chicago tribune michael jordan 2009 special

8/13/2019 Chicago Tribune Michael Jordan 2009 Special

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How do you measure a ripple?

In the case of Michael Jor

how do you measure thousan

them spread across the cou

and around the world?

A team of Tribune reporters set out this summer towith greater clarity than ever, the many chapters of Jolife and the stories of those whose lives he changed fo

From Brooklyn to Birmingham. From Barcelona to Bton. Los Angeles twice and right here in Chicago for thchampionships. And Washington, where his playing

came to an end and his time as an executive got off tappointing start.

You know some of these people.Scottie Pippen, the ultimate sidekick and one of the

greatest players in his own right. Dean Smith, his collegewho remains among the most influential forces in Jolife. Nikes Phil Knight, whose company introduced theto Air Jordan, creating a brand unmatched in sports.

About this report

Raising our gameto tell his story


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BrooklynT

his is a landmark that whispers.

The man who reshaped the sports worlds topogra-

phy to look suspiciously like the patterned bottom of a

basketball shoe was born here, in the former Cumber-

and Hospital, on Feb. 17, 1963. The 10-story brick building is now a

omeless shelter, one that critics say is among the worst in New

York. There is no hint, no suggestion not even a small bronze

endering of a wagging tongue that Michael Jordan entered the

world in this place. There are, however, three guards manning a

metal detector in the foyer.

But Jordan is here, if not in spirit, thenrtainly in apparel. On a warm July day,

ohn Anderson is walking down the blockhere the shelter, the Auburn Family

esidence, stands watch. He is wearing aowder-blue North Carolina jersey, No. 23.Jordans col-

people dream that anybody could do whatev-er, he said. Go from nothing to something.Knowing he was born here makes me feellike I can do anything.

James and Deloris Jordan came toBrooklyn in 1962 with a son, Larry,leaving their two older children with

James mother in Wallace, N.C.James, a sharecroppers son, was study-

ing airplane hydraulics. Michael was thefourth of five children born to the Jordans.He has two older brothers and an older andyounger sister.

There was some question whether hewould be born at all. Deloris mother haddied unexpectedly in the fall of 1962, and ithad such an effect on the pregnant womanthat her doctor ordered bed rest for a week,fearing a miscarriage.

A few years later, Michael would receive anasty electrical shock when he touched alive wire.

JORDAN:CHAPTER 1

CHICAGO TRIBUNE | JORDAN | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

History proves elusive in the place wherethe greatest basketball player ever was born

ooming over the basketball courts for PS 67 in Brooklyn is the former Cumberland Hospital (now a homeless shelter), where Jordan was born in 1963. BRIAN CASSELLA/TRIBUNE PHOTOS

The timeli

Feb. 17, 1963: Michael Jeffrey is born in Brooklyn, N.Y., the thof James and Deloris Jordan. Tfamily moves to Wilmington, Nbefore his second birthday.

N.C.

S.C.

GA.

Wilmington

N.Y.

PA.N.J.N.J.

Brooklyn

y annon yanan r an am on


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nd make hundreds of millions of dollarsoing it.In spite of the nonsense we heard whenichael Jackson died and people wereying to make connections between Mi-

hael Jackson and Barack Obama, I hon-tly think it was Michael Jordan in the 80sho broke down those barriers and becames own brand in the way that Obama is the

rst president with his own brand, Boydaid.

The brand of the child who was born inis teeming borough is very simple. Durings career, if you mentioned the name

Michael one of the most popular andommonplace chances were good thateople would know whom you meant.And if the name escaped you, the silhou-te of a man basketball in hand, armretched over the head, legs splayed enute to a dunk didnt.

