The Last Dance: 6 Things we learned from episodes 1 & 2

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1. Michael Jordan was insane about winning

Michael Jordan was crazy. No really, he’ll tell you himself. And he did so blatantly Sunday night, revealing that just of thought of losing made him go insane at times.

His level of obsession when it comes to winning was also alluded to on a myriad of different occasions throughout the program, and be it his hard-nosed treatment of teammates during certain practice sessions, his fiery nature between the lines of play, or even his disdain for conceding friendly golf duels, competition is the force that absolutely drives him.

He wakes up with, goes to sleep on, eats, thinks and breathes winning energy. And that’s what it’s always been about for Jordan. You don’t get to six championships and the level of individual achievement he did without a certain form of crazed dedication.

What was especially eye-opening though, was where it came from.

Michael was always the odd man out growing up. According to Jordan, his tenacity first came from constant bouts with his older brother Larry, who at one point claimed himself that he was the thoroughly superior basketball talent. Larry did generally one-up Mike on the court during their childhood, and their natural sibling rivalry only fueled Mike to strive for bigger and better.

However, it wasn’t just on the court that Mike felt Larry had him beat. He also revealed feelings of perceived favoritism from his father in preference of the elder sibling that Mike himself was on the wrong side of, and the brunt of those inner battles created a furiously committed worker as well.

He had something to prove not only to himself but to the man he so desperately wanted approval from most, which he expressed solemnly on the show.

There’s no drive quite like the one that comes from inside, and while he had all of the physical outer attributes to foster success on the court, it was his inner will and determination that got him to this current point.

It only remains to be seen what we’ll find out next about the inside life of the man whose accomplishments on the surface level unmistakably captivated us all.