50. McDonald's Pitchman
Photograph By Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images
Jordan and Larry Bird starred in one of the more memorable sports commercials in 1993 in which they played a game of H-O-R-S-E for Jordan's bag of McDonald's. Jordan also became the first athlete to have a sandwich named after him by McDonald's, which introduced the McJordan as a regional promotion during the Bulls' title runs. Twenty years later, a gallon of McDonald's McJordan barbecue sauce was sold on eBay for almost $10,000.
49. Heat Retire No. 23
Photograph By Victor Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images
The Miami Heat picked an unlikely player as their first retired jersey number, hoisting Jordan's No. 23 to the rafters even though Jordan never played for the Heat. Team president Pat Riley honored Jordan on April 11, 2003, before Jordan's Washington Wizards played the Heat. "No one will ever wear No. 23 for the Miami Heat. You're the best," Riley said to Jordan.
48. First Triple-Double
Photograph By AP Photo/John Swart
Jordan recorded the first of 28 triple-doubles in the regular season when he had 35 points, 14 rebounds and 15 assists against the Denver Nuggets on Jan. 14, 1985. Jordan posted 15 triple-doubles during the 1988-89 season, including 10 in 11 games. He is also the only player to record a triple-double in the All-Star Game.
47. Championship Reunion
Photograph By Ray Amati/NBAE via Getty Images
The Bulls honored the 20th anniversary of their NBA title on March 12, 2011, reuniting most of the players who delivered the franchise its first championship. "For us to reunite, tell about old stories, brings back a lot of great memories," Jordan said. "I wish we could turn the clock back. That's how I feel. But Father Time's coming, touches everybody. You've got to deal with the cards that you have. I miss it. I miss it."
46. Sportsman Of Year
Photograph By Ken Levine/Getty Images
After breaking through for his first championship, beating Magic Johnson and the Lakers, Jordan was named Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year in 1991. He has been on the magazine's cover a record 49 times.
45. 40 At 40
Photograph By Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE/Getty Images
Jordan was the oldest scoring champion in NBA history, and on Feb. 21, 2002, he became the first 40-year-old to score 40 points in an NBA game. He scored 43 points in 43 minutes of an 89-86 victory over the Nets. "I don't feel like 40," he said after the game. "I feel I can compete, and on certain nights I can compete with the best."
44. Century's Best
Photograph By Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images
Jordan topped Babe Ruth for the title of greatest North American athlete of the 20th century as determined by ESPN SportsCentury's 48-member panel in 1999.
43. Jumpman Brand Is Born
Photograph By AP Photo/Rick Bowmer
The Air Jordan line became a subsidiary of Nike in 1997 and signed up-and-coming NBA players such as Ray Allen, Vin Baker, Michael Finley and Eddie Jones to wear its shoes. According to Forbes, the Jordan Brand has annual revenues of more than $1 billion, and its market share of the U.S. basketball shoe market is 71 percent. The rest of Nike holds 22 percent, while adidas and Reebok account for just 3 percent and 2 percent, respectively.
42. 'Be Like Mike'
Photograph By Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
One of many products Jordan endorsed, Gatorade began its "Be Like Mike" ad campaign in August of 1991 after Jordan won his first title with the Bulls. The catchy jingle's chorus quickly became iconic and helped solidify Jordan's role as sports' greatest pitchman.
41. Michael Jordan, Movie Star
Photograph By AP Photo/Marty Lederhandler
After years of making TV commercials, Jordan starred in "Space Jam," a blend of live action and animation with Looney Tunes characters. Behind a massive marketing campaign and a hit soundtrack, "Jam" grossed more than $230 million worldwide and proved that Jordan could be a winner at the box office too.
Comments appreciated!
Part 2 Coming soon..
