Being the son of NBA legend came with a lot of advantages for Marcus Jordan, who was able to live a wealthy lifestyle from an early age.
Marcus Jordan was born in 1990, just before the peak of his father’s (Michael Jordan’s) career. Unfortunately, this meant that Jordan was frequently too preoccupied to spend quality time with Marcus and the rest of his family.
Obviously, the same could be said for every professional athlete, many of whom devote endless hours of their lives to maintaining peak physical condition.
Speaking openly about sports fathers, Marcus shared his thoughts and discussed how certain elite sportsmen, such as Lionel Messi, are changing the narrative about what it means to be a family guy as a sports icon.
“I like seeing that they do things together as a family,” Marcus said of Messi’s popular photo with his family at a Miami grocery store. “I believe we discussed this. Growing up in the family of a public celebrity is similar to becoming an athlete. Dads sometimes receive a bad rap for not always being present. And I have the impression that Messi is going grocery shopping with his family, even in public. So you enjoy seeing that!”
The life of an NBA great is hectic, and it often leaves families yearning for more time together. Marcus clearly experienced this to some extent, which is why he speaks with such authority on the subject today.
Michael Jordan’s Unseen Side
Jordan was undoubtedly at home shielding his family from the spotlight when he wasn’t playing, practicing, or traveling. Jordan wasn’t flawless, but he didn’t always treat his family the same way he treated competitors.
Indeed, his son Marcus once stated that he could “turn off” that side of him and be a father whenever he wished.
“One of the most common misconceptions was that he couldn’t turn off his competitiveness.” He could easily turn it off and be a dad. But once it was on, it stayed on.”
Needless to say, when you’re dealing with a celebrity like Jordan, the family dynamic is always tricky.
With no way out of the spotlight and the pressure to always be one step ahead, one can only image how difficult it must have been to find enough time in the day to be with those you love.
Things worked well for MJ and his family, and they appear to be working for Messi, who is having the time of his life in Miami. Perhaps other athletes should take note and follow in their footsteps.