Can you guess who are the most pressured athletes in the World?

Just an observation. Is too much expected of the children of athletes?

Michael Jordan’s sons both followed in his footsteps but neither managed to become basketball legends like their dad. Jeffery Jordan played for the University of Illinois and Marcus Jordan played for the University of Central Florida.

Their mom, Juanita Vanroy, explained in an interview for Craine’s Chicago Business, that it was important for her to give her sons the opportunity to create independent identities.

“It was important to me that they learn not to try to be their dad.”

Juanita recommended they avoid wearing number 23 jerseys— Michael Jordan’s famous number. She thought it would motivate them to carve out their special number and ultimately help establish their own identity while playing basketball.

In his Hall of Fame induction speech in 2009, Michael agreed that his children would face hardships when it came to establishing themselves.

“You guys have a heavy burden. Wouldn’t want to be you guys if I had to...”

So said, so done.

In a Breakfast Club interview titled, ‘Michael Jordan’s Kids Talk Growing Up Under A Legend…’ Micheal’s children confessed that playing one-on-one with their dad encouraged them and pushed them even harder.

Still, their best wasn’t good enough. Someone in the comment section said, “Jordan was so competitive he denied his kids of any basketball talent.” LoL.

There are a myriad of stories of the children of famous players in all sports, never being able to escape the long shadows of their parents.

In an opinion piece written by my colleague, the esteemed Leighton Levy, he hinted at the pressure that could come to bear on the children of Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce, the greatest female sprinter out of Jamaica, and a one Usain Bolt, the greatest sprinter of all time. Leighton imagined what it would be like watching those kids line up on the world stage in another 20 years from now. Wow, talk about pressure!

Maybe it’s time we cut them some slack.

Before you help to heap pressure onto these youngsters, ask yourself the question of 2020 so far.

“Do you really want to be that guy?”

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