The “I want to be like Mike” were some of the most iconic commercials of their day. At the time, the idea of signing a single person to represent a brand for such a long period of time (and for so much money) was unheard of.

Gatorade knew what it had in Michael Jordan. Bernie Pitzel, the creative head for the advertising firm they used felt like he knew what people wanted:

“I knew that a million people wanted to be like Mike,” Pitzel said.

When you have a career like Michael Jordan, now the owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, had it is understandable that up and coming players now and for generations to come are going to use him as a measuring stick. After all, who would not want to have a career with the following on their resume:

  • NCAA Champion (1982)
  • 6× NBA Champion (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 5× NBA Most Valuable Player (1988, 1991–1992, 1996, 1998)
  • 14× NBA All-Star (1985–1993, 1996–1998, 2002–2003)
  • 6× NBA Finals MVP (1991–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 10× NBA scoring champion (1987–1993, 1996–1998)
  • 2x Olympic Champion (1984 and 1992)
  • Owner of the Charlotte Bobcats

Is there anyone that would not want to own their own NBA franchise and win champions everywhere you go? I think not!

Apparently there is a guy in Washington that wants a resume like that and he is not afraid to tell the world that he thinks he is good enough to get it. In case you haven’t heard, this is what Jordan Crawford said in reference to his Airness:

“…I feel like I can be better than Michael Jordan. When I’m done playing, I don’t want people to say, Michael Jordan is the best player. I want that to be me. That’s how I am. That’s how I was built.”

…I’m not settling for anything less. I feel like I’m better than him, anyway. My mom is going to say I’m better than him.”

Had he stopped after his first statement I think no one would have had a problem with what he said. Young players should set goals that they want to surpass during their careers. To set one’s sights on goals like what Michael Jordan accomplished may be pretty lofty and unrealistic; few can say they are even close to being in the stratosphere as His Airness.

However, if one does set their minds towards achieving greatness and works hard to get there, they’ll do pretty good, right? That could very well be what Crawford meant with what he said, but for now all people are focusing on is his final statement when he said that he thinks he’s better than MJ.

In all likelihood, pigs will fly and that play with all the flames will have to freeze over before Jordan Crawford will be better than Michael Jordan. However, in all fairness, what’s to say that he can’t be?

Jordan Crawford is still very young. He must have some talent, otherwise he would not be a professional basketball player. Although he has yet to really distinguish himself in the NBA, there is nothing that says that a man that just turned 23 can’t still achieve greatness in a game where players often have 15+year careers?

I haven’t heard if Michael has had any response or has even heard what this young whipper snapper has said. I’d like to think that he is busy envisioning what his next move could/should be to make the Charlotte Bobcats into the competitors that he and fans want them to be.

Maybe he has heard and he’s sitting back in his easy chair and remembering that Gatorade  commercial from so many years ago. Apparently it is still true.

Everybody wants to be like Mike.