Pembroke Pines, Florida

Sitting near the end of the wooden bleacher just off to the side of the court, he turned to me after our game with effort still apparent on his shirt and brow, and implored, “We’ve got to stop lying.  We’ve got the tell the truth.  It’s the only way that we can truly help people.”

The sincerity and urgency of the words that former NBA All-Star Kenny Anderson shared, swept over me and the rest of the gymnasium.

He was teaching.  His words, carrying a lifetime of learning, now danced about like his legendary New York City handle.  His life now as dedicated to helping others, as it once was to the game of basketball.

His agreeing to help me and my journey after a brief exchange on Twitter, further proof of that.

The Player, The Legend, The All-Star

Kenny Anderson was born in Queens, New York.  Raised by his mother Joan, his first memories of basketball were around the age of six, where he would hangout at local parks and hoist up attempts at the goal in between the games that the older kids were playing.

But basketball loved Kenny and he loved it back.  By the time he was in the sixth grade, collegiate recruiters were already scouting the child prodigy.

He would go on to star at Archbishop Molloy High School and when he was done there he was considered the top high school basketball player in the entire country and a New York City Legend.  You name the award, he received it.  Parade All-American, All-City, Gatorade Player of the Year, New York State Player of the Year, Naismith Player of the Year, USA Today Player of the Year and of course New York State Mr. Basketball.  Keep in mind this was well before social media and basketball mixtapes used to create a buzz.

From there he took his talents down south to Georgia Tech, where he played for two years and helped lead his team to the Final Four in 1990.

Kenny then went on to win a bronze medal while playing for the US National Team in the 1990 FIBA World Championship.

Then in 1991, his childhood dream came true when the New Jersey Nets selected him with the second overall pick in the NBA Draft.  Kenny would go on to play for nine different teams during his 14 year career in the National Basketball Association.  During the 1993-94 season he was named as an NBA All-Star, with averages of 18.8 points, 9.6 assists, 3.9 rebounds, and 1.9 steals.

How I Met Kenny

In the middle of January, Kenny Anderson, most likely half joking, sent out a tweet about giving the NBA Developmental League a try as a player/coach.

I replied, “How about playing me 1-on-1 as a tune up?”

Less than seven minutes later, I was on the phone talking about mevsMJ.com and what this journey is all about with one of the greatest point guards ever!

Kenny was all for playing and doing anything he could to help and with that we set a date to make the game happen!

Me vs. Kenny Anderson

httpvhd://youtu.be/olkb2foe968

(Video Link)

The final score 15-11.  I won!  I repeat…I WON!

While I do feel like that I am in the best shape of my life right now (down 20 lbs in the last 6 months – cut out sugars, etc.), I know when it comes to basketball, Kenny Anderson is in another galaxy.

Truthfully, I think I surprised Kenny a bit with my shooting ability and on this day, the shots fell for me.

Kenny smiled as he congratulated me after the win, and told me that I’m a great shooter.  How cool is that!?  The one and only Kenny Anderson…said that I am a great shooter!  Truly an amazing feeling.

He also set up the rematch!  More on this later.

The Humanitarian

Kenny, like all those that have helped me on my journey to play Michael Jordan, possesses a very selfless quality that is rather rare in society these days.

I better understood his willingness to help after spending some time with him after our game this past Friday.

His basketball dreams were never fueled by the NBA lifestyle and the access that it lends.  It was for his Mom, Joan.  He wanted so badly to take care of the woman that had always taken care of him.

Kenny now travels the World speaking and doing anything he can to help encourage and inspire others through the lessons in his own story.

He’s been at the top of the mountain and in the shadows of the valley and because of that he has great perspective on life.  No longer is he set on making millions of dollars because when he had millions he realized that money didn’t bring him happiness.  Instead he finds true joy in his family, friends and uplifting others.

Not Done Yet

Kenny has one last dream that he’d like to fulfill in the game of basketball, but I’ll let him share that with you when the time is right.

I know that when it happens, it will be a beautiful thing to see and I’ll be right there cheering him on!

The Rematch

Yes, there will be a rematch!  This time in Orlando, where I live.

Tentative date is for sometime in August.

Kenny has already warned me that he is determined to be in much better shape this go around.

He’s coming for redemption.  He’s coming for the win!  I can’t wait!

3-on-3 For A Difference

Last week I lived a dream by playing basketball with former NBA All-Star Kenny Anderson.  In the process I gained an amazing friend.

Kenny has already invited me to be on his team next year, as part of his 3-on-3 basketball tournament in Atlanta, which raises money for RAINN – the nation’s largest anti-sexual violence organization and one of “America’s 100 Best Charities” by Worth magazine.

