Adam closed his email to me fittingly, filled with hope.  I too hope I get to play Michael Jordan one day soon, but until then, helping Adam is just fine with me!

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

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

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More on Eric Griffin

Through the first six games (5-1) of the season, Eric Griffin leads the Fighting Camels of Campbell University in almost every category, averaging 21.1 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks, while shooting a staggering 74% from the field and 60% from three point land.

On top of all of that, he can now add something even more important to his statistics, making one dream come true!  A class act for sure!

We all have the ability to impact others in a way that could very well change the course of how they approach life!  On this day, the dreamer who took action in the form of an email wins!  Eric and I have won as well!  Go get your dreams!

Nine years ago, with no intent, a person unknowingly became a permanent reminder in the life of a young woman striving for success.

Having already achieved the kind of acclaim that had shown her the World in her field of expertise, a deep seed of motivation was planted into the soul through one pain filled eight-letter word.

That word was mediocre.

It had been the vocabulary of choice used to describe the effort put forth towards an individual offseason workout.

It was then; in that very moment of disappointment and anger in oneself, that a decision was made that no person would ever again utter that word in relation to her name.

This post has nothing to do with basketball, but everything to do with the dream.

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Two Friday evening’s ago, amongst the small puddles left over from the day’s rain and the cooler than usual Florida breeze, I took in my very first soccer game at any level.

I honestly don’t know all that much about the game of soccer.  I’m a hoops player!  Besides the goalie, I really couldn’t tell you what any other player on the field is responsible for and yet still, I sat there in the last row at Barker Family stadium in Winter Park, Florida and was overwhelmed with emotions at times.

I cheered, hands raised, as the Rollins College Women’s soccer team scored goal after goal, in what was a 4-0 shutout of Eckerd College.

I clapped and yelled for young women I’ve never met and was inspired by their teamwork and cohesiveness as a unit.

Truth be told though, I wasn’t really there to see them.

I was there to see how a real life dream had become a reality.

The Dreamer

Have you ever met someone before and you really didn’t know anything about him or her, but after meeting them the mere goodness of who they are, not only inspired you but had you anticipating the next time you would be in their company?

That’s how I felt the first time I met Alicia Milyak in a department store at a mall in Orlando, Florida, over six and a half years ago.

One of the best friends of my then girlfriend and now wife, Alicia was energetic, warm and inviting and for anyone meeting “the friends” for the first time, you can understand just how welcome that positive energy is.

An enthusiastic smile and a hug

Over the six plus years I’ve known her, every single time I’ve come in contact with Alicia I’ve been greeted with a 1,000 watt smile, tons of energy and a I’m going to make you feel good kind of hug.

She overflows with upbeat, positivity.

A Humble Soccer Star

In a time where most, including myself, tweets about every single thing that happens to or for them, up until recently, I could have told you very little about Alicia Milyak’s career as a soccer player and from what the record books show, it was an amazing one!

Imagine knowing someone for as long as I’ve known Alicia and never knowing that she scored 173 goals during her four years of high school, including 66 her senior season (ranking her 5^th and 3^rd respectively overall in Pennsylvania high school athletics, even some 13 years later)!

Imagine having talked to a person tons of times and never knowing they are their college’s (Rollins College) all-time leader in scoring with 51 goals and 121 points!

Imagine knowing someone that played for numerous teams in the W-League, the highest level of women’s soccer in America at the time, and professionally overseas and them never really discussing it!

Imagine being around the only person in her college’s history to be inducted into the Sunshine State Conference Hall of Fame and all they want to talk about when you’re around them is YOU!

It’s hard to imagine such a thing in today’s world, isn’t it?

It kind of makes you want to emulate her, doesn’t it?!

The Dream and the Struggle

For as long as I’ve known Alicia she has had big dreams.  From playing professional soccer, which she did, to one day being the Head Coach of the women’s soccer program at her Alma Mater, Rollins College.

For six years she was the team’s top assistant coach.  A team that since 2008 had won two Sunshine State Conference Championships, one Sunshine State Conference tournament and made three straight appearances in the NCAA Division II South Region Tournament.

For six years she has traveled all over the state of Florida and the Country for that matter, scouting player after player, putting in countless hours for the betterment of the team and program.

With a travel schedule that would make even George Clooney cringe, she gave up time with family, friends and for herself.

True Wealth

I honestly don’t know how much she was monetarily compensated each of those years, but I’m sure it wasn’t much.

