Michael Jordan

1963: Michael Jeffrey Jordan is born Feb. 17 to James and Deloris Jordan in Brooklyn, N.Y..

1964: Blue Ribbon Sports is founded by Bill Bowerman and Phil Knight. It later becomes known as Nike.

1965: The Jordans move to Teachey, North Carolina It is here where the cremated remains of Jordan’s father are buried in 1993 after he is murdered.

1966: Chicago Bulls are founded.

1967: McDonald’s sells the first Big Mac for 45 cents. A quarter-century later, the company introduces the McJordan burger. In 2010, a man sells a tub of the McJordan barbecue sauce for $10,000 on eBay.

1968: Little-known fact: Jordan's nickname at an early age is “Magic.”

1969: Apollo 11 lands on the moon, proving the sky has no limit.

1970: The “Chuck Taylor” Converse All Star—as it had been for decades—is the most popular sneaker among basketball players, retailing for about $10.

1971: Julius Erving, a little known player from U-Mass, goes to the ABA’s Virginia Squires and makes dunking an art form under the moniker “Dr. J.”

1972: To this day, Jordan still enjoys watching “Gunsmoke,” the most popular Western on TV.

1973: Erving is traded to the New York Nets where he will play for coach Kevin Loughery, Jordan’s first coach with the Bulls.

1974: The Jordans move about 40 miles south of Teachey and settle in Wilmington, N.C.

1975: Already an all-star baseball player and winner of his league’s “Mr. Baseball,” Michael begins playing organized basketball.

1976: Dr. J performs his famous free-throw line dunk at the ABA All-Star Game.

1977: Michael graduates from Trask Middle School, where he is named outstanding athlete for his participation in basketball and football.

1978: As a 5-9 sophomore, Michael tries out for the varsity basketball team but coach Pop Herring passes on him—doesn’t “cut” him— for 6-6 senior Leroy Smith, instead. A myth and a fire are simultaneously born.

1979: Magic Johnson of Michigan State and Larry Bird of Indiana State captivate the nation in the NCAA championship game, still the most-watched title game in history.

1980: Heading into his senior year, Jordan is left off the Street & Smith’s pre-season all-America high school team.

1981: Jordan scores a record 30 points, including the game-tying and winning free throws in the McDonald’s High School All-Star Game. His record stands for 18 years until Jonathon Bender breaks it with 31 in 1999.

1982: North Carolina freshman Michael Jordan sinks the game-winning shot against Georgetown in the NCAA Championship game.

1983: Michael Jordan appears on his first Sports Illustrated cover with North Carolina teammate Sam Perkins. He will have 57 more covers, including one this week for his 50th birthday.

1984: Jordan falls to the Bulls at No. 3 in the NBA Draft, after Houston selects Hakeem Olajuwon and Portland takes Sam Bowie.

1985: After begrudgingly meeting with Nike president Phil Knight, Jordan and the shoe company release the first “Air Jordan.” Michael says, ““I can't wear that shoe, those are Devil colors.” It sells for about $65.

1986: After Jordan scores 63 points in a double overtime playoff loss to the Celtics, Larry Bird says: “That was God disguised as Michael Jordan.”

1987: Michael is dating Juanita Vanoy, whom he will marry two years later.

1988: The “Jumpman” logo is forever seared in fans’ minds with Jordan’s iconic free-throw line dunk during the NBA slam dunk

1989: Michael Jordan sinks ‘The Shot” on Craig Ehlo and the Cleveland Cavaliers. A legend is born.

1990: For the third season in a row, nemesis Isiah Thomas and the Pistons utilize the “Jordan Rules” to bounce the Bulls from the playoffs.

1991: The Bulls finally sweep the “walk-off” Pistons in the Conference Finals and get past Magic and the Lakers in the NBA Finals. Michael hugs his first NBA Championship trophy.

1992: Jordan leads the “Dream Team” to the gold medal in the Barcelona Olympics.

1993: Michael wins his third consecutive NBA title. A month later his father is murdered. Then, on Oct. 6 Jordan shocks the world when he retires to play baseball.

1994: Sports Illustrated publishes the one cover that probably not in Michael’s collection. “Bag it, Michael,” states the front page with a picture of Jordan badly swinging and missing a baseball.

1995: The Sun-Times front page shouts the two best words the basketball world ever heard: “I’m back!”

1996: Jordan is a movie star starring opposite Bug Bunny in Space Jam.

1997: In Game 5 of the NBA Finals, MJ has 38 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists in the “flu” game. The Bulls go on to close out the Jazz in the next game for their fifth title.

1998: Michael puts the walk-off exclamation point on his amazing career with the game-winning shot against Utah in the NBA Finals.

1999: Jordan announces he is 99.9 percent sure he is retiring.

2000: Jordan is named the “Athlete of the Century” by ESPN.

2001: Leaving open the .01 percent, Jordan comes back to scratch an itch and plays for the Wizards.

2002: Michael pours in 51 points against the Hornets at age 38.

2003: MJ retires for a third and final time … we think.

2004: In retirement, Air Jordan shows other interests, forming a motorsports team.

2005: In a “60 Minutes” interview with Ed Bradley, Jordan admits he “pushed the envelope” gambling.

2006: Michael and Juanita’s divorce becomes final four days after Christmas.

2007: Nike opens the first Jordan-only stores worldwide.

Michael Jordan married Yvette Prieto Saturday in Palm Beach, Fla.

2009: At his Hall of Fame induction speech, Jordan shows he still has the fire as he unloads on those who doubted him throughout his life.

2010: The Jordan brand tops $1 billion in annual sales for the first time for Nike.

2011: The Michael Jordan Steak House opens in Chicago.

2012: Jordan’s new home, a $12.5 million mansion in Jupiter, Fla., is completed.

2013: A decade after he last dribbled a basketball in the NBA, Jordan’s endorsement earnings are estimated at $80 million.