The former Cumberland Hospital,located at 39 Auburn Pl., closed in1983 and later was converted into a

omeless shelter.There are 119 families, including 111

hildren, living there.Advocates for the shelters residents hadught with the city about a lack of heat ine building, and in July, workers were busystalling new windows. There is moreork to do.Two housing developments surround the

rmer hospital. A neighborhood associa-on official said tenants average income is1,000 a year.Remember how relieved Chicago tourismficials were in the 80s and 90s when thety apparently had become more associ-ed worldwide with Jordan than with

angster Al Capone? Capone grew up neare Brooklyn Navy Yard, a few Tommy gun

prays from the park and the formerospital where Jordan was born. Theres nocaping Capone, Chicago.The Ft. Greene Park basketballcourt is aw blocks from the homeless shelter. On the

ourt this day, nobody seems to care aboutstory.Between pickup games, theres a dis-

ussion going on.Most believe LeBron James is better thanobe Bryant. They know about Michaelordan, but they live almost completely in

e present. A visitor attempts to lead themut of darkness, but they are a product ofeir time.LeBron is the best, insisted Kelithppolon, 14. He has the best shootingercentage, more rebounds, more assists.There wouldnt have been a LeBron ifere hadnt been an MJ. Oh, James would

ave been the standout baller he hasecome, but Jordan paved the way, in gold,r all the marketing opportunities LeBronas. And Bryant? He patterned his game, hispeech inflections and his mannerisms afterordan.Look at these kids standing in a park ine middle of Brooklyn. Twenty-five yearster the first Air Jordan basketball shoes

rrived in stores, three of the teenagers areearing Jordan shoes. Another is wearing a

ordan shirt. That is part of his athletic and

ultural significance. Its impossible toparate the basketball career from hisareer as a marketer for Nike, Gatorade,

JORDAN:CHAPTERS 1, 2

AGE 8 | CH ICAGO TRIBUNE | JORDAN | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

Brooklyn

ontinued fromPrevious Page

Wilmington

Fred Lynch was Jordans basketball coach at Emsley A. Laney High School. He always had talent, Lynch said. BRIAN CASSELLA/TRIBUNE

Michael is one of themost importantthletes, obviously. Butven beyond that, hesne of the mostmportant cultural

igures in the historyf the U.S.


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Records indicate Michael Jordan was born into thisworld in the winter of 1963, but witnesses believe his

birth as an otherworldly basketball talent occurred

over the summer of 1979, between his sophomore and

unior years at E.A. Laney High School.

Mike was about 5-10 at the end of 10thrade, no more than 5-11, recalled Fredynch, Laneys current varsity coach ande sophomore coach during MJs Bucca-

eer days.He always had talent he was our besth grader and our best 10th grader. He

played with a lotof heart, he hadguard skills andhe always had big,

rong hands. By his junior year he shot up6-3, almost 6-4. All of a sudden you hadze to go with that talent and drive. ... He

displayed often wound up stolen, includinga Laney game jersey anonymously re-turned with a biblical passage seekingforgiveness.

These kids theyve seen highlights,theyve probably seen his commercials, butnone of them have seen him play, saidLynch, a tinge of sadness in his voice. Theydont really relate to him. That was a longtime ago.

But surely he uses the legend of MJ as a

teaching tool.Not really, he said. What Mike had the talent, the work ethic, the will to win

She called me up and asked me if I mighthave anything for Mike, Whitey said. Isaid, Deloris, you send him over, and wellfind something. That woman is a jewel of aperson. Now she travels the world raisingmoney for the needy.

Whitey thought enough of her son nice kid, good worker, dependable tooffer input on his college choice.

I told Deloris, if he were my son, Id sendhim to Carolina, Whitey said. That DeanSmith always impressed me as a fine manand a fine coach.

Parker recalled the Laney players meet-ing all the college coaches who came by for alook at MJ.

[Jim] Valvano, Lefty Driesell RoyWilliams [then a North Carolina assistant]spent so much time down here, we thoughthe was working at Laney.

Then Dean Smith showed up, in thispowder-blue suit, and it was over. If DeanSmith shows up, Carolina really wants

JORDAN:CHAPTER 2


WilmingtonIn high school, something remarkablehappens after his sophomore year

page right out of the Wilmington Star-News. What Mike had, Lynch recalls, the talent, the work ethic, the will to win you either have it or you dont. BRIAN CASSELLA/TRIBUNE PHOTO

y Dan McGrath

May 5, 1984:After winning thNaismith and Wooden college of the year awards, Jordan turnafter his junior season at NortCarolina. He finishes his colleg

career with an average of 17.7 pper game and 54 percent shoo

June 19, 1984:The day Sam Bbecame a trivia answer. In perthe most infamous of NBA drathe most celebrated day in Butory, Jordan is selected third ovbehind Hakeem Olajuwon and

CALIF.