Impact and Change

My prayer has been for God to use mevsMJ.com to impact others.  I’m humbled to see Him doing just that.

We all live a book, each with a story filled with its share of glory and heartache.  The theme of society has been to at all costs present the facade until our days are no more.

But Kenny was right.

Until we are truthful in our walks, we cannot truly help anyone.  Until we are no longer ashamed of our stumbles and falls, but understand that every bit of what we live is a story for the World to glean from – only then will true impact be made.

This isn’t a basketball story.  This is, as it always has been…a life story.

Believe in your dreams.  Anything Is Possible with Faith & Hard Work!

me vs. Michael Jordan…the journey continues!

Thank You!

I can’t thank Kenny Anderson enough for taking time to make a difference in this journey.  His outlook on life has impacted me and will continue to impact others.

I also must thank my brother Bob, who captured all of the great video.  You inspire me as well.

And the fine folks over at TNT Elite Hoops, Gerrod and Nick, for helping me get in the best shape of my life for this game!  Appreciate it!

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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), Instagram (@KennyEller) and mevsMJ.com Facebook Page.

In 2010 I went from hating running to enjoying it.  From sitting on my couch to running over 530 miles.  I ran two half marathons.  I ran during the week in the mornings or evenings for fun.   From last summer through my injury, on the last day of January, I ran every Saturday morning (8-10 miles) with friends.

I loved it.  Loved how strong I felt.  Loved being able to run 10 miles at a nice pace, while talking with friends about their week.

I would discuss running at work, with friends, with anyone that would listen and even here on mevsMJ.com.

The pop in my calf muscle ended all of that.

I ran my first 2.5 miles last week in the past four months!

The Dilemma

MY GOAL:  Play Michael Jordan 1-on-1.

TRUTH:  Running long distances DOES NOT help me prepare for my goal.

I first realized this when I attended Impact Basketball training in November.  In a short period of time Matt Hiller had me gasping for air as I stood at the free throw line.  I had never been so short of breath in my life.  At the time I was running 18-20 miles per week and was able to run 5 miles at a 7:23 pace.

The realization hit home again later that month when I handed to ball to the #79^th ranked high school player in America, Robert Brown and played him 1-on-1.  Fourteen points in to game one, as I went to pick up the ball, I felt like I was going to pass out.  I was exhausted.  He wasn’t.

Finally, during the rehab of my injury it really hit home.  Speaking with numerous trainers and players, no trainer suggested running long distances and no player, and I’m talking even a former NBA All-Star, ran long distances as a way to prepare for basketball.

It made sense.

Basketball is about a series of explosive movements, not a steady speed for miles, even if that speed is considered fast.

Back to Hooping!

I’ve been back to hooping for just over two months and right now my game is feeling great!

Sure I got my butt kicked again by Robert Brown and then by NBDL draftee Garfield Blair when I first came back from injury, but since then I’m on a roll!

Over the past two weeks, of my last 12 games of one-on-one vs. “regular people” I’m 11-1.  I’m not just winning the games, I’m dominating!  My last four opponents I’ve outscored 60-12 combined (games are to 15 points).

I’m now less than two weeks from my match-up with Andy Gebru (played this past season professionally in Brazil) and besides a couple of nagging injuries (groin/ankle) I couldn’t be in a better place!

I’m ready to test myself again against the best and see the hard work I’ve been putting in turn into a better showing!

To Run…or Not To Run?

Due to understanding what is going to benefit me most in my preparation for Michael Jordan, I just haven’t been running.

Instead, I’ve been doing mostly everything on a basketball court and playing as much 1-on-1 as possible.  It seems to be working.

Still, last Wednesday evening I slipped on the Nikes, headed to the trail and ran.  I didn’t run very far, just 2.5 miles as I stated earlier, and it definitely wasn’t as easy as it was the last time I had run, though I did manage a 7:35 pace.

I didn’t run for conditioning.  I ran because I kind of missed it.

For me at this point right now, the answer to whether I should run or not comes down to what this journey is all about:  Doing something I’m passionate about!

While I can tell you I won’t be running 20 miles a week anytime soon, I may slip in a 5 mile run here and a 10 mile run there.

I’ll do it on days because I miss it, or for the comradery and most importantly because it brings me a little joy.

After all, a little joy is all we are ever really in search of isn’t it.

me vs. MJ…the journey continues!

Thank you for following along!

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100 Facebook Fans/Likes!!! (Wahooooo!)

Special THANK YOU to my FIRST 100 mevsMJ.com Facebook Fans/Likes!! The 100 of you will always be the first!  Very special to me!  If you haven’t already LIKED the mevsMJ.com Facbook page, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR??? <—It’s a LINK!