'Crying Jordan' meme unleashed on Michael Jordan himself after UNC loss
His Airness. #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/RR9sXfSumN
— NCAA March Madness (@marchmadness) April 5, 2016
It was inevitable.
Michael Jordan had to know that when he showed up for the 2016 NCAA men's basketball national championship game, he ran the risk of turning himself into a meme. And when North Carolina lost to Villanova in heartbreaking fashion on Monday night, the internet was ready to unleash all of the MJ-based "Crying Jordan" photoshops it had stockpiled for just this occasion.
Get your scrolling finger ready, friends, because we have our 16 favorites from a night where Twitter absolutely lost its mind.
In our estimation, the best Crying Jordan of the night came early, before the game had been decided. Sometimes, though, you have to call your shot:
— Timothy Burke (@bubbaprog) April 5, 2016
And just because Jordan shared a kind moment with Craig Sager didn't mean he was safe in that moment:
— The Cauldron (ICYMI) (@CauldronICYMI) April 5, 2016
His entourage (and the neighboring fans) were susceptible to the curse as well:
UNC fans right now pic.twitter.com/yT3Hyjs8uh
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) April 5, 2016
Even the Jumpman logo took an emotional turn:
Y'all can't be serious pic.twitter.com/bjUjhmgA57
— Marcus (@PrinceMJofDSU) April 5, 2016
From there, the internet turned its full fury to whatever Jordan photos it could find:
IM OUT pic.twitter.com/Tfk71TmWa8
— RYAN BUTLER (@RHYD1Z3L) April 5, 2016
UNCrying Jordan#dagger #NationalChampionship pic.twitter.com/DLMh3TrHw0
— Bryce Wood (@woodymlb4) April 5, 2016
Nova just jumped over @Jumpman23 pic.twitter.com/nuvWiVgIvG
— max (@MaxRappaport) April 5, 2016
— SoleCollector.com (@SoleCollector) April 5, 2016
— Bobby Big Wheel (@BobbyBigWheel) April 5, 2016
UNC's players got the treatment, too. So did coach Roy Williams. And famous Chapel Hill landmarks. And even the mascot, because why not?
— Frequency Vibrations (@bobby_raybands) April 5, 2016
— Dan Carson (@TheDoctorCarson) April 5, 2016
— Tom Read (@traread) April 5, 2016
— Jordan Heck (@JordanHeckFF) April 5, 2016
This is my coup de grâce. pic.twitter.com/8SvlLU8m14
— Ben Gibson (@CowboyOnPatrol) April 5, 2016
— Milmore (@StoolMilmore) April 5, 2016
Finally, in a twist that only M. Night Shyamalan could appreciate, Jordan met the fate of last year's crying piccolo girl.
Michael Jordan no longer cries when he is sad, he plays the piccolo. pic.twitter.com/GpUTI7SF6f
— SB Nation GIF (@SBNationGIF) April 5, 2016
My, how the tables have turned.
