Arguably the greatest basketball player to ever play the game will be celebrating his 50 birthday this week-and Sports Illustrated is helping him celebrate it.
Michael Jordan, who will be celebrating his 50th birthday on Sunday, Feb. 17, will be featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated next week for its Feb. 18th cover.
The cover makes Jordan the athlete that has been most featured on the cover of the magazine, which released its first issue way back during the President Dwight Eisenhower era on August 16, 1954. Jordan has since been on the cover a record 50 times.
Sports Illustrated writer Phil Taylor writes a piece that examines Jordan's lasting effect on the game and sports itself, while taking a look at not only his playing days but also his current days in the front office for the Charlotte Bobcats.
"Depending on your generation, realizing that His Airness is now eligible for senior discounts is like the first time you heard the Rolling Stones on an oldies station or saw Winona Ryder playing someone's mom," Taylor writes.
On Twitter, fans and players alike have been paying homage to the six-time NBA Champion who captured a generation with his skill and grace under fire.
"Michael Jordan is a 6x Champion 6x finals MVP and one of the most unstoppable forces this game has ever seen," tweeted L.A. Lakers legend Magic Johnson.
"there is NO ONE better than michael jordan whoever thinks otherwise is an idiot," tweeted Willie Dynamite.
"Just imagine if @KingJames & Michael Jordan played in the same decade. I'd love to see that match-up," wrote DJ Welch.
The University of North Carolina, Jordan's college alma mata that he led to the 1983 NCAA title, also tweeted, "Michael Jordan will grace his 50th SI cover this week in honor of his 50th birthday."
"There will never be another Michael Jordan..#period" tweeted NBA player Jamal Crawford.
LeBron James, who has been drawing a lot of comparisons to Jordan thanks to his historic 30-point, 60-percent shooting six-game streak, tweeted, "I'm not MJ, I'm LJ."
Jordan will be in attendance this Sunday when the 2013 NBA All-Star Game comes from Houston, Texas, when the NBA honors him with a special birthday tribute. Jordan was spotted arriving in Houston Wednesday via his private jet.
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