Los Angeles

Summer 1984: During the Oly

Games in Los Angeles, Jordancombines with Ewing and Mulllead the U.S. team to a gold m


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JORDAN:CHAPTER 3

AGE 10 | CHI CAGO TRIBUNE | JORDAN | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

Chapel Hill

t a school where basketball is religion, Michael Jordan took the team to new glories. BRIAN CASSELLA/TRIBUNE PHOTO

Jordan becomes a Tar Heel: Hes

the gold standard for Carolina basketball

CHAPEL HILL Dean Sthe coach, rememberspened in the immediate

of Michael Jordans title-clincover Georgetown in 1982 just asthe shot itself.

Georgetown turned it oveMichael got back on defense anplay in the passing lane, sadescribing the infamously errandenied the Hoyas a final shotBrown threw the ball to Jamebecause Michael jumped in fronthe was trying to pass to.

Smith was speaking in a mofloor office in the imposing campus arena that bears his nam839 games and two national tithis 36 years as the Tar Heels cAll-Americans and future NBA as much a staple of Carolina bastobacco was of Carolina agricultu

With those wry, twinkling eydistinctive nose, Dean Smith re

face of Carolina basketball 12 yeastepped aside as the coach. Askrank his stars would be like askrank his grandchildren. Not happen.

One thing about Michael thawas how hard he worked, Smsipping a Diet Coke. We expectbetter because of that, and he didyear. A player with that kind of tworks as hard as Michael did hato do great things, and he was smit. Hed listen closely to what thsaid and then go do it.

The Jordan display in theBasketball Museum contains tfrom Smith suggesting things Mwork on in the off-season. Thmention of the Georgetown shot letter, or of his first-team Alrecognition in 1983s. Just eigh

become a better ballplayer in eacThe best ever? Smiths smil

silent affirmation.He certainly belongs in th

Fame, he said. I dont know thaever combined the physical and tsides with the effort the way MiTiger Woods, maybe.Dan McGrath

Dean Smith

It stood ouhow hardhe worked


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akers would choose with the first pick ine 1982 NBA draft. Accordingly, the decid-g play was designed for him he had 28

oints on 13-for-17 shooting but Smithnew Georgetowns alley-fighter defenseould prioritize denying Worthy the ball.Perkins, a long-armed, left-handed cen-r known as Big Smooth, was not a badcond option, but 6-11 shot-blocker Patrickwing loomed over his shoulder in the low

ost.We always tried to move the ball quickly

nough to find the gaps in the defense,Worthy said, so if I was covered and Sam

as covered in that set, wed reverse it toike on the wing.Where Smith knew he had a third option.As we were breaking the huddle,

Worthy said, Coach Smith patted Mike onhe butt and said, Knock it down, Michael

hes a freshman, remember. Mike gothis look in his eye and kind of smiled. Heas excited, not nervous.And he delivered, with the cold-bloodedlf-assurance that would define his play in

ozens of game-deciding situations overhe next 20 years.

A freshman, remember.Later that evening, on Bourbon Street,

ordan and Peterson observed Carolina

ooters long-suppressed revelry. Mikeoks at me and he says, I guess that was aretty big shot I made, Peterson recalled.

40 minutes, somebody can get you. Indianagot us.

Steve Alford, an Indiana freshman, hitthe Tar Heels with 27 points, but it wasfellow guard Dan Dakich whom CBSanalyst Billy Packer tried to immortalize,raving about his defensive work on Jordan.Dakich, who went on to a coaching careerand now hosts a radio talk show inIndianapolis, enjoys reliving his 40 min-utes of fame.

Games over, I go for Steve Alford, who

was great ... hug the hero and youre on TV,right? Dakich said. This lady from CBSgrabs Steve, and then she says they want totalk to me. Im thinking, What for?

So Billy Packer says, Howd you stopMichael Jordan? Truthfully, I didnt know Ihad, but if he wanted to say I did. ... Then Isaid something really dumb like, It wasntthat hard.

