Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, March 11, 1995 TAG: 9503140058
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: CHICAGO LENGTH: Medium
Michael Jordan ended his brief run at a baseball career Friday, clearing the way for his return to the Chicago Bulls and the sport he defined with mid-air grace and flare.
Talk of Jordan's future clogged the airwaves and dominated the coffee shop conversations again Friday in a city craving for more of its most famous sports figure.
Jordan wasn't at a pregame shootaround at the Bulls' practice facility in suburban Deerfield. His appearances there the previous three days prompted speculation about his return.
But later in the day Jordan was spotted going into a downtown Chicago hotel and after he was seen there, a large crowd began to gather.
Bulls and White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who has a home in the Phoenix area, said Friday he hadn't heard from Jordan since Thursday night.
It was then that Jordan informed him of the decision to quit baseball.
``There is no point in engaging in any speculation about Michael's future until he informs us of his plans. Whatever he decides, we will support,'' Reinsdorf said in a statement Friday.
In a statement released through his agent's office, Jordan said he was quitting the career he launched in the winter of 1993 because the strike was hurting his chances to improve.
``As a 32-year-old minor leaguer, who lacks the benefit of valuable baseball experience over the past 15 years, I am no longer comfortable that there is meaningful opportunity to continue my improvement at a satisfactory pace,'' he said.
After Friday's shootaround, Bulls coach Phil Jackson was sounding like Jordan's baseball disappointment would be the NBA's gain.
``He needed the opportunity this year to get better and the window was closing too quickly and he decided it wasn't going to happen for him,'' Jackson said.
``He did not fail at baseball. Baseball failed him, I think. ... It means Michael has the opportunity to come back and play basketball without baseball being the dream that he's been holding on for. After fulfilling that, Michael is going to calculate and do what he has to do to come back to basketball - if there is an opportunity for him.''
A source told the Associated Press on Thursday night that Jordan would return to the NBA as soon as he improved his conditioning.
Jordan took off from spring training eight days ago after the team had been split into players who would compete in exhibition games and those who wouldn't. He was caught in the middle of the labor dispute.
by CNB