For the Love of the Game : My Story [Hardcover]

Michael Jordan (Author), Mark Vancil (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 27, 1998

For 13 brilliant seasons Michael Jordan danced the dance of greatness across hardwood floors of basketball arenas from New York to Los Angeles to Barcelona and Paris. With a warrior's heart and an artist's grace, Jordan long ago transcended the sport to become one of the 20th century's global icons.

On the court, his almost mythic flair for the spectacular prompted former Los Angeles Laker superstar Magic Johnson to say simply, "There's Michael, then there's all the rest of us."

Off the court, Jordan's ability to alter markets and drive the business of his marketing partners is unprecedented.

Through it all, Jordan showed the world that greatness, true greatness, comes from the inside out. He remains perhaps the greatest practice player in the history of sports, his desire to improve upon his own example legendary. When critics questioned his all-around ability, he became the game's most dominant defensive player at his position. When teams decided to close down the lane and eliminate drives to the basket, he became a deadly jump shooter. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson had the most successfully teams of the 1980s but never won more than two consecutive championships. The Bulls won three straight--twice.

In For the Love of the Game, Jordan takes us through the wonder of his career on the court and away from the game. From the dream that preceded the game-winning shot against Georgetown in the 1982 NCAA Finals to the methodical dissection of the Utah Jazz prior to his game-winning shot in Game 6 of the 1998 Finals, Jordan pulls back the curtain on one of the most remarkable lives this century.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

It's not easy imagining a volume capable of capturing the grace, the joy, the flamboyance, and the wizardry of Michael Jordan, but this hybrid--melding autobiography, celebration, spectacular photography, and cutting-edge graphics--comes awfully close. Like Jordan driving the lane, it's a thing of beauty; harder to analyze than it is to admire, accept, gaze at, and enjoy.

As befits the ultimate star in a game that has marketed itself with perfect razzle-dazzle, For the Love of the Game is as visually brash as it is glitzy. In page after stunning page, Jordan traces his ascension from college star to object of worldwide adoration. While most of the focus is, of course, on the NBA, there are significant side trips into baseball, the 1992 Olympic Dream Team, his advertising omnipresence, his family, and even his privacy. On the surface, the pictures--and their presentation--are more than enough to preserve and praise the Jordan legend, but For the Love of the Game has something more. It has Michael Jordan.

Jordan's text is everything the flashy images are not; it is straight, thoughtful, and revealing. At times, the relationship of word and image is breathtaking, especially on a particular pair of two-page layouts. In the first, Jordan asks, "When does jumping become flying?" His answer, framed by photos that would turn Superman green with envy, indicates that Jordan is genuinely amazed by his own talents. The second is his reflection on "The Shot," his buzzer-beater over Cleveland's Craig Ehlo to win game 5 in the 1989 playoffs. The story is told in 24 pictures taken over the final three seconds. Below that is a chart of 25 of Jordan's game-winning shots. But it's this Jordan observation that pulls the image and text together: "I never considered the negative consequence of missing the last shot in a game." It's an attitude that defines the man, and For the Love of the Game reflects it with a stylish combination of elegance, power, and beauty. (Want more Jordan? Check out an image from his book. © 1998 by Rare Air, Ltd. Text copyright © 1998 by Michael Jordan. Photo credit: Walter Iooss, Jr) --Jeff Silverman

From Library Journal

A career retrospective with 200 photographs; expect incredible publicity.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 100 pages
• Publisher: Crown; 1st edition (October 27, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0609602063
• ISBN-13: 978-0609602065
• Product Dimensions: 12.1 x 10.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (91 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #178,208 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #9 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( J ) > Jordan, Michael

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A deep look into the mind and heart of brilliance, May 30, 2003

By 

jasenao (Dothan, Alabama, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For the Love of the Game : My Story (Hardcover)

When I bought this, I was expecting a thick book filled with nothing but pages of reading, and I couldn't have been more excited about the chance of owning it. Upon receiving it, I was like, "What's this??" It was a thin book and it looked to be more filled with spectacular photographs moreso than interesting reading. I was disappointed at first glance because it wasn't what I was expecting, but before I'd know it, I would become deeply compelled by what this book has to offer. And I would also learn a valuable lesson in the process.

There's actually a good bit of reading here in this book, and the great photography of classic MJ moments, such as the free throw line dunks, the 1998 game-winner that won the Finals, etc., only enhance what is written in words from the man himself, Michael Jordan. For instance, MJ talks about how he used to tell people he could fly for awhile. He was just talking, but when he actually watched a video of his famous double-pump free throw line dunk, he even admits that he was in awe. On that same page is a few shots of him flying through the air with an eagle's grace. The photographs allow you to literally SEE what you're reading. A book with just pages of words wouldn't have been able to convey that imagery or subtle feeling as well.

The still photos that grace every single page are just icing on the cake, however. What's REALLY intriguing are some of the things you'll read. What did Michael Jordan do with all those pairs of Air Jordans? Does he think he's the greatest ever, or that he'll always be the greatest? Why did he like playing in Madison Square Garden so much? What does he TRULY think of Jerry Krause and the way he did what he did (VERY surprising what he has to say about this)? What one player would he like to play against, of all the ones that have ever played in the NBA?

