Deloris was under considerable stress trying to raise and support three kids while carrying Michael, during the fifth month of her term her mother passed away, and fearing that Deloris" high stress levels at the time her doctor ordered her to remain bed-ridden. Unfortunately, even though she remained bedridden Deloris sustained a "near miscarriage" which only added to an already tumultuous pregnancy. Deloris" rocky pregnancy had an adverse impact on Michael's health. James Jordan recalled "When Michael was born; we thought there might be something wrong with him. He was born with a nosebleed. The hospital kept him three days after Deloris was discharged. He"d have nosebleeds for no reason until he was five, then they just stopped." Jordan's early childhood nosebleeds were not the end of his hardships. .
As a child Michael was accident-prone and had a knack for getting into trouble. Friends and family describe him as a "mischievous child", he had several near-death experiences including a near electrocution and a time where he fell behind the bed and almost suffocated. 1 In addition to his mischief, Michael also had a smart mouth and lacked discipline. "Michael was the laziest kid I had," recalls James Jordan, "He would give every last dime of his allowance to his brothers and sisters and even kids in the neighborhood to do his chores." 1.
Although Michael had his foibles as a youth he was still described as pleasant and happy-go-lucky. The Jordan family was sound. James and Deloris instilled good strong values in their children. They taught Michael to be color-blind, "I never see you for the color. I see you for the person you are. I know I"m recognized as being black, but I don't look at you as being black or white, just as a person." 1 Michael began to develop a love for sports and competition. He played basketball, baseball, and football. Initially his favorite of the three was baseball, but it was through backyard games with his older brother Larry that he fostered his love for basketball.
Courage and determination aren't the only lessons we can learn from successful athletes. Some of the best athletes in history are the ones who can take their achievements in stride. ... It's fine to admire Michael Jordan's wizardry on the court or Picabo Street's finesse on the slopes. ...
