the airman is back
(in the 1988 7)slam dunk contest)
“there he goes. he goes in straight, goes up and now he sideways. look at the air! look at the hang time! look at the flying motion! look at the...”
(in game 3 of 1991 nba finals)
“a spetacular move by michael jordan! that’s thirteen consecutive 8)field goals.”
(in game 6 of 1998 nba finals)
“it’s over! bulls win the 9)title! the bulls are the world champions again! oh, my word! who would have thunk it! the chicago bulls have won their sixth nba championship.”
(in the 10)wizard’s first game against 11)new york knicks in the 2001-2002 season.)
“he is now back! holy mackerel.”
press conference
(about the reason to retire in 1998 ) even when i retired the last time, i wasn’t, i was, i d
idn’t say i was ready to quit the game. i didn’t want to go through the whole rebuilding process at that time. you know i think everybody asked me well if 12)phil would have stayed there and the team would have stayed intact i would have still been playing.
(about 13)barkley’s decision) no, i don’t see where he has a point. i love charles barkley, you guys know that. you guys love him because he can give you quick comments and 14)wit and whatever. you know, i never utilize his evaluations for what i try to do as a basketball player. i tried to intrigue him by seeing if he can push himself to get to a challenge of possibly coming back and playing and charles chose it from his own perspective and his motivation that he couldn’t.
(about the reason to come back)ah, when i step on the basketball court, you know, i’m going to consider myself as trying to be the best basketball player i can be. you know, in comparisons to others, i think, that’s going to be something that’s evaluated
over time. i’m going to have total confidence once i step on the basketball court that i can do all the things that i’m capable of doing other than 15)take off from the free throw line other than the physical capabilities that i probably can’t do or wouldn’t want to do.
(about the aim to play) physically, i know that i’m not 25 years old. i’m not, i’m, not, stepping up here and saying that i will be 25 years old when i step on that court but i feel like i can play the game of basketball at the highest level, ah, and that’s what i’m aiming to do.
(about the possible failure)you know, i’m not expecting myself to come out and score 40 or 50 16)points the first night. you know i’m just going to try to work my way back into the intensity of the game. i’m not afraid to take on a challenge. i’m not afraid to take a step. and if i fall, i fall. i pick myself up and move on. if we all can learn something in life it’s that don’t&nb
sp; be afraid to take on something that you believe you’re capable of achieving. you know, if my kids get anything from this whole thing it’s if you have a vision about something go out and do it. don’t let anyone determine what your beliefs may be. if you fail, ok, i tried. you never know if i would fail or if i, you can’t fail unless you tried.
(about his 17)legacy) you know, so i’m not looking at this legacy thing as much as you guys may be looking at it. i’m not here to try to redefine the game of basketball. everything that worked for me may not work for them. i’m just going to try to give them the best angle to make them better basketball players and hopefully that’s going to make us a better team. and that i can pass that on to other players in the league and make the game better.
(about his help on the victims of the 9.11 attack) i know my place. i understand that i can help and this is my way of helping and hopefully it
;can help.ce
