| | CHICAGO -- Go ahead, Washington, borrow Michael Jordan. No
matter what city he's in, what team he's with or what job he holds,
he's always going to belong to the Windy City.
Like a parent watching a child go to college, Chicagoans greeted
Jordan's announcement Wednesday that he was joining the Wizards as
a part-owner with a mixture of happiness and regret.
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JORDAN'S FAVORITE OPPONENTS -- AND THE WIZARDS
|
|
TEAM
|
PPG
|
APG
|
RPG
|
|
Suns
|
35.6
|
6.2
|
7.6
|
|
Blazers
|
35.4
|
6.1
|
6.7
|
|
Spurs
|
34.1
|
5.3
|
7.3
|
|
Jazz
|
34.1
|
4.6
|
7.1
|
|
Wizards
|
30.1
|
5.2
|
6.0
|
|
Overall
|
31.8
|
5.4
|
7.0
|
"It's sad that he won't be a part of the Bulls. But it is great
that he will be in basketball," said Lance Fithian, a commodities
broker who was working out at the Gold Coast Multiplex, an upscale
health club where Jordan still plays an occasional pickup game.
It was only about a year ago -- Jan. 13, 1999, to be exact -- that
Jordan hung up his Bulls uniform.
Chicago fans are still coming to grips with the reality he's not
coming back. He gave them six NBA championships in eight years, an
excuse to party in Grant Park every June, and countless "Michael
memories."
Though he grew up in North Carolina, Chicago became his home,
and the city considered him an adopted son. He played pickup games
on city playgrounds and watched the Cubs at Wrigley Field. When the
United Center was built, a statue of Jordan went out front. It
still draws dozens of fans every day.
And when Jordan retired the first time, he kept his ties to
Chicago intact. When he tried pro baseball, he did it with Jerry
Reinsdorf's other team, the Chicago White Sox.
"In a perfect world, Michael would have been a Bull for life,"
said John Paxson, Jordan's teammate for the first three titles and
now a broadcaster for the Bulls.
"I'm sure there's a part of all of us that would have liked to
see the organization utilize him in some way," Paxson said. "But
it's not a perfect world."
While Paxson and Johnnie "Red" Kerr, Chicago's first coach,
found a home with the Bulls when they retired, fans weren't
surprised Jordan went elsewhere. His relationship with chairman
Jerry Reinsdorf deteriorated in recent years, and no one would ever
mistake him and general manager Jerry Krause for friends.
Jordan blames Reinsdorf and Krause for forcing Phil Jackson out
and breaking up the Bulls, and he hasn't set foot in the United
Center for a basketball game since his retirement.
"For all he's done for this team and organization, we were
hoping he'd be able to come back here," said Hersey Hawkins, a
Chicago native now with the Bulls. "I don't know all the ins and
the outs of the situation. I think it's sad and unfortunate he's
not here."
In a written statement, Reinsdorf wished Jordan well.
"Michael will forever be a special part of the Bulls family,"
said Reinsdorf, who was at the baseball owner's meeting in Arizona
and had no other comment.
"He has always thrived on challenges and opportunities. I
expect nothing less from him now," Reinsdorf said. "Personally, I
wish him all the best and look forward to discussing this new
challenge with him when we next speak."
While fans aren't sure what kind of front-office man Jordan will
make, they also said they don't think it really matters. Jordan's
name alone will draw fans to Wizards games, and he'll give the
struggling team credibility it never would have had otherwise.
The entire NBA benefits from Jordan getting back into the game, fans added. And if he's got to go somewhere else, at least he's not going as a player.
"Wherever he is wanted, that is where he should go," said
Elliot Wexler, a ticket broker. "At least his statue is still out
at the United Center."
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Audio chat wrap: David Aldridge
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Did Phil Jackson advise Jordan in his decision?
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