Michael Jordan is widely considered the greatest NBA player of all time after a 15-year career that saw him dominate his competition while taking the Chicago Bulls from being a terrible team to becoming one of the greatest dynasties in league history. MJ always tried his best to give the fans the best show they could see, which is why he didn’t like to miss games.
His Airness had many stories where he showed how cool he was off the court, but those actions were often overlooked by people in the media. More than once, Jordan was scrutinized for his off-court persona until he couldn’t take it anymore and fired back, sending a big message to some writers who didn’t like the way he managed himself when he wasn’t playing.
During a 1992 interview with Playboy, MJ opened up on being criticized by both white and black writers, taking a shot at them for picking on somebody who’s trying to be a good role model for those who looked up to him.
Playboy: For all the credit, respect, celebrity and money that have come to you in your career, you remain a black man in a country dominated by white corporate structures. Recently, you have even taken shots from black writers who suggest you’re not black enough.
Jordan: I realize that I’m black, but I like to be viewed as a person, and that’s everybody’s wish. That’s what Martin Luther King fought for, that everybody could be treated equal and be viewed as a person. In some ways I can’t understand it, because here we are striving for equality and yet people are going to say I’m not black enough? At a time when actually I thought I was trying to be equal? I try to be a role model for black kids, white kids, yellow kids, green kids. This is what I felt was good about my personality. Don’t knock me off the pedestal that you wanted me to get onto. I get criticized about not giving back to the community—well, that’s not true. I do. I just don’t go out and try to seek publicity from it. I could hold a press conference on everything that I do for the black community. But I don’t choose to do that, so people are not aware of it.
Playboy: Does the accusation sting?
Jordan: Yeah, it’s really unfair. Because they ask for more black role models, yet they’re stabbing me when I’m up here trying to be a very positive black role model.
Even though things aren’t as intense as they are right now, MJ had his ‘fair’ share of criticism from the media before. Being a superstar isn’t easy, even less when you’re the face of the NBA and the best player in the world. He was just trying to have fun and win games and championships, but others tried to make him as they pictured him in their minds.
MJ always stood his ground and never let anybody influence him. That earned him hate and love, but he was at peace with that.
