Jordan to Announce Return, Play for Wizards

Washington Post ^ | September 23, 2001 | Steve Wyche

[GreatOne]

Michael Jordan has decided to end his three-year retirement from the NBA to play for the Washington Wizards and will announce his intentions as early as today, according to a league source with knowledge of the situation. It is expected that the team will announce Jordan's return through a press release, the source said.

[GreatOne]

Happy news admidst the tragedy.

[Libertarian4Bush]

excuse me? "happy news"? I'd bet dollars to donuts that Jordan was pissed he got upstaged by the bombing. this guy is one of the biggest self-congratulatory, arrogant overrated athletes walking.

[hchutch]

I wish he were doing it for the Bulls...

[Libertarian4Bush]

Sure... I wonder how many more death-defying fake illnesses he'll have.

[NittanyLion]

Good. I'm looking forward to watching Iverson break Jordan's ankles over and over again.

[Illbay]

Jordan is going to keep on until he embarrasses himself. He should have hearkened to the example of Jim Brown, who retired at the top of his game so that his legend would remain untarnished.

Jordan's incredible talent got him out of this predicament once before, but that was FIVE YEARS AGO. (People fail to remember just how BAD he was during the partial season of his return to basketball after he went a little crazy at the Double-A baseball level for a couple of years).

This time, I don't think he's gonna be able to pull it off. the man is past his prime, and being just an average player isn't gonna do his legend any good.

I think this is a terrible decision on Jordan's part.

[Alberta's Child]

I thought Jordan was a part owner of the team. If this is the case, then Jordan's return is a very bad sign. As I told people when Mario Lemieux returned to play for the Pittsburgh Penguins, "When the owner of the team feels a need to come back and play again, you can bet the team is in the verge of financial collapse."

[Pappy Smear]

"this guy is one of the biggest self-congratulatory, arrogant overrated athletes walking".

Amen brother, at least the self-congratulatory part. How many times does he need to retire? Then when he retires next time, we will have to have all the highlight films with the piano playing in the background. And we will have to have all the standing "O"s in all the arenas. And all the columnists and pundits saying that basketball will never be the same.

Gag. Make up your mind Mike. You are worse than a wife deciding where to put the new couch in the living room. Choose the floor or the skybox, just make up your dern mind!

[hchutch]

I was incollege, and it was rare to miss the Bulls (since I went to school in Iowa). Jordan did not look bad per se, but he was inconsistent. But he could step up and dominate - like that 55 point game against the Knicks (which he won with a pass to Bill Wennington, who scored his only two points on the game-winning dunk).

Jordan still has a lot of time in him. Folks underestimate or write him off at their own peril.

[mass55th]

Must be he needs more money for his gambling habit.

[Illbay]

FWIW, according to NBA rules Jordan will have to relinquish his stake in the team if he is going to be an active player.

[NittanyLion]

I can't wait to see the Wizards play the Lakers. Those poor refs will be in a quandary: should I throw the game for Jordan or for Bryant/O'Neal??? I never got any instructions on this!!!

[Economist_MA]

biggest self-congratulatory, arrogant overrated athletes walking.

Me thinks you have no clue about b-ball. You can think about his character whatever you like, but I saw him play the Celtics a few times too many. There is no way you can overrate him, because he was the best.

[hole_n_one]

He was an egotistical, whining, classless ballhog........

[AntiTyrant]

this guy is one of the biggest self-congratulatory, arrogant overrated athletes walking.
i agree. never could believe the adulation for jordan. doesn't take long to see what a jerk he is. oh, and he travels like a big dog too. of course, the nba always lets the stars travel so they can make the highlight reels with one illegal basket after another. looks very showy.

[Texaggie79]

Do I smell jealousy? Say what you will, you can never deny the fact that he is the GREATEST man to ever touch a basketball.

[mgstarr]

Jordan overrated??? I have to laugh at that one. You obviously weren't watching the same games I was....

In a world where a huge percentage of pro atheletes are on probation, cheating on their spouses, and fathering broods out of wedlock, I'll take Jordan any day of the week.

If Jerry Reinsdorf of the Bulls hadn't been the arrogant moron, Chicago would still have the world champions.

[OldFriend]

sheesh, this you find worthy of anger????

[mdixon26]

Jordan is the greatest basketball player in history. He is a true professional and an excellent role model for children. I do not believe that the Wizards will win a championship even with his help, but in a game where many players, such as Rasheed Wallace, detract from the value of the game, Jordan will certainly add value.