Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 9, 1993 TAG: 9310090050
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: NEW YORK LENGTH: Short
Stern previously said there was "absolutely no connection" between the investigation, conducted by former federal judge Frederick Lacey, and Jordan's sudden retirement from the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday.
"The Lacey investigation is officially closed," Stern said in a statement released by NBA spokesman Jan Hubbard. "Michael and I have agreed to meet to discuss Michael's off-court activity and that meeting will still be held sometime in the future."
Jordan and Stern had decided earlier that a meeting would be appropriate and decided to keep that date despite the star's retirement. The commissioner attended Jordan's farewell press conference a day after Jordan informed Stern that he was leaving the NBA.
Lacey was hired by the commissioner in June to look into Jordan's off-court activities after the release of a book by San Diego businessman Richard Esquinas, who claimed Jordan lost $1.25 million to him in golf bets and that they had negotiated a $300,000 settlement.
The book was released shortly after it was reported that Jordan had spent some free time at the gambling tables in Atlantic City while the Bulls were in New York for the Eastern Conference playoffs.
With questions about Jordan's gambling circulating throughout the finals between the Bulls and Phoenix Suns, Stern brought in Lacey to conduct a probe.
Keywords:
BASKETBALL
by CNB