She most likely wasn’t able to build up a 401k or throw money into a Roth.  She probably didn’t have too many high-end meals or five star vacations.  She didn’t drive around in a fancy car or live in a big house.  She most likely couldn’t afford the latest fashions or “must have” gadgets.

And make no mistake about it.  Had she given up on soccer and pursued a different path, with her education from one the top schools in the entire state…SHE COULD HAVE HAD IT ALL!

But she never complained or seemed envious as her friends and peers began attaining worldly success.  Instead, like always she smiled and cheered on their achievements.

Alicia may not have had a lot of money, but she had true wealth.

Blessed with an inspirational outlook on life, she was fueled by passion, a source that requires no real financial compensation.  The, I’d do it for free, because I love it, stuff.

The Passover Blessing

Two years ago, the long time head coach of the Rollins’ program left for another opportunity.  Anyone that knows Alicia felt that her dream was about to come true!

But it didn’t.

Instead, the school hired someone else and Milyak did what Milyak does.  She pushed forward, upbeat and full of energy the whole way, viewing it as another opportunity to learn and better herself.

The team had another successful season and Alicia was left, I’m sure, to wonder if her dream of being a head coach would ever come true.

After all, head coaching positions at successful colleges just don’t open up all that often.

Then it happened.

The Dream becomes a Reality!

In an unexpected turn of events, the new coach, there just one season, took off to coach elsewhere.

Within hours of his departure, Alicia’s time had come.

Her dream had become a reality!

She’s now in her first season as Head Coach of the Rollin’s College women’s soccer team!

Why YOU CAN’T QUIT!

Most people FAIL at endeavors because they GIVE UP right before success is achieved.

They give up because it’s hard.  They give up because they lose faith.

Most people only see the success, but never know the struggle.

They now see a young woman leading an entire program and yearn to be in her position, but the overwhelming MAJORITY would never go through what Alicia has gone through for their dream.

I don’t think any person that truly cares for her would have blamed her or called her a quitter if she had chosen to walk away a year ago or even well before then.

Let’s face it; most of us would have quit, but quitting never crossed her mind.

Walking Inspiration!

Before the game that Friday evening, as Coach Milyak led her team across the field, I got up from my seat, hurried down to the railing and took a couple of pictures of walking inspiration.

With my eyes, welled up with tears, I watched inspiration do what she’s always dreamed of doing.

It’s something I’ll always remember and something that fuels my own path here at mevsMJ.com.

Did Kenny Tell You What He’s Doing!?

As Alicia walked off the field that Friday night following the team’s 13th win of the season (13-1-1), she greeted us with that smile and that hug.  I told her I’m so proud of her three or four times.

After some small talk, I asked her about all of the goals she scored in high school and being Rollins’ all-time leader in scoring, facts I had learned only moments before from her Mom, who we sat next to during the game.

In typical Milyak fashion, she smiled, said she wasn’t sure how many goals she scored and instead wanted to talk about me.

She asked her Mom, “Did Kenny tell you what he’s doing?” (Referring to this site and my goal of playing Michael Jordan of course.)

With a smirk I shook my head and was off discussing my journey thus far, just as she would have it.

An Inspiration and a Reminder

I’ve always admired and rooted for Alicia Milyak.

When all I chased was money, her journey always grabbed my heart and pleaded, “PAY ATTENTION YOUNG MAN!”

She was a real life example and reminder to me of what life should be about.  What life CAN be about!

She followed her passion and through it has realized more than one of her dreams.

That’s right, there is plenty more to come in this story, but I’ll let Alicia tell the rest.  I’m just so thankful to be able to be around for the journey!

It’s going to be a fun ride!

NCAA Division II South Region Tournament

This Sunday, at home, Coach Milyak will lead her #2 seed Rollins College team (14-2-2) onto Cahall Sandspur Field for a second round game of the NCAA Division II South Region tournament.

She will do her best to coach, inspire and motivate a group of young woman chasing a dream.  At the same time, through years of perseverance, she will continue living hers.

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Note:  Alicia Milyak may not show anyone this post, because that’s just who she is, but I hope that you, those reading this, do.  I hope that you share her story of perseverance and triumph.  I hope you use it as an example for what is possible in your own life, as I do in mine.

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Hoops Update

After nearly two weeks of being sick, I’m almost back to myself which means I’m ready to get back after the dream that is mevsMJ.com!

One game, me vs. Michael Jordan!

It’s going to happen!  As always, thank you for following along!