Those are only a few of the questions that will be answered to those who read For the Love of the Game: My Story, by Michael Jordan. It covers nearly all the major stories and highlights of his career, including his baseball troubles and triumphs. Some of the responses and readings you'll probably remember or not be surprised by. But just wait until you read about MJ's opinion of Magic Johnson coming down with the AIDS virus, and about what MJ would do/think if he came down with it.

The book mainly focuses on each of Michael Jordan's six championships. He breaks them down separately and gives his views on the experiences, such as the 1992 NBA Finals between the Bulls and Portland, when almost everything was focused on how MJ would measure up to Clyde Drexler. Keep in mind, however, that this book was made in 1998. If you're wanting to read about MJ's Washington Wizards experiences, then look elsewhere, because everything, including the various statistics, all relate to Jordan's years with the Chicago Bulls.

One thing that For the Love of the Game: My Story really taught me is that looks can be deceiving. I like it even better than I would have liked a book filled with nothing but words, because the pictures really give the book its own life. Two heads are better than one, and the two heads in this case are the pictures and the words. If you're an avid Michael Jordan fan (he's certainly my favorite athlete of all time), then this is the one book you need to own. How could another one be better? The words are all from Jordan himself, and they cover his best years in basketball.

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great photography, September 18, 1999

By 

BC - See all my reviews

This review is from: For the Love of the Game : My Story (Hardcover)

This was an excellent, fun, and moving book. I agree that the writing wasn't really compelling on its own, but coupled with the brilliant photography (you'll "double-take" more than once while reading it) and Jordan's limitless charisma, this was a very fast read (for me, one evening in the local public library).

However, I do agree with some who say that the price is a bit much. I'd probably only buy this book if I could buy a Porsche. That's why I only give it four stars.

All in all, this is a good book about a man who exemplifies physical excellence. It's just a little bit on the expensive side.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Develope A Love For The Game, July 7, 2002

By 

Nick Wade (Louisville, Ky) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For the Love of the Game : My Story (Hardcover)

Many people have an inspiration or a love for something that demands them to strive for achievements. Whatever the interest, if the desire is great, can be turned into an obsession. With talent and the love, one can reach great hieghts of success. One man that fits this description is "His Airness", Michael Jordan. No athlete in any sport can come close to possessing the love for the game that burns inside of him. The information made available to the public has always been limited to what researchers, staticians, and reporters have written in a book or article. "For The Love Of The Game: My Story" is written by Michael Jordan himself, in his words, only edited by Mark Vancil, then published. Most other books about Jordan are written through some sort of bias or opinion, but this book is the story as seen by the eyes of the man himself.

Jordan describes many of his greatest triumphs and defeats both famous and not so famous. The reader is entertained with many accomplishments and setbacks in his life from childhood, to the death of his father, Mr James Jordan and his final retirement from the National Basketball Association. Mr. Jordan was the greatest inspiration in MJ's life. In the beginning, Jordan's father saw something in his son that no one else could see, not even Michael himself. Jordan thought that it was just a father's pride and hopes for his son to achieve greatness in the form of numerous father and son motivational speeches. Jordan never realized his father was right until after he established himself as the greatest basketball player to ever live. When Jordan became a father himself, he says that he now can look at his own children and see which one is going to be better basketball player or football player.

Betrayal and disappointment are also encountered in this book as Jordan explains what he calls the most trying times of his proffessional career, the situation he went through with the owners and managers of the team, Chicago Bulls. Jordan states in the book, "They were Businessmen. They were not sportsmen and they didn't have a true appreciation for the game. They made business decisions and basketball just happened to be the business." The businessmen were Jerry Kruas and Jerry Riensdorf, who had made the decision to make Jordan sit out games in order for the team to finish the season bad enough to get a high pick in the NBA Draft. This was made despite Jordan's full recovery after grueling rehab and training.

Many achievments once deemed impossible were accomplished and unreachable hieghts were reached in Jordan's life despite many doubts. He now is the most endorsing athlete of all time. Nike and Jordan have made millions upon millions of dollars together through basketball shoes and a full line of sports apparel. Although being the top shoe and sports brand, it was not Michael's first choice. Matter of fact, he did not even want to sign a deal with them because he was holding out for a deal to come with Adidas. No deal came, so he signed with Nike. The price of Nike stock in the fall of 1984 when Jordan signed, was a mere seven dollars a share. The price in July of 1998, after his sixth NBA championship ring, was $418 dollars a share.

Many people that have great wealth and fame are sometimes looked at as almost "untouchable" or as if they are on another planet. This is not the truth in Jordan's case despite being the most recognized face on Earth. Instead of forgetting who they are and where they come from, some stay true to "their game". One story Jordan remembers is of him driving the streets of downtown Chicago and spotting a high school student cutting class. Picking him up and making a deal, Jordan takes the youngster back to class. If the teen promised to go back to and stay in school, Jordan would give him the very shoes he wore on his feet. Jordan walked out of the school barefooted.

Through detailed statistics and beautifully illustrated pictures, the story of Michael Jordan by Michael Jordan will turn any reader's head. By reading this piece, a reader will quickly be transformed into a fan, but not just a fan of Jordan but also of the game he plays. While developing a sense of respect, anyone can relate to the man and his story with all aspects of life including love and importance of family and sports, developing untainted friendships, betrayal by the trusted, and suffering the loss of a close loved one. The greatest inspiration dramatically leaving someone's life is usually a reason to give up. This book will show you that the strength within yourself, when recognized, is the greatest force of all. Everyone can relate to this, even Michael Jordan.