Teddy Owens was just 12 years old when he watched Michael Jordan point at the camera after winning his first NBA championship. The moment left a deep impression on him, as if Jordan had made a promise directly to him. Though the crowd’s roar drowned out the words, Teddy was certain the moment was meant for him, and from that day on, he became obsessed with meeting his hero.
Teddy’s journey to meet Michael Jordan became a mission that lasted 20 years. He began with a promise to himself that he would meet Jordan, no matter what it took. Over the years, he wrote countless letters, took three trips across the country, and spent his childhood collecting memorabilia. It wasn’t just a hobby anymore; it was his life’s mission.
At the start, his obsession seemed like a normal phase. Teddy’s room was filled with posters, cards, and every article about Jordan he could find. But his family didn’t understand. His father was more practical and often reminded him to focus on the “real world.” Yet Teddy’s dedication only grew stronger. Every spare penny went into expanding his collection, and he practiced basketball daily, trying to emulate his hero’s moves.
At school, he faced ridicule from his classmates, but none of their teasing could deter him. Teddy was determined to meet Jordan, to ask him the one question that had haunted him for years: What did you say when you pointed at the camera?
After working odd jobs to save money, Teddy finally had the opportunity to attend an event where he hoped to meet Jordan—Scotty Pippen was going to make an appearance at a local store, and Teddy jumped at the chance. Though Jordan himself wouldn’t be there, it was as close as Teddy had come in all his years of pursuit. At the event, he was told about a charity golf tournament where Jordan would possibly be. Teddy immediately began preparing for the next opportunity.
With a new lead in hand, he traveled to the Bahamas in the hopes of getting close to Jordan, volunteering at the tournament. But luck was never on his side—though he stood only a few feet away from Jordan one morning, a family emergency took him away before Teddy could speak to him. Dejected but not deterred, Teddy returned home, making a promise to himself that he would keep trying.
As the years passed, life continued. Teddy went through high school, college, and into adulthood, always with Jordan in his heart. He continued writing letters, hoping for a response, but never received one. But then, something remarkable happened. Teddy found himself in the position of helping others rather than just focusing on his own dream.
One day, Teddy decided to stop chasing Jordan and instead build something that would matter. He used his savings to start a free basketball program for kids in his community who couldn’t afford to attend camps or join leagues. Teddy called it “Be Like Mike,” hoping to teach the same values Jordan had instilled in him—hard work, dedication, and perseverance.
As the program grew, so did its impact. More kids came to learn the game and develop life skills. It wasn’t just about basketball; it was about teaching these kids to follow their dreams, just like Teddy had. The program garnered local support, and soon, Teddy found himself looking at his creation with pride, realizing that in helping others, he had built something that could make a real difference.
Years later, an unexpected opportunity came knocking. The Michael Jordan Foundation reached out to Teddy to showcase his program at their annual youth initiative event in Charlotte, North Carolina. This was it—the chance he had been waiting for. But as he prepared for the event, Teddy realized that his goal had shifted. It wasn’t about meeting Jordan anymore. The program he had built, the lives he was impacting, was what truly mattered.
At the event, Jordan did attend, and Teddy’s heart raced as he finally found himself sitting across from the man he had admired for so long. Jordan listened intently as Teddy explained how “Be Like Mike” had grown and what it had meant to him and the kids involved. When Teddy finally told Jordan about his years of pursuit, Jordan smiled gently.
“You know, I was pointing at Magic Johnson that night,” Jordan said, revealing the truth. “I said, ‘This won’t be the last one.'”
Teddy felt a moment of shock. All these years, the answer had been so simple, yet it was so different from what he had imagined. But Jordan’s next words changed everything.
“You know,” Jordan continued, “the fact that you thought I was talking to you, and it inspired you to build something meaningful—that’s what matters.”
Teddy smiled, realizing that it wasn’t about meeting Jordan after all. The journey, the struggles, the setbacks—it had all led him here, to a place where he had made a real difference in the lives of kids who needed someone to believe in them.
As they finished their lunch, Jordan handed Teddy a business card, urging him to keep him updated on the progress of the program. It wasn’t the autograph or handshake Teddy had dreamed of for so many years, but it was something far more valuable. It was the validation that his pursuit, his dedication, and his passion had brought him exactly where he needed to be.
Teddy had spent two decades chasing a moment. But in the end, he realized the real reward wasn’t in meeting his hero—it was in becoming the person who could inspire others just as Jordan had inspired him. It wasn’t about what Jordan had promised him that night; it was about the promise Teddy had made to himself to never give up on what mattered most.
The joy wasn’t in the meeting; it was in the journey. And Teddy Owens, after 20 years of persistence, had finally found his peace.
NBA Fan Posted A Video Of MJ Leaving The Court With Time Still Left On The Clock
LeBron James has been getting a lot of criticism for walking off the court with 10 seconds left on the clock during the Los Angeles Lakers’ loss in Game 3 of the NBA Finals vs. the Miami Heat.
The King was clearly frustrated and angry about his team’s performance, even though he did admit that he thought the game was actually over before that delay of game penalty.
That’s why a fan tried to mislead the internet by posting a video of Michael Jordan allegedly leaving the court with 05 seconds left in the clock:
Needless to say, it didn’t take long before some Michael Jordan fans took that personally and dug into what really happened there. As Twitter user @MJsGoat pointed out, Jordan didn’t leave the court early, he was ejected.
@adamOsaussies also chipped in by posting the video of the ejection, adding that it wasn’t a playoff game, let alone a Finals Game, when Jordan had to leave the court early:
At the end of the day, people should call LeBron James out for this behavior if he did it on purpose. Just like they did with Isiah Thomas, just like they did with Kobe Bryant, and just like they should have done with Michael Jordan if he had done it as well.
If he didn’t know that there was still time left on the clock, then so be it. He’s human and we all make mistakes, especially considering how passionate an NBA Finals game can be.
