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DEL.ICIO.USJordan stays busy, with or without baseball
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Terence Moore
Lake Buena Vista, Fla. - No question, given the leadership skills of this classy outfielder with the strong safety mentality, Brian Jordan should make the Braves’ roster this spring. Then again, given the recent aches and pains of his nearly 39-year-old left knee, along with his tendency to acquire other bumps and bruises courtesy of his ferocious style, he might not.
Whatever the case, all of us who believe in truth, justice and the American Way can rejoice. That’s because one of the most likeable athletes (or entrepreneurs or authors or humanitarians or speakers or fill-in-the blank regarding Jordan) that you’ll ever meet will be just fine, thank you.
Consider this: Even if Jordan never hits, fields or throws another baseball for pay, you’ll still hear about him. Such especially will be true around Atlanta, where Jordan’s legend only will expand through the years beyond the memory of his impressive career with the Falcons from 1989-91. There also were his clutch ways seven years ago that got the Braves into their last World Series during his first stint with the team.
Take it from James White, Jordan’s personal trainer who also deals with world-class track stars. “Brian is constantly doing something from 6 in the morning to around nine o’clock at night, and you just have to wait to get on his schedule,” said White, easing into a chuckle inside the home dugout of the Ballpark at Disney’s Wide World of Sports, while his client spent another long day hustling and impressing as a 13-year veteran.
During the off-season, when Jordan isn’t operating at his Alpharetta home as a hands-on father for his two daughters and two sons, he is everywhere. He is running his technological company. He is dealing with the Brian Jordan Foundation that helps underprivileged youth. He is delivering speeches at schools, churches, playgrounds, street corners. He is finishing the development of Le Jardin, the posh community that he envisioned to sit on an old horse farm in South Fulton. He is working out, too. “Oh, man, I’m constantly ripping and roaring, and that’s Monday through Friday,” said Jordan, always with a smile as brilliant as the Florida sun.
If all of that isn’t enough, Jordan also writes books. I mean, literally. “I woke up at four in the morning, and it was just in my head, and I started writing on some file cards for 1 1/2 hours, and the next thing you know, the book was published,” said Jordan, laughing. Then he thought about the first thing that he did after writing the book that morning. “I called my mom, because she’s an English teacher, and I said, ‘Mom, how does this sound?’ ” Jordan said, referring to Betty Jordan, who still lives in their native Baltimore.
“She would tell me, ‘No, that’s not right,’ and, ‘You should change this part, and put a punctuation mark after that.’ She really stays on me,” Jordan added. “That’s why, when I speak, I’ve got to be careful, because she’ll be all over my case.”
The book, by the way, is called “I told you I could play,” and Jordan’s target audience is his obsession in life: Children. From page to page, the book stresses that you always should believe in yourself, that you should ignore outside forces that say that you can’t do something, that you should never give up no matter what. The book is essentially about Jordan’s childhood, and in case you’re wondering, it is selling at a Barnes & Noble near you.
A couple of more books by Jordan already are on they way. While one will involve how parents should treat children, the other will be entitled, “The protector,” and it will instruct youngsters how to deal with the worst of bullies.
“When I was young, I always had good size, and that’s why the kids looked at my as being a bully, even though I hated bullies,” Jordan said. “That’s why I always picked the nerds and pencil heads to be on my team. For one, I knew we would win since I was one of the better athletes around, and second, I always learned a lot from the nerds and the pencil heads. They started me to work harder in school, and they, in turn, got confidence for themselves from being on a winning team with me.”
The Braves will continue as a winning team with Jordan. Without him, well, let’s just hope his knee is all right.
Permalink | Comments (14) | Categories: Braves / MLB, Terence Moore
Comments
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By dannycardwell
February 24, 2006 06:51 PM | Link to this
another good article. thanks. if brian dont make it i would love to see him and eddie perez coaching in the organization. both are a class act.
By Dave O'Brien
February 25, 2006 03:48 PM | Link to this
So damn good nobody read the s**
By JJZ
February 25, 2006 04:46 PM | Link to this
Terence’s love affair with certain athletes never ceases to amaze me.
Brian Jordan was a non-factor for the Braves last year and is hanging on by his fingernails to even make the team this spring.
Yet Terence implies that a healthy BJ is crucial to the team’s success this year.
Does he really believe some of the nonsense he writes or is he just trying to promote a certain…….theme?
By mike
February 25, 2006 04:54 PM | Link to this
great article terrence…dont care what dave obrien says…brian jordan is a class act and i truly believe that he could help this year’s team…has anyone said anything about him being able to play first base?…if he can learn to play first base then that will enable laroche to play everday, and jordan to be the backup and veteran player off the bench…every great team has clutch veterans coming off the bench in the late innings, think back to the 95 braves team…louis polonia, mike devereaux…who better to play that role than brian jordan?…and even if he doesnt make the club, they should have a brian jordan night at turner field, the man deserves it
By bobby
February 25, 2006 04:55 PM | Link to this
If BJ was a white athlete, would Moore write such a complimentary article?
By NYY26_atl1
February 25, 2006 05:15 PM | Link to this
Mr. Moore wrote a pretty good article about Bonny Cox the other day—he’s white.
By NYY26_atl1
February 25, 2006 05:17 PM | Link to this
*Bobby Cox I meant to say.
By Dr R
February 25, 2006 05:18 PM | Link to this
Great column, Terry. BJ’s a great guy. My kids played Little League ball for a few years in a Doraville League where Jordan’s kids played. He would show up and sign autographs and chat with the kids all day. We have a bunch of caps lying around the house with his name on them still. Great dad, great competitor, super guy all around. I hope he’s around all season. He’s the kind of guy who could hit .230 but still come up with a big hit or a big play when you need it most.
All you chunkheads who think TM has an agenda better look in the mirror. Take the hood off first, though.
By steve
February 25, 2006 06:02 PM | Link to this
Brian Jordan may be the nicest guy in the world but I hope a spot on the 25 man roster would go to someone whose best years are not behind them and is a has been player. Being NICE and a Great Guy doesn’t win ball games.
By Zach
February 25, 2006 06:18 PM | Link to this
.247/.295/.338 OPS .633
Do those look like the numbers of a “clutch veteran”? C’mon, the guy just doesn’t have it in him anymore. Those things that Jordan has going for him sound great. So go and do them. Leave the baseball to the guys that can still contribute.
By Dr R
February 25, 2006 06:44 PM | Link to this
Like who? Ain’t like you’re talking about a deep outfield here. Once you get past Andruw, Francoeur and maybe Langerhans, there isn’t much depth out there. You need a veteran bat, not just another punk up from Triple-A who can’t handle a Billy Wagner heater in a tight spot. I prefer a tried-and-true guy whose better days are past than the flavor of the month who isn’t shaving yet.
By Zach
February 25, 2006 08:52 PM | Link to this
Who? Maybe Druw, Frenchy, Langerhans (as you mentioned), or Kelly Johnson or Matt Diaz? All these guys have good talent. They will easily put up better numbers than BJ. They are young and have potential to get better. Jordan is 39 and is getting progressively worse, as shown by his numbers and injuries last year.
By old timer
February 25, 2006 10:23 PM | Link to this
Why is it that every time TM writes a story, people say he has a race agenda? Psychologists call it projection. Get over it, people.
By JJZ
February 25, 2006 10:46 PM | Link to this
Mind your own business old timer,