Sept. 25
MJ is coming back, baby!

Michael Jordan should give the NBA and fans across America a great lift. I think his return is great news, and it should be a real positive. It doesn't come as a surprise to me. He is such a competitor!

	We all think of Jordan for 23.

Jordan never allows the word "CAN'T" to be in his vocabulary. That is what motivates him. People say MJ can't go 82 games against Kobe Bryant and Allen Iverson ... but that talk stimulates and inspires him.

I know some are critical of Jordan's return, but I don't think he will damage his legacy. Think about Willie Mays, who did not look good in that Mets uniform. Think about Muhammad Ali, who did not look good in his last fight against Trevor Berbick.

People don't remember Mays or Ali for those things; they remember them for their glory days.

Don't bet against him. True, the Wizards don't have the personnel to win it all, but they could challenge for a playoff berth. Jordan will certainly have an impact on a team that won 19 games last season. Washington also added No. 1-draft pick Kwame Brown, Brendan Haywood and Tyronn Lue to a lineup that includes Richard Hamilton.

Making Jordan's return a little bit smoother will be his familiarity with head coach Doug Collins and assistant coach John Bach. Jordan knows their offensive and defensive philosophies. Bach was Phil Jackson's assistant during their success with the bulls.

Jordan also showed his generosity and willingness to help others in need by donating his entire salary to relief agencies following the recent tragedies in Washington, D.C., and New York City.

My feeling is Jordan will average better than 20 points a game. His greatest asset, other than his obvious natural talent and winning mentality, will be in the daily practice regimen for the Wizards. Jordan practices like he is trying to impress a coach. That work ethic and toughness will play a vital role in developing winning work habits out of Courtney Alexander, Brown, Hamilton, Haywood and all the other young Wizards.

When you analyze the respective teams, gaining the eighth and final playoff slot out of the Eastern Conference will be extremely difficult.

Michael's work ethic will make everyone on the Wizards better, and the Eastern Conference isn't as strong as the Western Conference. I think Washington can double last year's win total; I believe they can get 38 wins and battle for a playoff spot, but will probably fall short since Indiana had the last spot at 41-41 last year.

You don't have to go to Harvard, baby, to figure out that Philadelphia, Toronto, Orlando, Milwaukee, New York, Miami, Indiana and Charlotte are eight teams that, on paper, have better personnel than the Wizards. The Celtics are improving, too. Remember, his name is Michael the Magnificent, and Washington certainly has a better chance of bumping one of those eight with No. 23 in the lineup.

I know that NBA owners are happy to have Michael coming back -- they can hear the cash register ringing! Ticket sales should go up, and I can't wait for his first game. It's fitting that it will be at Madison Square Garden in the Big Apple, baby!

Michael Jordan is a winner. Whether Washington succeeds in the win column, you know his team will do the best it can. The NBA will be better with No. 23 back on the court.

Welcome back, Michael. This is going to create a box-office bonanza, increased TV ratings, additional merchandise sales, etc. You'd better believe David Stern is smiling big-time!