Sandra Martinez stood outside Anderson’s Sporting Goods on a chilly Chicago morning, her breath fogging the glass as she gazed at the bright red Bulls jersey in the window. Number 23. Michael Jordan. The jersey her son Thomas had dreamed about since he first picked up a basketball. She pressed her fingers to the glass, tracing the bold numbers, and tried not to think about the bills waiting at home.
Inside, the store was quiet. William Anderson, the owner, was organizing the new merch, while Barbara Miller arranged a shipment of basketball shoes. Sandra hesitated before entering, clutching a worn envelope full of carefully saved bills—tips from the diner, overtime from the grocery store. She had counted it a hundred times, but it still wasn’t enough.
Sandra’s life was a balancing act: two jobs, rent, groceries, and a growing boy who never complained, even when she said no to things other kids took for granted. Thomas’s birthday was coming up. He’d never asked for much, but this year, he wanted something special: an authentic Bulls jersey. Not a cheap knockoff, but the real thing. The price tag was a reminder of everything just out of reach.
She walked in, the bell above the door chiming softly. William looked up and recognized her from the diner. He gave a warm nod as Sandra approached the counter, her hands trembling as she pulled out the envelope.
“I was hoping,” she began, voice barely above a whisper, “maybe I could put a little down and pay the rest in installments? My son’s birthday is soon, and this jersey… it means a lot to him.”
William listened, understanding in his eyes. He started to explain their layaway policy, but before he could finish, the bell chimed again. Someone else entered, tall and broad-shouldered, moving with a quiet confidence that seemed to fill the room.
Sandra didn’t notice at first, too focused on her conversation. But the employees did. Barbara’s hands stilled on a box of sneakers, and Mary, another staffer, exchanged glances with William.
Sandra continued, “He plays at the community center. The coaches say he’s got heart. He helps the younger kids, stays late to practice. He watches every Bulls game, knows all the stats. But mostly, he just wants to feel like he belongs.”
The stranger moved closer, pausing by a rack of Bulls jerseys. He listened, his eyes lingering on the number 23. When Sandra finally noticed him, she felt a strange sense of recognition, though she couldn’t place him.
“Excuse me,” the man said, his voice warm and gentle. “I couldn’t help overhearing. Your son sounds like a remarkable kid.”
Sandra nodded, a little embarrassed. “He tries hard. He’s a good teammate. He says it’s not just about winning, but about helping others get better.”
The man smiled, a glimmer of pride in his eyes. “That’s what makes a true leader,” he said. “It’s not the name on the back, but what you do for your team.”
William watched, realizing who the man was, but said nothing. The stranger turned to Sandra. “May I?” He nodded toward the jersey she’d been eyeing.
Sandra hesitated, but nodded. The man took the jersey from the rack, examined it, then turned to William. “I’d like to buy this jersey, please. And if it’s all right, I’d like to sign it for Thomas.”
Sandra’s eyes widened in disbelief. “No, I can’t let you—”
He held up a hand, gentle but firm. “Please. Sometimes, accepting help is as important as giving it. Consider it an investment in a young man who already understands what matters.”
William handed over a pen. The man laid the jersey on the counter, writing a message in bold, confident strokes.
“To Thomas: Leadership, perseverance, and helping others are what the game is really about. Keep showing the way. Your friend, Michael Jordan.”
Sandra gasped as the realization dawned. Her hands trembled as she reached for the jersey, tears welling in her eyes.
“Thank you,” she whispered, unable to say more.
Michael smiled. “Don’t thank me. Just tell Thomas that this jersey isn’t about me or the Bulls. It’s about what he already knows—the real victories come from lifting others up.”
He reached into his wallet and pulled out several tickets. “There’s a special Bulls exhibition game next week. I think Thomas and your family should be there.”
Sandra clutched the tickets, overwhelmed. “I… I don’t know how to thank you.”