Of course, he was not yet MichaelJordan. He was really good, but he wasntMichael Jordan. And we were Indiana. Wedidnt think it was an upset. We expected towin games like that.

With Smiths blessing, Jordan de-clared for the NBA draft after his

junior year. The Bulls chose himin the first round, No. 3 overall behindHakeem Olajuwon to Houston and Sam

Bowie to Portland.And after a star turn as the leadingscorer on the gold-medal-winning 84 U.S.

my roommate is going to be like Dr. J someday.

Williams saw an insatiable drive forbetterment that was first displayed inWilmington, in one-on-one games witholder brother Larry on the Jordan back-yard court at 4647 Gordon Road.

We thought hed be a good NBA player,possibly an All-Star, but none of us knew hewas going to be able to do what heeventually did I certainly did not predictit, Williams said. But one of the reasonshe became Michael Jordan is he continuedto work at it.

He was back here after his rookie year.Averaged 28 a game, won Rookie of the Year,but he was almost strictly a driver. He said,What do I have to do to get better? I said,

You need to work on your outside shot.Theyre going to play you to deny you thedrive, so if you can knock down the outside

JORDAN:CHAPTER 3

CHICAGO TRIBUNE | JORDAN | T HURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

Chapel Hill

rdan launches the jumper that is perhaps the most storied bucket in Carolina history: It beat Georgetown 63-62 for the 1982 NCAA championship. AP FILE PHOTO

ontinued fromPrevious PageUNC

SEASONS GAMES REBS.POINTSFG% ASTS.

1981-82 34 53.4 13. 5 4.4 1.8

1982-83 36 53.5 20.0 5.5 1.6

1983-84 31 55.1 19.6 5.3 2.1

Totals 101 54.0 17.7 5.0 1.8

PER GAME AVERAGES April 26, 1985:The Bulls areeliminated by the Bucks three to one. Jordan averages 29.3 p

May 1985: Jordan is named NRookie of the Year after averag28.2 points and playing all 82 gI feel like I know I did the rightcoming out of school early, hethe end of the season.

Oct. 29, 1985: Jordan breaks in his left foot in the third gamsecond season and misses 64 The Bulls win 30 games despitabsence and snag a playoff be

March 15, 1986:Jordan returnaction, scoring 12 points in 13 mduring a 125-116 loss to the Bucminutes slowly increase throuremainder of the season.

April 20, 1986: In Game 2 of first round, Jordan torches thefor a postseason-record 63 poa 135-131 double-overtime loss

Boston Garden. I think its justdisguised as Michael Jordan, Cgreat Larry Bird said.

1985-86

Coach Smith patted Mike on the butt and said, Knock it down, Michael hes a freshman,emember. Mike got this look in his eye and kind of smiled. He was excited, not nervous.


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On one side of the chalkboard inside the locker room of

the Forum, Bob Knight had posted his defensive

reminders for the U.S. Olympic mens basketball team.

On the other side were instructions for Knights

atented motion offense.

This was ground Knight typically coveredinutes before tipoff. But Aug. 10, 1984, was

o ordinary night in the City of Angels orcross America. This was the moment U.S.asketball had been waiting for since 1976,e last time Americans had played for a

old medal in the Olympics, in Montreal.As Knight

walked in, wear-ing his familiarmask of inten-

ty, he noticed his players heads werencharacteristically down all exceptichael Jordans.Between his offensive and defensive game

ans was a yellow sheet of legal paper.Coach, it said, dont worry. Weve put upith too much s--- to lose now.

NCAA East Regional semifinals win overJordans Tar Heels.

So on the eve of the start of Olympictryouts, Knight was curious to see whichJordan would report to Bloomington, Ind.,with 73 other college players.

Jordan quickly earned Knights trust, notnecessarily for what he did on the court butfor how he did it. Of all of Jordans skills,Knight believes the greatest was his will towin. Jordan was demanding of himself andhis teammates in that order andKnight quickly sensed he could trust Jordanenough to pull him aside.

I remember telling Mike very early, Im

going to get on your ass and some days youmay not understand why, said Knight, thewinningest college basketball coach ever

Jeffrey Turner werent necessarily themost talented players. They were the mostcompatible with Knights coaching.