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

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

I woke up yesterday morning and the first thing I read was, “That would not be possible.”

It wasn’t the response I had hoped for when I sent out the the request, but I emailed them back, thanking them for responding nonetheless.

Head up, I then sent out the following update to Twitter and Facebook:  “Woke up to a ‘That would not be possible’ this morning, but I won’t stop until I hear it from Michael Jordan himself!”

Then a few hours later something HUGE happened!

Something that very well may be the turning point in this journey of mine to play Michael Jordan!

The BIG NEWS!!!

At 10:29 a.m. on Monday, May 2, 2011 my cell phone rang:

Me:  Hello this is Kenny.

Caller:  Ken…(long pause)…this is Nick Anderson.

Nick Anderson’s NBA Career

Nick Anderson averaged 15.4 points per game and 5.3 rebounds per game for the Orlando Magic over his ten year career with the team and over 14 ppg during his 13 year NBA career.

Anderson was the first ever draft pick of the Orlando Magic (11^th overall).  He is also the Orlando Magic’s all-time leader in scoring, steals and games played.  He ranks third overall in rebounds behind only Dwight Howard and Shaquille O’Neal.

How “The Call” Happened!

I received a text from a good friend of mine asking if I had ever gotten in touch with Nick Anderson.  I replied no, that I hadn’t.  In the past, in passing, I had mentioned to her how cool and BIG it would be to make contact with someone like Nick.

She then said, if you write him (Nick Anderson) an email about your site and forward it to me, a friend of mine said that he could forward it on to Nick for you!

A few minutes later I sent the email.

An hour later I was talking with Nick Anderson!

Talking with Nick Anderson

After I got over the shock of who was calling me, I explained to Nick exactly why I began mevsMJ.com, what I’ve done thus far and what I’m looking to accomplish and he loved it!

He said,

“My dream growing up was to always play in the NBA, so I can relate to what you’re doing.  You only live once, so you might as well go after your dreams!”

Nick went on with,

“I’d be more than happy to do anything I can to help you.  You’ve got my cell phone number now, lock it in, call me tomorrow and we can set a time to meet at a court and shoot around.  We can start from there.”

Blown away by his kindness, I thanked him profusely, asked him at one point, “Seriously?!?!?!” and threw in some “THIS IS SO COOL!!!”

Life is Amazing!

My slogan this year has been “Life is amazing, if you allow it to be!” and that has never been more true than now.

When I began this journey in August, if someone would have told me that in a little over eight months my cell phone would ring one morning and on the other end would be former NBA player Nick Anderson, well, it would have been tough to believe…even for me.

The kindness of people along the way has been the most inspiringly rich part of this journey of mine to play Michael Jordan.  The selflessness and want of others to HELP ME achieve my childhood dream humbles me and I am so forever grateful.

I really can’t fully express in words what I’m feeling right now, other than to say that I am so thankful.

Me and Nick Anderson

Thirty minutes after our conversation, still so very excited, I sent Nick a text message that said, “Wow, I am so thankful!  You have no idea how much I appreciate this!!!”

Nick responded back, “You are more than Welcome :-)”

So later this week, I will meet Nick Anderson on some court somewhere here in Central Florida!

Proof, that if you work hard, have faith and believe, anything truly is POSSIBLE!

Proof that right behind the disappointment of a NO could be the BIGGEST YES you’ve ever heard!

me vs. MJ…this fantastic journey just went BIG TIME!

Stay tuned, it’s about to get VERY COOL around here!

Thank you all for the love, support and for following along!

**Note:  I want to give a very special thanks to my great friends Dani Sebaali and Eric Nourse for being amazing people and for connecting me with Nick Anderson!  You have no idea how much this means to me!  THANK YOU!  YOU GUYS ROCK!!

Later this evening I will jump in the car and accompany my wife to Miami, Florida, where she will audition for “The X Factor”, the new Simon Cowell television creation that is set to debut this fall.

My wife sings, for fun.

The first time I heard her sing, I had just finished throwing down some Usher on a Karaoke video game (that’s how I got the nickname “white usher” haha) and handed her the microphone thinking I had just shown her how it’s done (I can’t sing well, but I try).

She took the mic, dropped a perfect score on Evanescence’s “My Immortal”, smiled and handed the mic back to me. I just sat there with that “Daayyyyuuuum” look on my face.

Chase the Dream!

