Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, March 19, 1995 TAG: 9503200063
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL PAGE: A-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: DEERFIELD, ILL. LENGTH: Medium
With those two words, Michael Jordan ended his 17-month hiatus from basketball, the sport he once ruled. He is returning, ending more than a week of speculation, wild rumors and media-mobbed practices for the Chicago Bulls.
``He walked in this morning, shook my hand and said, `It's a done deal,''' Bulls coach Phil Jackson said Saturday.
Jordan will make his return today against the Pacers at Indiana in a nationally televised game.
Terms of the deal were not revealed. Jordan, 32, had this year and next year left on his previous contract that called for about $4 million annually.
But all the Bulls really needed to know was that No. 23, perhaps the most popular and well-known athlete in the world - certainly one of the most well-paid, with a line of endorsements that brings in a reported $30 million a year - was going to rejoin them.
``I think after having him on the floor tomorrow, I'll be able to describe it ... maybe I won't be able to describe it,'' Jackson said. ``But once we see him out there in that red uniform playing for the Chicago Bulls, that'll be the emotional moment we've looked for and we've all waited for.''
To many, Jordan was a god in long basketball shorts. His jersey was retired Nov. 1, and a statue of him unveiled in front of the United Center - across the street from the old Chicago Stadium, where the thrills he provided included a run of three NBA titles.
Jordan's two words Saturday came in a statement released by agent David Falk. After practicing with the Bulls, Jordan sped out of the parking lot in his Corvette to a rousing ovation from hundreds of fans perched above a fence across the driveway from the Berto Center.
The Bulls then announced Jordan's return with a short release.
``Michael Jordan today informed the Chicago Bulls that he is ending his retirement from professional basketball,'' it said. ``He will make his return to the Bulls lineup tomorrow when the Bulls face the Indiana Pacers.''
Rookie Dickey Simpkins was placed on the injured list to clear a roster spot.
Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf, reached by phone in Arizona, said Saturday:
``Obviously, I'm pleased that he's coming back, how could anyone not be pleased? He's back playing the sport he's best at. As long as it's something he wants to do, I'll support whatever he wants to do and right now he wants to play basketball.
``I thought when he retired that he would never play again. As late as three weeks ago, I thought he would never play again. Maybe the first time I had any question was when he left the White Sox camp.''
Jordan cut short his attempt at a baseball career earlier this month, pulling out because he did not want to be caught in the middle of the game's labor problems.
Reinsdorf said he had talked with Jordan ``several times about it, if it was something that made sense for him to do. He made his decision yesterday.''
Reinsdorf claimed, however, that a new contract was not part of the discussions.
``There were no contract negotiations. I can't change his contract because of the moratorium,'' Reinsdorf said.
Clubs are currently banned from negotiating with players until a new league-wide collective bargaining agreement is in place.
Then what was the holdup in getting Jordan back on the floor?
``He decided he wanted to play. That was the only thing. He was going to take the time he needed to take to see if he wanted to play again,'' Reinsdorf said.
Jackson said he didn't know how much Jordan would play today. Jordan has not played in an NBA game since June 20, 1993, when he helped the Bulls beat Phoenix in Game 6 for their third straight title.
``He knows he's going to be tired in this kind of contest, where he hasn't played a 48-minute game,'' Jackson said. ``The only way he can prepare for it is game conditioning. So we'll try to save him for six-, seven-minute bursts to start with and see how his conditioning is right away.''
Jordan isn't out of shape. But he'll need to get his wind and legs back on a basketball court.
by CNB