By Chad Zimmerman
STACK Magazine
As evidenced by his 1985 Rookie of the Year award, Michael Jordan came into the league with amazing skill, unparalleled talent and immediate recognition. But as years two and three rolled by, critics began to voice concerns about his ability as a team player, and to wonder whether he was just a phenomenal scorer who couldn't D up. More questions ensued: Could Jordan take the Bulls beyond a .500 season? Would he ever get his team out of the first round? Would he ever win a championship?
In his fourth year in the league, Jordan picked up the pace, earning his first Defensive Player of the Year award and leading the Bulls to a 50-win season and their first victory in a playoff series since he joined the team. But Jordan and Company still weren't within sniffing distance of the NBA Finals, leaving room for critics to keep sniping at his game.
Then came the 1990-91 season - the first of six in which Michael would lead his team to the NBA Championship series. And win. This truly marked the beginning of the Michael Jordan Era and his transformation from star player to best on the planet.
One key to the transformation was MJ's athletic performance enhancement guru, Tim Grover. Known as the industry leader in boosting players' athletic abilities through proper training, Grover began training Jordan in 1989, and continued to do so for the remainder of his career. The training took Jordan beyond what any player, past or present, has ever accomplished. Critics went from "Can he do that?" to "How did he do that?"
A cornerstone of Grover's training is core development. A solid core will help any athlete jump higher, run faster, move quicker and reach his or her true athletic potential.
"If your core is strong, all of your muscles can produce more force and perform at a higher level," Grover said.
Many athletes assume core training means strengthening their abs. However, a six-pack doesn't equal a strong core.
"Many athletes do hundreds of crunches and neglect their oblique and erector muscles," Grover said. "Injury can occur if any part of the core is weak."
Strengthen your core with moves from Grover's training plan. Try these six, MJ-tested moves twice a week to hit all your vital core muscles. There's no guarantee you'll become the next MJ.
But who's to say you won't?
Anterior Reach On One Leg
Stand on one leg with slight flex in knee
Extend arms and lean forward so arms and body are parallel to ground
Extend non-standing leg straight back so it is in line with back, hips and arms
Reps: 10-15
Sets: 2-3
Times Per Week: 2
Squats On Unstable Object
Stand on unstable surface (balance board, Bosu, etc.) in athletic stance with toes pointing slightly out
Pick eye-level focus point on wall
Squat down with control and good posture until thighs are parallel to ground
Keep weight back on heels
Drive out of squat into starting position, keeping chest out
Reps: 10-15
Sets: 2-3
Times Per Week: 2
Walk-Outs On Hands
Begin in athletic stance
Bend at waist and touch hands to floor in front of feet. Keep legs straight
Walk hands away from feet, keeping legs straight, until body is fully extended
Walk hands back to feet
Reps: 10-15
Sets: 2-3
Times Per Week: 2
Push-ups On Med/Physio Balls
Begin in push-up position with hands on physioball or med ball
With control, lower chest to ball, stopping one inch above ball
Extend arms to return to starting position
Reps: 10-15
Sets: 2-3
Times Per Week: 2
Medicine Ball Sit-ups
Lie on back with knees bent and feet flat on floor
Hold med ball above chest with both hands
Raise shoulders off ground and sit up with med ball
Return to starting position with control
Reps: 10-15
Sets: 2-3
Times Per Week: 2
6-inch Leg Raises
Lie on back with legs straight and toes pointing toward ceiling
Keep arms at sides and raise legs six inches off ground
Hold elevated position for two to three seconds; return to starting position
Reps: 10-15
Sets: 2-3
Times Per Week: 2
The Breakfast Club
After the 1989-1990 season, which resulted in another unsuccessful trip to the playoffs, Michael Jordan realized he needed to take his game to another level, and the only way to do that would be by dedicating himself to training. So, he teamed up with Tim Grover and started an early morning workout plan. One at a time, teammates joined the sessions, and consequently, the Bulls went on to win six NBA Championships. The Breakfast Club was established.
Years later, legend of the Breakfast Club and the affect it had on participants sparked an idea within the Jordan Brand organization. Impressed by what they heard, Jordan Brand developed an initiative based on overcoming athletic weaknesses through hard work and training.
Longtime friend of Jordan and Jordan Brand Executive Fred Whitfield watched as Jordan's career and the Breakfast Club evolved. Whitfield retells the story of these morning workout sessions that changed a man, improved a team and inspired a brand 15-plus years after the Club's establishment.
Why did it start?
Fred Whitfield: The Bulls kept making it to the Eastern Conference Finals; they just couldn't get past the Pistons. The summer after they lost again, Michael did some soul searching to figure out exactly how to beat them.
Joe Dumars, the guy Michael probably respected the most defensively, was an extremely strong player who played Michael really hard. And when it came to crunch time, Games 6 and 7, it just seemed like Joe had a little edge. Even with Michael's great games, if he had just a little more juice in the engine, he probably could have gotten the Bulls over the top.
So Michael and Tim put their heads together and decided that it made more sense from endurance, strength and mental standpoints to work out through the whole season, instead of periodically during the off-season. So when Michael went into the 20-game playoff period after an 82-game schedule, he would feel just as strong as he did at the beginning of the year. The original reason for the Breakfast Club was to get past the Pistons; because Michael thought if they could do that, they'd have the chance to win a world championship.
What is The Breakfast Club?
FW: Most guys dreaded their two-hour practice from 11 to 1. But a small group of guys, who really wanted to push themselves, formed this Breakfast Club thing. They'd work out a few times a week before practice. Then, when they were done working out, some time between 9 and 9:15, Michael's chef cooked them breakfast. That's how it really became the Breakfast Club. Those guys sat down to eat breakfast together, and then they'd go the Berto Center for practice.
Where did The Breakfast Club meet?
FW: Michael had a full gym in his basement. It just made sense to work out there, because the team practiced at the Berto Center, which is about 15 minutes from Michael's house. When did they FW: Three to four days a week, Tim actually drove from downtown Chicago to Michael's house. They'd put in a good, hard hour of lifting, starting between 7:30 and 8:00 a.m. They didn't do heavy lifting, but instead a lot of agility work, quick reps, light weights-just stuff to build strength they could carry throughout the year.
Who participated?
FW: One of the guys was Ron Harper; he had so much respect for Michael. Harper totally embraced Michael, and Michael embraced him. Ron really started falling into Michael's work ethic, which is what I think helped him sustain his career so long. He was there literally every morning with Michael in the Breakfast Club.
Scottie Pippen came quite a bit-not every day, but a lot. The other kind of wild card guy was Randy Brown, a defensive stopper who was a backup point guard. He was the guy who'd enter the game in the third or fourth quarter and really shut down the opposing team's point guard. Charles Oakley was the last guy. He wasn't on the Bulls at the time, but he and Michael had been really close since Michael's rookie year. He's a workout fanatic. When he was in town, he'd come work out with Michael and really push those guys.
How did this impact the Jordan Brand?
Roman Vega, Brand Manager for the Jordan Brand: In Michael Jordan's pursuit of excellence, MJ was driven to turn his perceived weaknesses into strengths. As a brand, we are taking that same approach by inspiring our consumers to take stock in their own abilities to turn their weaknesses into strengths by creating their own Breakfast Clubs.
Originally published in STACK Magazine and on STACKMAG.com, Summer, 2006.
