Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl
He sits in a suite high above the basketball court, protected from potential autograph-seekers and media members and college students with cell-phone cameras. Â Just in case any of them were to, you know, show interest.
For the most part, though, NBA legend Michael Jordan can slip in to watch a basketball game at the University of Central Florida these days without much fanfare. A few folks may gawk and point prior to tipoff, but usually they’re fixated on the same player His Airness is there to watch.
Jordan’s son Marcus.
“I’m sure a lot of people think this opportunity was just handed to me because I’m related to Michael Jordan,†Marcus Jordan told Yahoo! Sports after a game earlier this month. “The truth is that it wasn’t easy. I worked hard to get here, just like everyone else.â€
It’s paying off.
Not just for Marcus Jordan, but for Central Florida as well.
More than a month into the 2010-11 season, the 11-0 Knights are one of seven remaining undefeated teams in college basketball and tout victories over major conference schools such as Florida, Miami and South Florida.
Marcus Jordan is one of the main reasons.
A 6-foot-3, 200-pound guard, he ranks second on the team in scoring with 15.2 points per game and is also averaging three assists. Earlier this season he paid homage to dear ol’ dad when he soared for a tomahawk slam over a Stetson player.
The dunk – the first of Jordan’s career – was featured as one of the Top 10 plays on “SportsCenter†and came moments after Stetson fans had chanted “You’re not Michael†while Jordan was at the free-throw line.
The taunts didn’t bother Jordan. He and his older brother, Jeffrey – who is redshirting at UCF this season after spending three years at Illinois – have been hearing them their whole lives.
In elementary school, friends used to pester Marcus and Jeffrey for free pairs of sneakers or ask them if they starred with their father in the movie “Space Jam.†During middle school and AAU basketball games, parents sometimes complained to referees that the Jordan boys received favorable calls because of their last name.
By the time they reached high school, every opposing player wanted to be the guy that held Marcus Jordan to single digits or the one who dunked in his face. For Marcus, getting a shot blocked was no big deal. But the kid who swatted it would have a story to tell – and probably embellish – for years.
It didn’t take long for Marcus to become numb to it all. While everyone else was busy making comparisons, he said there came a time when he realized he’d never be able to emulate arguably the best player in NBA history.
And no one else would, either.
Written By Jason King & Full Story HERE