Michael Jordan's "Crying Jordan" meme has taken the world of social media by storm when it came out, In fact, it is a meme that can be seen anywhere at the height of its popularity.
But what really is behind that crying meme?
Michael Jordan
Michael Jordan is a world-renowned basketball player and many regard him as the greatest of all time. Nowadays, he is also known as the owner of the basketball team Charlotte Hornets. In addition, he has become a successful entrepreneur.
Jordan has attained a long list of accomplishments in the field of basketball, including an Olympic gold medal, MVP awards, six NBA championships, and 11 All-Star nominations.
The Origin of The Crying Jordan Meme
According to Know Your Meme, the image ofMichael Jordan crying during his 2009 Basketball Hall of Fame induction speech was used to create a meme, which quickly went viral.
Michael Jordan delivered a speech during his induction into the Hall of Fame in Springfield, Massachusetts, on Sept. 11, 2009. Throughout the address, Jordan became emotional and sobbed as he retold numerous incidents from his professional career.
The Wide Spread of Crying Jordan
As reported by Insider, a macro image of a teary-eyed Jordan was sent to the meme generator MemeCrunch in April 2012, following a particularly poor season for the Charlotte Hornets, which was then know as the Charlotte Bobcats. The caption on the image macro read, "Why did I buy the Bobcats?"
From then on, the "Sad Jordan" meme became sparked a wave of popularity. These memes are also documented in a Tumblr titled "Mjsadfaces."
Over the next few years, pictures of Michael Jordan with a mournful expression began to circulate on social media. A Twitter account known as "Crying Jordan," which is completely dedicated to sports news and Michael Jordan jokes, has amassed a respectable 50,000 followers since its inception.
Throughout the last decade, the tear-stained face of the basketball star Michael Jordan has become the go-to emblem of sadness and heartbreaking defeat in the sports world.
Crying Jordan Meme Recognition
Due to the meme's popularity, even former President Barack Obama jokingly recognized and introduced the NBA through it.
During the presentation of the Presidential Medal of Freedom to the NBA player, President Barack Obama made a reference to the "Crying Jordan" memes while introducing the honoree. The former president stated, "He's more than just a logo, he's more than just an internet meme."
Just recently, Michael Jordan talked about an infamous meme during the memorial service for Kobe and Gianna Bryant. It looks like the basketball superstar is extremely aware of his faces being plastered in memes all these years.
The memorial service was held in a fully packed Staples Center. Michael Jordan cried as he took the podium and jokingly stated that he is going to spark another Crying Jordan meme as he starts his speech.
That joke cracked the crowd laughing. Jordan added, "I told my wife I wasn't going to do this because I didn't want to see that for the next three or four years."