As promised, Knight held Jordan to aneven higher standard. Jordan was comingoff an All-American career at North Caroli-na, months away from NBA stardom. Noneof that mattered to Knight. Jordan oncecracked that while Dean Smith was themaster of the four-corner offense, BobKnight was the master of the four-letterword.

A bond developed between Jordan andKnight, so much so that Jordan invited himto his first Bulls retirement ceremony, in1993. They traded laughs and stories, lessthan a decade from their Olympic experi-ence that made Jordan stronger because,well, as the saying goes, it didnt kill him.

Those months under Knight felt so long,Jordan couldnt envision four years of it. Hebet Alford $100 that Alford wouldnt finishhis college career at Indiana. After the

Hoosiers won the 1987 national title inAlfords senior season, Jordan paid up.I think all the work we put in helped collection of amateurs to win gold

JORDAN:CHAPTER 4


Los AngelesAt the 84 Olympics, Jordan leads the U.S.to goldand also wins over Bob Knight

U.S. players hoist coach Bob Knigthe team won the gold-medal gaSpain in the 1984 Olympics. Of JoKnight said: I was fortunate to c

UPI FILE PHOTO

rdan faces Isiah Thomas (right) in an exhibition game between the U.S. Olympic team and former Indiana University players in the summer of 1984. TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO

y David Haugh


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1992. Jordan had won his second NBAtitle and a gold medal with the DreamTeam in Barcelona. Knight treated somemembers of that team to a Hawaiianvacation. A jet-lagged Jordan walkedthrough the airport in Hawaii holdingyoungest son Marcus, a toddler at the time,on his shoulders as the boy drooled all overJordans bald head.

Jordan just kept walking and smiling.He had the biggest grin on his face and I

was thinking, here is someone as suc-cessful as a man can be. Michael Jordan,family man, human being, Knight said.That was just a warm memory for me.

There have been countless others forKnight during a corporate and culturalodyssey alongside Jordan that has re-sulted in a legendary shoe line and, now,Jordan Brand, a division of Nike.

One of the things Im most proud of as abusinessman is how we took an endorse-ment albeit a great endorsement andturned it into a brand, Knight said. Itcertainly hasnt been done at this levelanyplace before. Five years after he was

done playing, the Jordan Brand [sold]more than when he [was] playing.

For the first time since it was estab-

It was just a thin, dark stripe.

It spread only a few inches across the top of the toe line of

the white leather Air Jordan X, but it was wide enough and

long enough for Michael Jordan to put his foot down.

We were in a hotel room, and Michaelkes one look at the shoe and said, I hate recalled Tinker Hatfield, Nikes vice

resident of innovation and the primaryesigner for the Air Jordan line. I wasnd of taken aback by it. I was like, he

hould just be thankful I kept it goingbecause he wasntplaying basket-ball anymore.

This was theummer of 1994. The recently retired Bullas chasing curveballs for the Birming-am Barons. The prevailing thoughtround Nike was that Jordan would neverear his signature shoes on an NBA court

gain.Phil Knight was really sad, Hatfield

aid of Nikes chairman. He thought,Now hes going to be a baseball player.

Once Hatfield had finished the shoe anduthorized production of the first run, heacked down Jordan to show him thesults. Hatfield was proud, particularly of

he 10 bands on the sole that included ahrase about Jordans accomplishments.

Jordan was unimpressed.Part of it was Michael wasnt involvedany of the Air Jordan X, Hatfield said.

in Oregon. And Im still not sure he cared.He didnt like Nikes.

Nike liked Mike enough to develop aprototype shoe. He liked the idea of havingan entire ad campaign built around hisown shoe and that Nike was interested inhim for more than his obvious basketballtalents.

I think it was the total package,Knight said.

The great smile and looks. If youwere in the business, you would have beeninsane not to want him because he had a

great flair to his game.Converse already had struck deals with

Larry Bird and Magic Johnson for itsWeapon line and didnt need Jordan,certainly not as badly as Nike did. ThatNike was a corporate underdog withmaverick tendencies appealed to Jordanscompetitiveness.

While we had a lot of really goodplayers, he was going to be the one whoreally personified the brand, Knight said.By the time Michael came out, we haddecided he was the one. Two years beforethat, I dont know if you would have saidthat, but when he said he was coming out[after his junior year] and as soon as hesigned [an NBA] contract, we knew it wasgoing to be him.

