The sports legend Michael Jordan is one. Aside from his championship runs, his competitive spirit is what makes him most well-known. He can’t get enough of winning. As a player, he had access to a gear that very few others do. He pursues his goals nonstop. When he retired in 2003, many people were curious about what came next. Well, he owned the Charlotte Hornets initially. However, he recently took his talents to NASCAR after selling his full stake. It seems arbitrary, don’t you think? Perhaps not to that extent.
Basketball is the one thing that has consistently performed incredibly well throughout Jordan’s professional career. He was without a doubt one of the greatest basketball players of all time. He’s come a long way as an executive since leaving the court. Jordan acquired a controlling ownership position in the Charlotte Hornets in February 2010. Only three times in his 13 years as the team’s owner did they make the playoffs. His time there is generally viewed as a bit of a letdown. Consequently, he left in 2023.
Jordan is well-known for his tendency to risk, and it looks like he’s constantly trying to satisfy his competitive need. Most recently, he founded 23XI Racing, an independent NASCAR team. Since he was raised primarily in the Carolinas, NASCAR racing is ingrained in the local way of life. Therefore, despite the fact that a Black man owning a NASCAR team may look strange, these men have a strong bond with the brand.
Most recently, at Talladega in April, 23XI achieved its maiden victory. Jordan appears to be enjoying himself immensely after winning the tournament. He appears relieved and happy, suggesting that he may have solved the problem. The fact that Jordan is now the only Black owner in NASCAR makes his ownership stake in the sport exciting. And one of the two most successful Black drivers in NASCAR rides alongside him. For 23XI, Bubba Wallace is racing. His charisma, skill, and crossover appeal make him appear like the ideal complement to a team with a strong core.
It appears that 23XI has already surpassed the Hornets’ level of success. Jordan’s former executive misfortunes are gradually becoming a thing of the past. Jordan hasn’t stopped breaking new ground in the NASCAR world—he’s now a winner in addition to an owner. Are their victories as satisfying as raising the Larry O’Brien trophy? Most likely not, but the victories of today have to be the next best thing for a man who has been retired for twenty-one years.
