Although known for his illustrious basketball career, Michael Jordan nevertheless had the opportunity to test several other disciplines during his life. And it is one of them, which he particularly likes nowadays, which he describes as more competitive.
The many spectators of The Last Dance were able to discover it when the documentary was released: Michael Jordan was not always predestined to play basketball. Deemed too small to join team 1 of his high school at the age of 15, he nevertheless persevered, and can now be proud of it. His efforts thus allowed him to become one of, if not the best player in NBA history.
But before being a lover of the orange ball, MJ appeared above all as a big sports fan. He demonstrated it during his career, with a one-and-a-half-year interlude spent as a baseball player, but also after his retirement. Recently in discussion with Stephen Curry, he rightly considered that it is indeed one of his “other” favorite disciplines which turns out to be the most raised, namely… golf.
I started playing golf because, in my opinion, competitively it is the most difficult sport to play. (In basketball), I can always respond to an opponent, whether he is good in defense or in attack, whatever. But golf is like playing in front of a mirror. You have to fight against yourself constantly, to try to achieve perfection. With every swing. At every putt.
An opinion that obviously did not deny his interlocutor, also a big fan of greens and clubs. Both agree in affirming that golf requires much more mental resources than basketball, since it only calls upon its own qualities. It is therefore impossible to blame anyone else for anything in the event of a failure. And when Mike gets angry with him on the courses, he luckily has a loophole.
For a competitive person like me, that’s what keeps me sane. Because when I moved away from basketball, that’s what allowed me to continue to use my competitive genes. Now that I don’t have basketball anymore, I have golf, and it’s this sport that drives me crazy! So I go fishing from time to time, because I have to be patient, and then I can transcribe it to golf.
No doubt for Michael Jordan: golf is the most demanding sport in terms of mental strength. NBA fans should nevertheless stick to their positions, and focus on the spectacular side of the league!
