thito_da_skins_fan Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 http://msn.foxsports.com/cbk/story/3745054?GT1=6667 Jordan's son says he's got game, tooINDIANAPOLIS (AP) - Jeffrey Jordan needs no introduction at the Nike All-America Camp. The contagious smile, penetrating stare, and determined look on his boyish 16-year-old face resemble the features of his world-famous father, Michael, and offer proof that young Jeffrey is the true heir to the Air Jordan legacy. If there was any doubt about the lineage, he wears it proudly on the front of his T-shirt: J-O-R-D-A-N. But Jordan has come to Indianapolis to prove one thing - that he, too, can play basketball. "I want to show that I belong here," he said. "I guess I'm not the top one or two or three or four players in my state, but I want to show that I can play here and that I'm not just a name." For Jordan, a student at Loyola Academy College Prep near Chicago, that will be a challenge. His father is considered by many to be the greatest player in NBA history after leading the Chicago Bulls to six titles, and filling the highlight reels with breathtaking dunks. It was also Michael Jordan who turned Nike from a budding shoe company into a worldwide giant. Following in those footsteps could intimidate most kids. Not Jeffrey. "To me, he's just my dad," Jordan said. Jordan realizes he's different. He stands just 6 feet (1.83 meters) - six inches (15 centimeters) shorter than his dad - weighs 170 pounds (76 kilograms), and still remembers the times he attended Bulls practices as a child and watched his father play with an unforgettable fierceness. Already, Jordan is under scrutiny. As Michael Jordan's son, expectations are higher than normal, reporters are already asking about his vertical jump, and it's virtually impossible to hide even when he's playing with 120 other top junior players. "That's the greatest basketball player's son," said Jai Lucas, Jordan's roommate this week. Just two days into the weeklong camp, Jordan has already become the camp's darling. Everywhere he goes, fans and reporters follow, hoping to get a sneak peek at the younger Jordan and gleam any clue they can about whether he can someday approach his father's greatness. Being in the spotlight hardly fazes Jordan. Dealing with dozens of reporters, a rare occurrence for someone not ranked among the best of the 2007 class, he answered questions like a pro - laughing, smiling, joking and telling stories while deftly avoiding the temptation to give away any family secrets. Yet Jordan, who has some leading universities showing interest in him, is intent on carving out his own niche. His number, 32, is a reversal of his father's more familiar 23. He turned down an invitation to attend last year's Nike camp because he didn't think he was ready and, this year, Jordan hopes to use the camp as his coming out party. He glides smoothly without the ball, looking for a chance to put his father's advice about playing fundamentally sound to work. But he may never avoid the questions. "The most common question? Well, that would be whether I was in 'Space Jam,"' he said, referring to the animated film starring his father and several Looney Tunes characters. "I wasn't. The next most common question from kids is whether I live in a big house. I tell them, 'Well, yeah,' and they're like 'Oh man, I wish I could be you."' Jordan has no choice although there certainly are times he would rather just be one of the guys. This camp at least gives him a chance. Lucas is the son of former NBA player and coach John Lucas. Jonnie West is the son of Hall of Famer Jerry West and sons of other former players, such as Patrick Ewing Jr., have preceded him at the Nike camp. But wherever Jordan goes, he still has the target on his back. "Everybody wants to dunk on him because he's his son," said Matthew Bryan-Amaning, a 6-foot-9 (2.06-meter) English player who grew up watching Jordan's father. "But you don't really think that way when you're playing. You just want to play your best basketball." Jordan even acknowledges there have been times he's felt opponents have wanted to "take him out" so they could brag about it to their friends. Off the court, though, Jordan tells of a family life that seems about as regular as most father-son relationships. There are regular debates about the new minimum age limit for the NBA draft - Michael supports it; Jeffrey resents it. And then there are the one-on-one contests, which Jeffrey said have become less frequent as his father ages. "Sometimes he let me beat him, other times he would just try to block my shots," he said. "I beat him once, but he's getting older now, so maybe I could beat him." But Jordan insists it was always his decision to play basketball, though his father did shield him from playing on the national level at an early age. These days, they chat about what works about his game, what doesn't work and what it will take for him to succeed at the next level. But wherever Jeffrey Jordan ends up, he knows this: He will never escape his father's image. "I'm as competitive as he is, I'm just quieter about it," he said. "But that's my dad and it's pretty easy talking about him." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceman Spiff Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 I feel bad for this kid. People are always going to be writing articles like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blondie Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 And don't you know there really ARE guys out there just wanting to score on him......take him out......do whatever.....just to be able to say......."He ain't all that." I hope he can live up to his OWN expectations of himself. Blondie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kilmer17 Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 Calling Gary Nicklaus.......... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
