Unit 5-Section B.ppt

Section BMichael Jordan and Me Introduction Text A tells us about an outstanding Chinese basketball player—Yao Ming, who is the first foreign-born player to be picked as No. 1 in the NBA draft. In Text B, we will meet Michael Jordan, who got the nickname “Air Jordan” for his powerful slam dunk. He was NBA’s MVP six times. As is told by the author, Michael’s coach, Michael’s greatness lies not only in his talent, but also in his understanding of teamwork, his competitive spirit and his love for the game. Most people love Michael Jordan. He’s the NBA’s No. 1 player who can run fast, jump high and shoot well. All these things are true, but there are other truths about Michael that are not so easily seen: his understanding of teamwork, his competitive spirit and his love for the game. It is these truths that form the deepest connection between Michael and me. After coaching him for eight seasons, I still wonder at Michael’s love for the game that moves us, even in practice games. I mean, he never takes a day off. One thing about Michael is that he takes nothing about his game for granted. When he first came to the NBA back in 1984, his outside shooting was not perfect, and he began to practice shooting hundreds of shots each day. In the end, he became a real three-point shooter. Playing outstanding defense didn’t come straight to him, either. He had to study his opponents, learn their usual moves and then try hard to learn the skills necessary to stop them. He worked extremely hard to perfect his footwork and his balance. Today, so many young people come to the game with the thought that talent is all they need for success. Michael thinks the other way. He knows his weaknesses, and for me, one of the signs of Michael’s greatness is that he has turned his weaknesses into strengths. Another of the qualities I respect most about Michael is his performance on the court. Whilst he is very competitive, he always respects the ot