Pay to Play? Not If Michael Jordan Has Anything To Do With It

Michael Jordan and the Charlotte Bobcats are chipping in to ensure kids aren't asked to cover costs to play middle-school sports.

On Monday, the basketball legend pledged $250,000 to the athletic programs of the Charlotte-Mecklenburg school system, which earlier this year slashed $1.25 million from its annual budget. Because of the cut, which amounts to the total cost of the district's sports programs at 32 junior highs, students had been charged $50-$100 to strap on pads or take to the court.

The big give by Jordan, who played baseball, football and basketball at Emsley A. Laney High School in nearby Wilmington, N.C. will help reduce — if not eliminate — those costs.

"We investigated the situation," Jordan said, according to the Charlotte Observer. "We looked for ways to help middle schools and this was one of the options presented to us. We took it because of the impact on middle schools and giving them the opportunity to play sports and as motivation for education as well."

The gift is the biggest single donation in CMS athletics history. It may be just the first significant local contribution from Jordan and an NBA franchise he purchased in the spring. He says now that he's at the helm, the Bobcats will become more active than ever before within the local community.

The donation is just the latest in a recent charity hot streak by Jordan, who, for more than a decade, earned nearly $40 million annually in endorsements alone. In 2006, ESPN's "Greatest Athlete of the 20th Century" gave $450,000 to Habitat for Humanity and pledged $5 million to Chicago's Hales Franciscan High School. In 2008, his Jordan Brand gave $500,000 to the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Last year, Jordan was named Chief Wish Ambassador of the Make-A-Wish Foundation in celebration of granting wishes to nearly 200 kids over two decades. At a morning basketball "Breakfast Club" in Harlem earlier this month, the legend teamed with Jordan Brand stars Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul in support of the Harlem Boys & Girls Club, Urban League and YMCA.

"While your friends are either in bed or doing other things, you guys have gotten up and gotten yourself motivated by being a part of this," Jordan told the 100 sleepy-eyed kids gathered at the event. "In life, it's kinda the same way. If you want to get ahead of anybody else, you've got to take those extra steps."

Photo by Joshua Massel via Wikimedia Commons.