@DCGoldPants Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 man, if he has the drive on the court as his pops, I think he'll be fine. Don't go to UNC now, they are going to stink He should go someplace far from where his Father is worshipped. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bigchuck Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 Yeh i saw the piece ESPN did on him. The kid has good attitude about the whole thing though. He knows the comparisons will be there but he likes it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJeremy Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 good luck kid...you will be fighting an uphill battle as long as you continue to play basketball. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warhead36 Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 Man, the pressure will be ENOURMOUS. I hope he doesn't go to UNC. He should come to Maryland. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GoCommiesGo Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 He is going to be compared to his dad his whole life. Hopefully he can handle it because if he does I think he'll be finel Good genes and what not.l Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a_good_brotha Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 I really feel for the kid. He will be under the microscope his entire career because of his name and it's unfortunate. No one deserves that kind of pressure. I'm not knocking him, but I don't think there will ever be another Michael Jordan. I wish the kid the best of luck and may he deal with any adversity he'll face with courage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OrangeSkin Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 Come on, all you guys that feel sorry for him need to listen to yourselves. His dad is MICHAEL JORDAN. OK, say it again. The kid's father is MICHAEL JORDAN. The most famous and successful athlete in the history of the world. The kid is set for life, he doesn't have to play basketball or work one day until his death. He lives in a humongous mansion. He was born into one of the richest families in the United States. What's to feel sorry for? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceman Spiff Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 Originally posted by OrangeSkin Come on, all you guys that feel sorry for him need to listen to yourselves. His dad is MICHAEL JORDAN. OK, say it again. The kid's father is MICHAEL JORDAN. The most famous and successful athlete in the history of the world. The kid is set for life, he doesn't have to play basketball or work one day until his death. He lives in a humongous mansion. He was born into one of the richest families in the United States. What's to feel sorry for? Yeah, and he'll be under scrutiny for as long as he wants to play a game he likes to play. The kid could have a very good career and still always be measured by his dads standards. those are the biggest shoes you can try to fill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bofluid Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 Originally posted by OrangeSkin Come on, all you guys that feel sorry for him need to listen to yourselves. His dad is MICHAEL JORDAN. OK, say it again. The kid's father is MICHAEL JORDAN. The most famous and successful athlete in the history of the world. The kid is set for life, he doesn't have to play basketball or work one day until his death. He lives in a humongous mansion. He was born into one of the richest families in the United States. What's to feel sorry for? I was hoping by the time I got to the bottom of this thread I would see a response like this. You get a 50/50 point to the sky :point2sky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ancalagon the Black Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 Originally posted by Spaceman Spiff Yeah, and he'll be under scrutiny for as long as he wants to play a game he likes to play. Nothing is stopping him from playing games he likes to play. Nothing is stopping you from playing games you like to play. I'm guessing, though, that no matter how much you like playing any sport, you won't get a chance to play it professionally. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jrockster21 Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 Originally posted by OrangeSkin Come on, all you guys that feel sorry for him need to listen to yourselves. His dad is MICHAEL JORDAN. OK, say it again. The kid's father is MICHAEL JORDAN. The most famous and successful athlete in the history of the world. The kid is set for life, he doesn't have to play basketball or work one day until his death. He lives in a humongous mansion. He was born into one of the richest families in the United States. What's to feel sorry for? For real.....he's worth a million gazillion fufillion dollars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spaceman Spiff Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 Originally posted by Ancalagon the Black Nothing is stopping him from playing games he likes to play. Nothing is stopping you from playing games you like to play. I'm guessing, though, that no matter how much you like playing any sport, you won't get a chance to play it professionally. No, but then again I'm not being hounded for interviews at a basketball camp because my dad is the best player ever. Tough act to live up to, don't you think? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
luckydevil Posted July 13, 2005 Share Posted July 13, 2005 Marcus Jordan is the real deal( younger brother). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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