James Jordan, the father of Michael Jordan, was murdered in July 1993. At the pinnacle of his NBA career, Jordan was heartbroken by the devastating news. The demise had such an impact on him that he even contemplated quitting sports.
Phil Knight, the founder of Nike, made a significant show of solidarity with Jordan during his difficult times. Jordan invited Knight to his father’s burial because of their strong bond of friendship. Jordan even reserved a seat at the very front row for Knight. In his memoir, Knight also included a number of tales regarding the kinds of friendships he made while working at Nike. In one section of the book, Knight asserted that he eventually grew close to the sportsmen he signed for the business.
“They’re all like sons, and brothers—family. No less. When Tiger’s father, Earl, dies, the church in Kansas holds fewer than one hundred, and I’m honored to be included. When Jordan’s father is murdered, I fly to North Carolina for the funeral and discover with a shock that a seat is reserved for me in the front row“, Knight said in his book “Shoe Dog”
Knight had undoubtedly rendered numerous friendships throughout his career. But the little but extremely sweet gesture touched the core of his heart to greater extents.
Michael Jordan was “inconsolable” after his father’s death
James Jordan’s passing away in July 1993 left Michael Jordan in an awful predicament. James Jordan was murdered while traveling by car from Charlotte to Chicago. When Michael Jordan found out the news, he was back home in Chicago and was allegedly “inconsolable.” He described the feeling as “like somebody had punched me in the stomach.”
Jordan was struggling in the weeks and months that followed in coping with his despondency. He distanced himself from his loved ones and friends, and he even thought of quitting basketball. According to him, he felt as though he had “lost his compass.”
“I lost my compass when my father died. I didn’t know what to do or where to go“, Jordan sighed.
After the demise of his father, Jordan experienced a range of painful emotions. He experienced a variety of sensations, such as despair, rage, remorse, and perplexity. But despite everything, he drew strength from his father’s recollections, and he eventually managed to find a way to carry on with his life.