Part of HuffPost Entertainment. I cried. If he didn't think they had submitted, then he made sure that happened. Jordan broke his left foot three games into the 1985-86 season. For most players (like LeBron for example) this will lead to slacking off, and taking games off. I broke my foot and I was out for 65 games. It was clear that Wojnarowski didn't approve of such a stunt by Jordan.While Adrian Wojnarowski reported the facts of the speech quite well, I feel that he, and other sports writers criticizing Jordan's speech, missed a chance to see what made Jordan great.I didn't watch Jordan's speech live, and I didn't intend to ever view it. I gotta prove to them that I deserve what I've gotten on this level'. And from that point forward I wanted to prove to you, Magic, Larry, George, everybody - that I deserved to be on this level just as much as everybody else. Jordan also flew out Leroy Smith, the high school teammate who beat him out for the final spot on his high school varsity team when he was a Sophomore. I don't know how succeeding he was, but I think he had his chance, and believe me I relished on that point and from this day forward if I ever see him in shorts I'm coming at him. You know I respected each and every one of them, I just wanted to win. And, at the same time, you know when I was trying to play in the summertime, he said "well, you're a part of the organization and the organization said you can't play in the summertime", and I said "Doug, you haven't read the fine print in my contract. So when I did decide to come back in 1995, and then we played Utah in '96, I'm at the Center Circle and Bryon Russell is sitting next to me and I look over at Bryan and I said 'do you remember this conversation you made in 1994, or when you 'I think I can guard you, I can shut you down, and I would love to play against you.' Michael Jordan makes his acceptance speech after being enshrined into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Friday night at Springfield Symphony Hall. Tex being the specialist - you know I could never please Tex. While up at the podium, he served up one of the best acceptance speech quotes ever. I know I did.”. And then along came Doug Collins who was caught in the whole midst of this Jerry Kraus and Jerry Rainsdorf. I gotta prove to them that I deserve what I've gotten on this level'. Michael Jordan Can't Let Go of Old Hurts During HOF Speech By Paula Duffy It's hard to listen to a filthy-rich man complain about the price of tickets for his enshrinement in his sport's hall of fame. Isiah Thomas, Magic Johnson, George Gervin - now they say it was a so-called 'freeze out' in my rookie season. On his first trip down south, Rizzuto was treated to a meal of fried chicken and some oatmeal-like substance. (applause) Most fans only remember Russell because he was the guy that Michael Jordan hit his final great game winning shot on. Vecsey was an analyst for TBS, NBC and a columnist for the New York Post. Jordan will be taking the hall of fame stage once again next month to introduce his teammate Scottie Pippen. I'm thinking, 'well he ain't never played against me yet, so how did he become Player of the Year?' But I paid it, you know, I had no choice.