ARLINGTON, Va. - Basketball great Michael Jordan was sworn in as an honorary member of the Army National Guard during a ceremony at the Army National Guard Readiness Center here today.
The swearing-in marks Jordan's association with the Guard providing sponsorship for two riders on his Michael Jordan Motorsports team, part of the American Motorcyclist Association's American Superbike class.
"I'm very proud that the National Guard has chosen us to showcase what you represent," said Jordan during the event. "Every time we step onto the track we know that your hard work, dedication and support and everything is on the track with us. We want to represent that to the most of our abilities."
For the riders, representing the Guard brings a different perspective to racing.
I've been racing for a long time and I've had a lot of sponsors over the years and they've always been product sponsors. You're endorsing a product or a material or a brand," said team rider Jake Zemke, who races on the Number 54 bike and is currently third in the points race with two wins on the season.
"Representing the National Guard, you represent people. … It means a little bit more here in my heart to represent blood, sweat and tears rather than a can of soda or a product," said Zemke. The 370-pound bike he rides develops 200 horsepower from its 1,000 cc engine and can reach speeds of 195 mph.
Zemke also finds similarity to what the racing team does and what the Guard does.
"It's the dedication, it's the support, the loyalty - it's all those things," he said. "It's things like that, that make the National Guard who they are but it's also things that make our race team. It's the countless hours that people put in behind the scenes to get us to the front and it's also what the National Guard does, keeping everyone safe here at home."
It's also not Jordan's first interaction with the military. Jordan's brother, retired Command Sgt. Maj. Raymond Jordan, has also given him a bit more insight into being a Soldier.
"I have a brother who has been in the service for 31 years and he represents more than what I've done on the basketball court," said Jordan. "He's really my hero. He tells me a lot of stories of what he endured and some of the things that you all deal with and it gives me great pride knowing what you represent and that you take care of us."
The next race for the team is July 16 at the Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course in Lexington, Ohio, followed by races at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Monterey, Calif., July 23 and then Aug. 13 at the Virginia International Raceway in Alton, Va.