Before long, the way corporations dealtwith athletes was changed forever. A

monster of sports and commerce had beencreated, and he wore a No. 23 Bulls jersey.That was the first time anyone said

JORDAN:CHAPTER 5


Beaverton

nker Hatfield at Nikes offices in Oregon. He is the primary designer for the Air Jordan line. BRUCE ELY/PHOTO FOR THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE

What begins as a simple (and reluctant) shoedeal becomes a cultural phenomenon

y David Haugh

The match made in sporting heaven has been alike any other, for bet

worse.Most prominent among the ro

were the reports that Nike usshops in Indonesia. In 1996, hum

and labor advocates demandedimprove pay and conditions forers.

Nike said it subcontracted itshad no control over how the wortreated, although it said it haimprove conditions.

But Michael Jordan only fuelwith a response that infuriated h

During the 1996 NBA Finaasked about the alleged abusworkers, Jordan said: I thiNikes decision to do what thmake sure everything is correcdont know the complete situashould I? Im trying to do my job

No matter how many presNike churned out to documenlions invested in continuing and low-interest loans in tho

privileged countries, Jordan, biggest attraction, remained point of criticism.

Likewise, many consider Jordic Jumpman as a symbol forsports. Jordans Hall of Famalready has been panned for hmuch Nike, not enough Mike.

To those most critical of Jordshoe sold under his name takestep further from his sociasibility.

Howard White, vice presidenketing for Jordan Brand, and tto Jordan have heard the chargand scoff every time.

You always hear Michael doback to the community, White ssigh. But to me he makes soboldest social statements in tshow up for work, be on tim

accountable for your job.Jordans success also created

ed consequences.The unprecedented annual d

each new design of the Aisneakers elevated the shoes to ssymbols in many American cyouths were using any means toincluding violence. Fame had so conflicting to Jordan thanconsidered kids were literallywear his shoes.

People started robbing eachthe shoes, and it bothered hTinker Hatfield, Nikes vice prinnovation and the primary dethe Air Jordan line. We were ait was much more a comment onism and people not respecting lwas something else in our socie

that behavior so we never feltresponsible or thought we wback and do less cool stuff, an

The critics

Nike, Jordaendure sharof controve


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JORDAN:CHAPTER 5


Its gotta e t e s oesA panel of experts breaks down 24 years of Air JordansMichael Jordans Air Jordan shoes created a splash as soon as they entered the league

n 1985, colored bright red, while other players traditionally wore white. For 23 more

ears, the designers at Nike made sneakers inspired by everything from airplanes to

nakes. The brand caught the popular imagination with a run of commercials starring

he experts: Anthony Gilbert, of the sports marketing firm AXG, Jeremy Ripley of Bounce magazine and Bradley Carbone of Complex magazine

MARCH

1985$65

AIR JORDAN I

ike paid the $5,000-a-gamene for Jordan for wearing the

ed, black and white sneakers.No one saw this coming withhat shoe, Gilbert said.

The shoe carried a Madein Italy tag and wasconstructed of premiumItalian leather. They werelike a pair of dress shoes,Gilbert said.

The debut of the Jumpmanlogo: You can shine it on thesky and its synonymouswith greatness," Gilbert said.It also featured an elephantskin pattern.

Featured in Spike Lees Dothe Right Thing, when ascuffed-up sneaker leads toa racial scuffle. It's such acool-looking sneaker, Carb-one said.

Inspired by a WWIIMustang fighter, with withflames on the side and areflective tongue. Thedetails are really some-thing, Carbone said.

The No. 23 is cleverlyincorporated into maon the upper part of tshoe. The shoes Jordwore for his first Bullschampionship.

NOVEMBER

1986$100

AIR JORDAN II

FEBRUARY

1988$100

AIR JORDAN III

FEBRUARY

1989$100

AIR JORDAN IV

FEBRUARY

1990$125

AIR JORDAN V

FEBRUAR

1991$125

AIR JORDAN V

FEBRUARY

1992$125

AIR JORDAN VII

ersions of the shoe wereade in Team USA uniform

olors coinciding with thearcelona Olympic games,

eaturing Jordans Olympicsrsey number, 9.

