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 Thursday, January 20
Chicagoans have mixed reaction
 
Associated Press

 CHICAGO -- Go ahead, Washington, borrow Michael Jordan. No matter what city he's in, what team he's with or what job he holds, he's always going to belong to the Windy City.

Like a parent watching a child go to college, Chicagoans greeted Jordan's announcement Wednesday that he was joining the Wizards as a part-owner with a mixture of happiness and regret.

JORDAN'S FAVORITE OPPONENTS -- AND THE WIZARDS
TEAM PPG APG RPG
Suns 35.6 6.2 7.6
Blazers 35.4 6.1 6.7
Spurs 34.1 5.3 7.3
Jazz 34.1 4.6 7.1
Wizards 30.1 5.2 6.0
Overall 31.8 5.4 7.0

"It's sad that he won't be a part of the Bulls. But it is great that he will be in basketball," said Lance Fithian, a commodities broker who was working out at the Gold Coast Multiplex, an upscale health club where Jordan still plays an occasional pickup game.

It was only about a year ago -- Jan. 13, 1999, to be exact -- that Jordan hung up his Bulls uniform.

Chicago fans are still coming to grips with the reality he's not coming back. He gave them six NBA championships in eight years, an excuse to party in Grant Park every June, and countless "Michael memories."

Though he grew up in North Carolina, Chicago became his home, and the city considered him an adopted son. He played pickup games on city playgrounds and watched the Cubs at Wrigley Field. When the United Center was built, a statue of Jordan went out front. It still draws dozens of fans every day.

And when Jordan retired the first time, he kept his ties to Chicago intact. When he tried pro baseball, he did it with Jerry Reinsdorf's other team, the Chicago White Sox.

"In a perfect world, Michael would have been a Bull for life," said John Paxson, Jordan's teammate for the first three titles and now a broadcaster for the Bulls.

"I'm sure there's a part of all of us that would have liked to see the organization utilize him in some way," Paxson said. "But it's not a perfect world."

While Paxson and Johnnie "Red" Kerr, Chicago's first coach, found a home with the Bulls when they retired, fans weren't surprised Jordan went elsewhere. His relationship with chairman Jerry Reinsdorf deteriorated in recent years, and no one would ever mistake him and general manager Jerry Krause for friends.

Jordan blames Reinsdorf and Krause for forcing Phil Jackson out and breaking up the Bulls, and he hasn't set foot in the United Center for a basketball game since his retirement.

"For all he's done for this team and organization, we were hoping he'd be able to come back here," said Hersey Hawkins, a Chicago native now with the Bulls. "I don't know all the ins and the outs of the situation. I think it's sad and unfortunate he's not here."

In a written statement, Reinsdorf wished Jordan well.

"Michael will forever be a special part of the Bulls family," said Reinsdorf, who was at the baseball owner's meeting in Arizona and had no other comment.

"He has always thrived on challenges and opportunities. I expect nothing less from him now," Reinsdorf said. "Personally, I wish him all the best and look forward to discussing this new challenge with him when we next speak."

While fans aren't sure what kind of front-office man Jordan will make, they also said they don't think it really matters. Jordan's name alone will draw fans to Wizards games, and he'll give the struggling team credibility it never would have had otherwise.

The entire NBA benefits from Jordan getting back into the game, fans added. And if he's got to go somewhere else, at least he's not going as a player.

"Wherever he is wanted, that is where he should go," said Elliot Wexler, a ticket broker. "At least his statue is still out at the United Center."

 


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Audio chat wrap: David Aldridge



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