Is Michael Jordan a He or a Him, It Depends

Charlie Rose recently asked two-time NBA Most Valuable Player Steve Nash which players inspired him growing up. Nash, who had gone through the entire interview in an ingratiating manner using impeccable grammar then made a gaff:

"He was my hero growing up, him and Isiah Thomas."

The "he" and "him" Nash referred to was Michael Jordan, also known as Air Jordan, or His Airness because of his leaping ability. The second part of Nash's sentence is shorthand for, "He and Isiah Thomas were both my heroes growing up." In speaking and writing it is not necessary to repeat word patterns exactly as listeners and readers understand by context what the speaker or writer intends. A sentence which leaves out certain understood words is called an elliptical sentence. Nash's intended expression: Michael Jordan (he) and Isiah Thomas were my heroes.

Some would suggest that Nash's ear was fooled because "him" appears late in the sentence, a place where objects usually are expected. Whatever the reason, the correct form:

"He was my hero growing up, he and Isiah Thomas."