The world met Hare Jordan,played by Bugs Bunny in itsad campaign. Came in threecolor combos including ablack and aqua pair Jordanwore for the All-Star Game.

MJ did not wear this shoeon the court because hehad retired and Nike trans-formed it into a baseballcleat. Desiged with varioussymbols and languages.

In Jordans first comeback,some of his accomplish-ments were written on thesole. The shoe was issuedin different colors repre-senting different U.S. cities.

Featured a patent leathertoe for what Nike called aformal look. Everybody'sfavorite Jordan, from theaverage person to LeBron,Gilbert said.

The design features aSun motif mimickingflag, but no Nike logolettering. He didnt nbacking from the Swsurvive, Ripley said.

NOVEMBER

1992$140

AIR JORDAN VIII

NOVEMBER

1993$125

AIR JORDAN IX

NOVEMBER

1994$125

AIR JORDAN X

NOVEMBER

1995$125

AIR JORDAN XI

NOVEMBE

1996$140

AIR JORDAN X

NOVEMBER

1997$150

AIR JORDAN XIII

spired by a black pantherith a green hologram eyen the heel. The bottom waspaw print. It madeveryone stop and stare,ilbert said.

Inspired by Jordans Ferrari550M with the logo on theside in a yellow shield. Theshoes street name is Lastshots after Jordans NBAFinals heroics.

The other shoe Jordannever played in. Modeledafter a X-15 fighter jet. Aconspicuous tongue isrumored to have beeninfluenced by Jordans own.

The shoe came with spatsthat made the shoetransform from court tooffice, as Jordans careerdid. Ad campaign featuredMos Def.

A pair came in a metal casethat along with a multime-dia CD-ROM. The designwas based on jazz andfeatured the notes from asong about Jordan.

Design was inspired Italian race cars and in Wizards colors. Shcame with a brush ancloth to clean the su

OCTOBER

1998$150

AIR JORDAN XIV

DECEMBER

1999$150

AIR JORDAN XV

FEBRUARY

2001$160

AIR JORDAN XVI

FEBRUARY

2002$200

AIR JORDAN XVII

FEBRUAR

2003$175

AIR JORDAN XV

the likes of Spike Lee, Bugs Bunny, Derek Jeter and Mos Def. The brands succ

stands strong today as the No. 2 basketball shoe in 2007, 2008 and through July

terms of dollars spent. Below is each version with release date, original retail

comments from a panel of Air Jordan experts.

eleaseate

riginal

ice


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O

n Nov. 7, 1987, Michael Jordan scored 36 points at the

old Chicago Stadium as the Bulls defeated Philadel-

phia to begin their 1987-88 season.

Four days earlier, in a Danville, Ill., hospital room,

ordan Keith Dalton began his life.

I wanted him to be like me, said his father, Keith Dalton, a

ormer basketball star at Champaign Centennial. But I wanted

im to be like Mike too.

Go take the measure of the man.Capturing Jordans lasting legacy today,llowing and admiring the myriad ripplesfected by his excellence, you can find

ourself almost anywhere, from Brooklyn toregon, from sea to shining sea.

Closer to home,well begin withJordan Keith Dal-ton, 21, a 5-foot-8-

ch point guard for Augustana College inoux Falls, S.D.The first four-year varsity player in

Warren Township High School history,alton has overcome questions about hiseight with heart and earned a scholarship

Scottie Pippen is in a downtownrestaurant doing just that. His broadgrin flashes as he ponders the ques-

tion of his favorite Michael memory.I might not be able to repeat that one,

said Pippen, laughing.

Along with coach Phil Jackson, Pippenwill be linked to Jordan for eternity, theso-called perfect sidekick to Jordans domi-nance.

We both wanted to win, Pippen said.We had the mind-set to do whatever it tookto win. It wasnt really about any individualaccomplishment. Whatever happened for usas individuals just kind of happened andevolved with how we played the game.

My kids now know who Michael Jordanis. ... The opportunity to look back at ourlegacy, knowing I played with one of thegreatest players ever and that we were ableto share the same court for numerous yearsmeans a lot to me.

