|
The God in Youth: Michael Jordan There were already signs that he had a good deal of talent. Harvest Smith, a classmate and close friend who in those days played basketball with him practically every day, thought he was the best player on their ninth-grade teamhe was small, but he was every quick. Youd see him get a shot off, and youd wonder how he did it, because he wasnt that bit, Smith said, but it was the quickness. The only question was how big he was going to beand how far up he would take his skill level. The summer after ninth grade, Jordan and Smith both went to Pop Herrings basketball camp. Neither of them had yet come into his body, and almost all of the varsity players, two and sometimes three years older, seemed infinitely stronger at that moment when a year or two in physical development can make all the difference. In Smiths mind there was no doubt which of the two of them was the better playerit was Michael by far. But on the day the varsity cuts were announcedit was the big day of the year, for they had all known for weeks when the list would be postedhe and Roy Smith had gone to the Laney gym. Smiths name was on it, Michaels was not. It was the worst day of Jordans young life. The list was alphabetical, so he focused on where the Js should be, and it wasnt there, and he kept reading and rereading the list, hoping somehow that he had missed it, or that the alphabetical listing had been done incorrectly. That day he went home by himself and went to his room and cried. Smith understood what was happeningMichael, he knew, never wanted you to see him when he was hurt. | 