I’ve been encouraging Charissa (wife) to do something with her singing for the longest time. Growing up, she played lots of tennis and was really good (had college scholarship offers), but her passion was always music. She played in the high school band and auditioned for numerous plays, even though she could never really participate in them due to the amount of time and focus the game of tennis required.

Her first year of college she won the school talent show with her voice, but talent shows don’t pay the bills, so she did what most do and pushed the dream of singing in the back of the drawer and moved on with life.

Unless you’re brand new around here, you know I have a super cool and rather BIG DREAM here at mevsMJ.com and that is to play Michael Jordan 1-on-1.

I’m an optimist, a dreamer and I BELIVE IN CHASING THE DREAM!

Because of that, I’m constantly dropping words of encouragement and belief into the lives of those around me with dreams. I just don’t see a downside to chasing the dream!

Finally, after nearly six years together, Charissa started up her own YouTube page just a couple of months ago and has been posting new songs twice a week ever since.

DO IT, DO IT, DO IT!

I can’t tell you how excited for and proud of her I am.

It takes a lot of strength to DO. Every single person reading this post has some skill, some gift, some dream that they could pursue. Yet, the majority won’t for fear of failure.

Fear of Failure

I bought my ticket to the seventh grade dance. I had no interest in this dance whatsoever. What I did have an interest in was this girl.

I talked with my Dad about how pretty and popular this girl was. I told him how I would really like to dance with her, but I was afraid she might say no. I would be humiliated, devastated. I was scared. I feared failure.

My Dad told me, “The worst that she can say is no…but she could say YES!” He encouraged me to go for it. He made me believe this amazing girl would want to dance with me and I went to the dance confident.

That confidence escaped me as soon as I walked in the door. I stood like a wallflower waiting for my moment. I paced in and out of the small auditorium. I was so nervous.

Hour by hour, time passed, until there was just 30 minutes left before the dance was over.

I took a deep breath, made my way over to her and her friends, tapped her on the shoulder and asked, “Would you like to dance?”

Time stopped. My heart raced faster than Usain Bolt and then she responded.

She told me, “No.”

Dumbfounded, I turned around and retreated. My worst fear had come true. Not only had she said no, she had done so in front of the other “cool” girls.

Having just a moment with her was all I had thought about in the weeks leading up to the dance, but my dream wouldn’t be coming true on this night. Instead my small heart was crushed.

My Mom picked me up, all my hope spent, shortly thereafter.

It’s Better to Know

This past Saturday while I was at the gym working on my hoops game, I began telling a gentleman in his late 40s about my match-up with the 54^th ranked player in the country according to Bob Gibbons, Robert Brown.

He had seen us up there playing the other day and was amazed by Brown’s skill and ability.

Us talking led him to tell me about his feats when he was a young man and how as a junior in college he had turned down a tryout invite from the school’s college football coach. At the time he said he was just having too much fun with life and intramural sports and the thought of stopping that to try and do football just didn’t make any sense to him.

He told me how he still kind of regrets that decision because he still wonders, what if?

While the rejection I faced at the dance in the seventh grade was a tough pill to swallow for a young man trying to find his way, I did learn an extremely valuable lesson.

IT’S BETTER TO KNOW, than to wonder what if.

You NEVER Know, Unless You Try

One of my favorite Michael Jordan quotes is, “You can’t make a shot that you don’t take.”

Michael goes on to say in reference to taking game winning shots, “If you miss, you’ve done it before. Though if you make it, well, you win the game!”

It’s the same exact advice my Dad gave me leading up to that dance in middle school.

The point of both: You never know what is possible, unless you try.

Until you put effort forth, all of the dreams and hopes within you lay captive, bound by the fear of failure.

The X Factor

So tomorrow morning we will leave our hotel room and make our way to the BankUnited Center in Miami, before the Sun says hello to this side of the World.

We will wait amongst thousands for a chance at living out a dream.

She will sing, be judged and face the fear of failure.

She could just be the very first winner of “The X Factor” here in the States. The only downside of trying is that they say no, and life continues, until the next opportunity arises.

Either way, she will know.

Either way, I’d say she’s already won.

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Comeback Update:

If you missed it, I made my comeback after being out eight weeks due to injury, last Wednesday against Virginia Tech signee Robert Brown (54^th ranked player in the country by recruiting expert Bob Gibbons).

Thank you all so much for your support though my injury and rehabilitation. Every encouraging word helped ease the pain and now I’m so EXCITED to be back on the court giving my all, preparing for the great, Michael Jordan!

If you like what I’m doing here please share on Facebook/Twitter! Thanks!