Quotable Michael Jordan: Words of Wit, Wisdom, and Inspiration by and about Michael Jordan, Basketball's Greatest Superstar

FROM THE PUBLISHER

Michael Jordan was arguably the greatest player ever to play basketball. Even then, it's a proclamation that doesn't tell the whole story. Yes, he was supremely talented, and, of course, he led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships sandwiched around a minor-league baseball stint. Beyond that, though, there's so much more to what made MJ so special.

His unwavering competitiveness -- a will to win that bordered on obsession. The easy smile. The friendly rapport with fans, the media, and even opposing players. The confidence. The charisma. The intensity. A natural in front of the camera. At times it seemed Jordan knew something that we mere mortals didn't, whether it was basketball, the workings of the human mind, or life's secret to success.

Jordan was wise beyond his years, and his peers, when it came to understanding the game. He pushed teammates to the limit, and that was just in practice. His self-awareness as a player was uncanny: It enabled him to overcome adversities such as sickness one night or a mugging defense the next to achieve results others could only dream of.