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Monday, September 17
 
World still awaiting word from Michael

Associated Press

NEW YORK -- He's back! He's back!

Oops, well, he's almost back.

For 90 minutes Monday, Michael Jordan was listed as an active player for the Washington Wizards on the team's Web site. Apparently, someone pressed a button a little too soon.

Michael Jordan Return-O-Meter

"Just a clerical error," NBA spokesman Tim Frank said. "Our Internet department was making preparations in case he comes back."

Jordan had all but confirmed he would announce a comeback at a news conference as early as this week. Because of the terrorist attacks, he is now more likely to announce his decision in a more low-key manner, such as a faxed news release, in the next two weeks.

Wizards spokesman Matt Williams said he was inundated with phone calls after Jordan was included on the Web page, tucked alphabetically between Popeye Jones and Christian Laettner.

Jordan was listed as a 6-foot-6 guard, 198 pounds. The uniform, of course, was No. 23.

The Web site also included a brief biography, complete with his career statistics down to such trivial information as the fact that he wore his blue North Carolina shorts underneath his Bulls shorts when he played for Chicago.

Jordan's name was taken off the active roster late in the afternoon by the NBA, which controls the rosters on the Web site.

This would be the second comeback for the 38-year-old Jordan, who led the Bulls to six NBA championships. He retired in October 1993 to play minor league baseball and returned to the Bulls in March 1995. He retired again in January 1999.

At the NBA Store in Manhattan, employees said they were stocking several blank Wizards jerseys that will be embroidered with Jordan's name and number when the comeback is official.

For now, the only Wizards jerseys available at the store are Richard Hamilton's No. 32 and rookie Kwame Brown's No. 5.




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