Michael Jordan’s speech at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 2009 is already the stuff of lore. Can His Airness ever live up to that incredible brand of emotional bravado again? He’ll get the chance to try soon enough.
The International Basketball Federation has announced that Jordan will be inducted to the FIBA Hall of Fame on Sept. 19 in Lille, France. This year’s nine-man class also includes Lithuania’s Sarunas Marciulionis, Russia’s Vladimir Tkachenko, the United State’s Anne Donovan, Cuba’s Ruperto Herrera Tabio, France’s Antoine Rigadeu, coach Jan Stirling of Australia, technical official Robert Blanchard of France, and contributor Noah Klieger of Israel.
Jordan won Olympic gold medals with the United States in 1984 and 1992, the latter of which came as a member of the Dream Team. The NBA’s first global icon, his FIBA enshrinement is deserved as much for on-court accomplishments as it is off-court influence. In terms of lasting worldwide impact, there will never be another Jordan.
And in September, hopefully the 52-year-old remarks on that reality with the similar wildly entertaining arrogance he did six years ago.
(Via AP, via OfficialHoophall)
