MJ may be arrogant, but every word he said in his speech was true. He had a fire that no one could put out, and that is why he was so successful. Few players today can take control of an entire game whenever they wished like he did. The only ones that come to mind are Kobe, Lebron, Iverson when he is on, and Artest (for a couple of seasons) when he was as well. He may be arrogant, pompous, and insecure, but he was the most amazing player and talent in the game and still is the greatest to ever touch the ball. Period.

 

+1 Exactly my thoughts Jeff.

 

Let's think about it like this...

How many of the greatest players in each individual sport are not pompous asses that are self concerned, and even when they are the best ever, still go out like they have something to prove? I can name a few: Micheal Jordan, Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant (current best player in the game). Why should we care who they are as people outside of their arenas so long as they are dazzling us with their talent? There are very few Derek Jeter's, Lebron James's, and Phil Mickelson's out there that play the game to the best of their abilities solely because it was their pre-ordained destiny (and because they make hundreds of millions doing it) while being genuine, good people when the day is done. Michael Jordan is the way he is, and he is not alone (see above). He is still the GREATEST player to ever play. Period. Like forhamilton said, this is a blip on the radar of his career, and if you actually watched the speech, there were no awkward silences or nervous laughter when he was making it, only applause and loud laughter, so it is doubtful that those who know him received it in the way some of us are taking it. My humble $0.02...