“You already have,” Michael said. “By raising a son who understands that true greatness isn’t about personal glory. It’s about making others better.”
He glanced at the envelope of money still in her hand. “Keep that for his next pair of shoes. Something tells me he’ll need them.”
As Michael left, he turned to William. “Set up an account for the community center. Make sure those kids have what they need.”
The story of that morning spread quickly. The jersey became more than a gift; it was a symbol. At Thomas’s birthday, Sandra watched as her son opened the package, his eyes filling with tears as he read the message. He wore the jersey with pride, not just for the name on the back, but for the values it represented.
At the community center, new equipment arrived, and the kids played with a new sense of purpose. Thomas led by example, teaching younger players, echoing Michael’s message: “It’s about lifting each other up.”
The Bulls game was unforgettable. Thomas met his hero, but more importantly, he saw that kindness and leadership mattered as much off the court as on it. The store became a hub for the community. Other parents, inspired by Sandra’s story, contributed to a fund for kids who needed gear. William started a scholarship for young athletes who showed leadership and heart.
Months later, Sandra watched Thomas coaching a group of younger kids. The jersey hung in his room, but its meaning had grown. It was a reminder that greatness isn’t measured in points or fame, but in the lives you touch.
And in a small Chicago neighborhood, the ripple of one act of kindness continued to spread—one jersey, one boy, one community at a time.
“You Just Got to Work”: Despite Initially Following His Mother’s Words, Michael Jordan Quit His First Job
Michael Jordan and his mother Deloris Jordan talk to the crowd outside of The Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic led by Novant Health. Both were taking part in a ribbon cutting ceremony for the new clinic opening off of Greenfield Street Tuesday May 7, 2024 in Wilmington, N.C. KEN BLEVINS/STARNEWS
Michael Jordan is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time. But you might be surprised to learn that there were some things that he wasn’t the greatest at in life. One of those things was keeping a job growing up. Despite initially heeding his mother’s words as a kid, Jordan eventually quit his first job.
Michael’s mother and father pushed their kids to get jobs growing up to teach them how the world works. It also taught them a sense of responsibility and helped provide for a large household. That’s why one summer during high school, his mother arranged a job for him at a hotel.
“One summer, my mom said, ‘You just got to work,’ and she got me a job as a maintenance man in a hotel,” Jordan told GQ.
It’s a smart thing for a parent to do for their teenage kids. A high school job can teach one responsibility and hard work, to give them a sneak peek into the real world. It can also give one a leg up on future competition, as only 22% of high schoolers have jobs in the US.
But MJ quickly figured out he wasn’t cut out for work.
“Man, I quit that job so quick! I just couldn’t do it, I could not keep regular hours. It just wasn’t me. From then on, I never, ever had another job.”
Jordan insisted that he couldn’t keep regular hours. After that, he never had another job until his NBA fame. It’s kind of wild when you think about it. But MJ seemingly wasn’t cut out for the typical 9-5 working world.
Perhaps the most unfortunate part of the entire situation, though, was that Jordan’s mother had begged to get him the job in the first place. All of her hard work ended up for nothing.
His mother begged Michael Jordan to get a job
In his book Michael Jordan: The Life, he detailed how his mother Deloris had begged to get him the job at the hotel. She met the owner while working at the bank as one of her clients, and she used the connection to ensure that Michael could get his first job experience.
Furthermore, Jordan was only paid $3.10 per hour while working the job. A shocking difference from his eventual NBA superstardom, where he was paid as much as $33 million in one season. Although when you adjust for inflation, the total comes out to around $18 an hour. So, it was actually quite a good job for the time. It’s too bad Michael couldn’t make it work.
Today, Jordan has an estimated net worth of $3.6 billion. A far cry from what he was making during his first job in high school. Even though he eventually quit, it’s always a good idea to at least try to work in high school to get an idea of what’s to come. But of course, that didn’t end up mattering for MJ. It’s too bad not all of us can be like Mike.
