Michael Jordan, renowned for his fearless demeanor on the basketball court, harbors a deep-seated phobia of swimming due to two tragic incidents involving his best friend and high school girlfriend.
This fear, which has persisted throughout his life, stems from the traumatic experience of losing his best friend to drowning. John Salley, Jordan’s former Chicago Bulls teammate, shed light on this phobia during an interview with VladTV, revealing that Jordan cannot swim and is terrified of water. Salley attributed this fear to a harrowing event in Jordan’s past when his best friend drowned.
Jordan himself recounted the incident in an interview with Playboy. He described a day when he and a close friend were swimming and riding the waves. The strong current pulled his friend under, and in a state of panic, his friend latched onto Jordan in what is known as the death lock, a desperate grasp when someone knows they are about to die. Jordan struggled to free himself, almost having to break his friend’s hand to avoid being pulled under as well. Tragically, Jordan’s friend did not survive.
This traumatic event occurred when Jordan was around seven or eight years old. The experience of helplessly watching his friend drown left a lasting impact, instilling a lifelong fear of water that Jordan has never been able to conquer.
In addition to this childhood trauma, Jordan faced another heartbreaking loss during his college years at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. In a 1998 interview with Vanity Fair, Jordan revealed that his girlfriend drowned after being swept away in a flood while they were in college.
“I mean, my girlfriend got swept away in a flood and drowned when we were in college. How can you say there isn’t a plan for all of us?”
This tragic event added another layer to Jordan’s fear of water, reinforcing the profound impact of his earlier experience. Reflecting on these losses, Jordan philosophically pondered the fragility of life. Despite his many triumphs and fearless persona on the basketball court, Jordan’s fear of water remains a poignant reminder of the vulnerabilities and traumas that even the greatest athletes carry with them.
Michael Jordan Had A Very Tough Childhood
Growing up in North Carolina during the 1970s, Michael Jordan faced significant challenges, including racism and strict family discipline. An incident at school was particularly impactful for him as recounted in Roland Lazenby’s 2014 biography, “Michael Jordan: The Life”. A white girl called him a racial slur, and in retaliation, he threw a soda at her, which led to his suspension from school.
This event deeply angered him and led to a period of intense rebellion. During this time, Jordan harbored strong resentment towards white people. However, his views evolved over time, and he later became a vocal advocate against racism.
In response to the 2020 murder of George Floyd, Jordan condemned ingrained racism and announced a $100 million donation to organizations combating racial injustice, emphasizing the need for societal improvement regarding race relations, as per Al-Jazeera.
Jordan’s family life, while stable, was marked by strict discipline, as per ESPN. His mother, Deloris Jordan, took a proactive approach when he was suspended from school for fighting. Instead of allowing him to stay home and watch TV, she took him to her job at a bank and made him sit in the car all day, reading.
This tactic was effective, as he did not get into further trouble afterward. Michael later humorously reflected that such treatment might be considered child abuse today, but acknowledged its effectiveness in keeping him out of trouble.
His father, James Jordan, also played a crucial role in shaping his character. An incident with his father highlighted the tough love he experienced. When Michael was asked to fetch a specific type of wrench and didn’t know what it was, his father dismissively sent him back inside, implying he was better suited to be with the women.
This early treatment and his father’s dismissive attitude towards him became a significant driving force for Michael. His sister, Deloris, noted that each of Michael’s accomplishments was a response to his father’s negative opinions, serving as his battle cry to prove his worth.
Despite these tough experiences, or perhaps because of them, Michael Jordan grew into a highly driven and resilient individual. He channeled his childhood struggles into a legendary basketball career and became a powerful voice for social justice. These early challenges instilled in him a relentless drive to succeed and prove his detractors wrong, ultimately shaping him into one of the greatest athletes of all time.
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