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Jordan not stupid, so forget comeback
© St. Petersburg Times, published March 15, 2001 Psst. Did you hear this one? A guy who is a friend of a guy who used to work in New Jersey overheard a guy on the train say his ex-brother-in-law knew almost for a fact that Michael Jordan was considering whether to think about possibly one day maybe playing in the NBA again. Oh, but that's not the best part. That same guy also said he had some beachfront property in Idaho for sale. Ever since Jordan left the game in January 1999, we've heard this rumor time and time again. M.J. is coming back. And every time it turns out to be a bunch of bull. This time it's Sports Illustrated spreading the gossip. This week's edition reports that Jordan is "90 percent committed" to slapping on the Air Jordans again and checking himself back into the game. Jordan, the Wizards' part-owner and president of basketball operations, supposedly has this grand plan for he and pal Charles Barkley to play for the Wizards next season and sign for the veteran minimum of about $1.1-million. There's even talk Jordan intends to lure free-agent superstar Chris Webber back to Washington as well. According to SI, Jordan and Barkley have been training and playing like crazy lately. No doubt Jordan could quickly get back into playing shape, but the last I heard, Barkley weighed 600 pounds. Anyway, supposedly only two things are holding up the deal: Jordan's wife, who reportedly is against the idea, and league rules that would prohibit Jordan from playing while owning a piece of the team. Still, could it happen? Sure, if you think Northwestern State could go all the way to the NCAA Final Four. Face it, folks. Jordan is never going to play in the NBA again, just like Michael Jackson is never going to be black again. You can believe all the rumors you want, but it ain't going to happen. "He wouldn't play for the veteran minimum; he'd play for the Michael Jordan minimum," Jordan's superagent, David Falk, told the Boston Globe. "And that would only come about if every team chipped in $2-million or $3-million because that's how much it would mean. But money isn't the issue. I wish you would print this so we can put an end to all this foolishness." I don't doubt for a minute Jordan could lace 'em up right now and lead the league in scoring. Even at age 38. Some athletes you just don't question. Steffi Graf is one of them. Tiger Woods is another. And Jordan is another. The guy is that phenomenal. But to make a second comeback would be crazy, not to mention stupid. There are some things you just don't mess with. You don't touch up the Mona Lisa. You don't straighten the Tower of Pisa. And you don't write a new ending to a career that finished with a game-winning shot at the buzzer that sealed the league championship. All those things are perfect just the way they are. "It would tarnish his legend," Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy said at the Knicks-Cavs game Tuesday night. "He's a (Chicago) Bull when it comes to his playing. That would be like Magic Johnson making one of his comebacks with the Golden State Warriors. I just don't see it happening." You can bet the NBA would love to see it happen. TV ratings are down. Attendance stinks. And there has been a general lack of interest since Jordan walked away. The buzz Jordan would generate with another comeback would turn all the NBA's gray skies blue. But it's what Jordan wants, not David Stern. And Jordan, we are being told, wants to play. Shooting commercials, playing 18 holes and running the Wizards -- albeit from a distance -- apparently isn't fulfilling. Maybe it isn't, but do you really think Jordan is going to give up his cut of the team ownership and risk tarnishing his legacy just to get in some good five-on-five runs? I mean, surely he isn't thinking about coming back so he can win more championships. What would that prove, other than he's the greatest player of all time? Excuse me but don't we know that already? Hey, it's his life, his career and his reputation. But I think he's smart enough not to try another comeback. And we should be smart enough not to believe he would.
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