For a few brief moments eight years ago today, Michael Jordan was the biggest story in the country.
Jordan’s game-winning shot against Utah was the first image on The Today Show that morning. “Air Jordan is taxiing for take off,” Matt Lauer told viewers over the image of a triumphant Jordan. “Legendary basketball great Michael Jordan is getting ready to return to the game he loves today, Tuesday, September 11, 2001.”
Hours later, the country was in chaos, and Jordan was rightfully forgotten. He announced his comeback two weeks later — a comeback that, like Barry Bonds‘ home run record and many other sports achievements at the time (save for the Yankees’ stirring 2001 World Series run), never seemed to truly matter.
Eight years later, Jordan is again one of the biggest stories in the country. On Friday, September 11, 2009, he will be inducted into the Pro Basketball Hall of Fame.
Jordan’s achievement is not surprisingly a major story. ESPN is giving the Induction Ceremony more attention than in years past, and the Ceremony itself was moved to a bigger venue to accommodate increased interest.
Still, one gets the feeling that again, Jordan does not seem to truly matter on this particular date. On September 11, 2001, his comeback was a mild diversion made irrelevant by the horror that took place in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania. On September 11, 2009, his induction is another diversion, put into perspective by the somber remembrances of those who lost loved ones eight years ago today.
