Jordan Decision Could Come Today
W A S H I N G T O N, Sept. 24 -- The five-month wait for the inevitable isnearly over. Barring an improbable, last-minute change of heart,Michael Jordan's comeback is about to become official.
The route from "99.9 percent chance that I won't" in April to"I'm doing it for the love of the game" will end with anannouncement this week, possibly as early as Monday.
The Washington Post reported there is no longer any questionJordan is coming back. Citing a league source with knowledge of thesituation, the Post reported on its Web site Sunday night thatJordan has decided to end his three-year retirement to play for theWashington Wizards.
Jordan won't make any public statements about his return untilthe team's media day, Oct. 1, the day before the Wizards begintraining camp, the Post reported.
An Announcement by Fax?
The official "I'm back" — probably via fax from the WashingtonWizards — will be almost anticlimactic, but there are otherquestions about Jordan's second unretirement that eagerly await ananswer.
The Post reported the source said that Jordan will sign a contract for $1 million, the 10-year veteran minimum salary of $1 million. The source told the Post that it was unknown whether he would be signing a multi-year deal. In Jordan's last year in the NBA, with the Bulls in 1997-98, he earned more than $36 million.
Because the NBA does not allow dual player-ownership, Jordan must sell his 5 to 10 percent ownership stake in the Wizards. Jordan already has started the process of selling his shares in the Wizards back to Washington Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, who heads the Wizards' minority ownership group that includes Jordan. Abe Pollin has been majority owner of the Wizards since 1963.
Can Jordan keep his job as the Wizards' president of basketballoperations? The Post story, citing its source, said he must give upthat position. Even so, who would be in charge when he's on thecourt — Jordan or his hand-picked coach, Doug Collins? How wouldJordan's teammates handle sharing the court with their boss? Wouldany of them dare not pass the ball to someone who can trade or cutthem?
