Hardly any significant sporting events have "passed in recent months without the so-called Crying Jordan face being digitally affixed to its losing parties and retweeted into oblivion," according to Dan Greene of SI. The photo shows MICHAEL JORDAN "weeping not in despair but gratitude" at his '09 HOF induction. Like so much on the Internet, the image's truth "matters less than the feelings it evokes." A user in '12 "uploaded the photo to the website Memecrunch tagged with the caption, 'Why did I buy the Bobcats?'" By late '14, a cutout of Jordan's face "was a popular emoji on urban lifestyle message boards." As users "began manipulating the face onto other images, the meme bled into social media at large, gaining steam" throughout '15 on its "way to ubiquity." Deadspin Editor TIM BURKE said the photo is the "ultimate alpha (male) in a vulnerable position." But Greene notes backlash towards Crying Jordan is "underway," as both the Washington Post and USA Today have "called for its retirement." ESPN's RACHEL NICHOLS also "held a ceremony to do so" (SI, 5/16 issue). The NEW YORKER's Ian Crouch wrote Crying Jordan "is one element in a much broader repositioning of Jordan's place in the culture," as the tearful face "evokes other uncool moments from Jordan's long career." The image of "blubbering Jordan is part despair, and part tantrum." The meme "is the people knocking Jordan down several pegs." Jordan in his prime "was unassailable, a man out of reach, way up there above the rim," but now "even you can take him" (NEWYORKER.com, 5/11).
CRY ME A RIVER: Former NBAer CHARLES OAKLEY, who played four seasons with Jordan, recently told TMZ the Hornets Owner does not like the Crying Jordan meme. ESPN's Marcellus Wiley said Oakley's comment "means Jordan really does not care that much about it." ESPN’s Max Kellerman: “This guy is the greatest basketball player of all time. His name is synonymous with greatness, like ‘the Michael Jordan of’ whatever. Then he is the Michael Jordan of bad baseball players, the Michael Jordan of bad basketball owners. He is also the Michael Jordan of memes!” ESPN's Michelle Beadle: “It’s probably the worst picture that exists of this man” (“SportsNation,” ESPN, 5/12). ESPN's Pablo Torre said Jordan needs to "harness this and make money off of it." Torre: "Make a commercial for Nike with Crying Jordan involved, please” (“The Jump,” ESPN, 5/12).
