Weather | Sports | Forums | Comics | Classifieds | Calendar | Movies
NBA
February 11, 2003
ATLANTA -- Michael Jordan lowered his head, gave a slight shove with the forearm and flung his aging body into the air.
The ball left his right hand, rotating perfectly in a towering arc many had seen so many times before, barely touching the twine as it fell through for the winning basket.
The perfect ending to Jordan's final All-Star Game. Only it wasn't.
A few seconds later, Kobe Bryant was sprawled on the court, sent flying by Jermaine O'Neal after flinging up a desperation 3.
Bryant made two free throws to force a second overtime, and the West beat Jordan's East team 155-145 Sunday night.
His Airness sat glumly on the bench for the final five minutes, the farewell script ruined by O'Neal's silly foul or overzealous officiating, depending on your point of view.
"I wanted to win the game," Jordan said. "I felt like we had a chance to win and I was a part of it. I think everybody wanted me to be a part of it."
At the end, he wasn't. In an appropriate passing of the guard, Kevin Garnett dominated the second overtime, finished with 37 points and the MVP. Jordan was just one of the guys, watching along with the other stars as Garnett -- 13 years younger -- accepted his trophy.
Garnett was 17-of-24 from the field. And Jordan? He missed his first seven shots, had four others swatted away, blew a dunk and was 9-of-27 overall.
Only the sheer volume of shots -- three more than anyone else -- allowed him to score 20 and surpass Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for most points in All-Star history.
Before the East team took the court, Vince Carter insisted on giving up his starting spot to Jordan. After rebuffing offers from Tracy McGrady and Allen Iverson, Jordan accepted this one.
"When it all boiled down to it, this is a storybook ending for Michael Jordan," Carter said. "I'm sure I'll have another opportunity to be in the All-Star Game. He's supposed to be out there on the court."
At halftime, Mariah Carey belted out Hero and memorable moments from Jordan's career were shown as Bryant, Yao Ming and basketball's future stood and watched. When No. 23 finally took the microphone, the building shook with an ovation that lasted more than a minute.
"I leave the game in good hands," he said. "So many great stars still in the game, so many great stars rising and playing the game. I have passed on the things that Dr. J and some of the great players -- Magic Johnson, Larry Bird -- have passed on to me. I pass them on to these All-Stars here, as well as to the rest of the players in the NBA.
"I thank you for your support and now I can go home and feel at peace with the game of basketball."
RATINGS: Jordan's final All-Star Game had an overnight rating of 9.7 for TNT. About 4.9-million households watched the game, making it the largest metered market audience for a basketball game, college or pro, in cable history, according to Nielsen Media Research. Last year's rating on NBC was 9.8 (6.5-million).
The cable rating is the percentage of all homes with cable service, whether or not they are in use. Overnight ratings measure the 55 largest TV markets in the United States, covering almost 70 percent of the country.
CELTICS: Forward Vin Baker was cleared to play tonight in Seattle after meeting with team doctors to discuss the lightheadedness that kept him out of Wednesday's game against the Sonics.
RAPTORS: Forward Maceo Baston signed, and center Zendon Hamilton was released. Baston averaged 15.8 points and 6.7 rebounds in 16 games this season with Spain's DKV Joventut.