Everything we accomplished, we prettymuch did together.

Pippen and Jordan played 11 seasons inChicago. During their run, which included

six NBA titles, Pippen witnessed Jordanperform countless gravity-defying dunksand sink clutch game-winning jumpers.

JORDAN:CHAPTER 6


ChicagoFeb. 7, 1988: In his fourth All-SGame, he earns his first MVP hscoring 40 points in the East v

May 8, 1988:With Jordan scopoints, the Bulls beat the Cavsto claim a first-round series vicmarks the first time Jordan adto the conference semifinals.

May 18, 1988: Jordan scores 2points, but the Bulls season ewith a 102-95 loss in Game 5 tDetroit Pistons, who take the s4-1 and become a roadblock foJordan over the next few years

May 1988: After averaging 35 5.5 rebounds, 5.9 assists and 3steals per game, Jordan becomfirst player to be named leaguand defensive player of the yeasame season.

Jan. 25, 1989: With 33 pointsin a 120-108 loss to the 76ers,Jordan surpasses 10,000 carepoints. Hell go on to win his thstraight scoring title, averaging32.5 points per game.

May 7, 1989: Jordan nailswhat becomes known as The Sfor a 101-100 victory over Cleve

in the playoffs, a bucket that hsince haunted Cavs fans. Thehanging foul-line jumper overCraig Ehlo at the buzzer inGame 5 clinches the first-rounseries for the Bulls.

May 19, 1989: With a 113-111 Gvictory against the Knicks, Jordscores 40 points and advanceconference finals for the first this five-year career.

June 2, 1989: The Bulls lose gtheir 2-1 series lead and fall 4-2Pistons in the finals.

July 11, 1989:Phil Jackson is e

from assistant to head coach Bulls to replace Doug Collins. Jthrives under Jacksons system

Sept. 2, 1989:At 3:30 a.m. in Little White Chapel in Las VegaJordan marries Juanita Vanoy of four guests.

March 28, 1990: Jordan scorea career-high 69 points againsthe Cavs in a 117-113 victory.He hits 23 of 37 field goals, goe21-for-23 on free throws and g18 rebounds.

June 3, 1990: The Bulls fall toPistons in the playoffs for a thistraight season. The Pistons, wdouble- and triple-team Jorda

eliminate the Bulls in Game 7 inDetroit 93-74.

1988-89

19 9-9

As the Chicago Bulls triumphs crescendo,their effects stretch well beyond basketball

y K.C. Johnson

rdan rejoices after hitting The Shot over Clevelands Craig Ehlo (left) in a first-round clincher in the 19 89 NBA playoffs. TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO


14/28

ichael Jordans unquenchablethirst for competition, for ac-tion, and an unshakable belief iny to prevail in any form of ithe most serious blemish on hiscrafted image as a wholesome,ole model.ber 1992, Jordans name surfacedorth Carolina drug and money-ng trial of convicted cocaine dealerSlim Bouler. A personal checkdan for $57,000 was part of the

seized in an investigation of

had told reporters the check was aloan to Bouler for a driving rangeed to open. Under oath at trial, hedged the check was payment tor gambling losses sustained in

d golf.xt spring, the Bulls were on theirhird straight NBA title, and in therning hours before Game 2 of theonference finals against the Newicks, Jordan was spotted in ars room at an Atlantic City ca-New York City tabloids bore in on

denied that he had a gamblingHe said he never bet sums he

cover, that it wasnt like he wasith the rent or the grocery money.

eporters hed gone out that nighte was often too wound up to sleepe playoffs.

hat year, a San Diego businessmanstakes golf gambler named Rich-inas wrote a book in which he

hed taken more than $1 milliondan on the golf course. Esquinasrote the book to help him get overbling addiction and he advisedseek help as well.

The NBA investigated and said Jordanhad not violated any league rules. JamesJordan, his father, said Michael doesnthave a gambling problem; he has a competi-tion problem.

That summer, James Jordan was shot todeath during a roadside robbery in NorthCarolina. Michaels decision to walk awayfrom the NBA two months later, at 30and atthe peak of his game, prompted severalconspiracy theories. The most prominent:that his retirement was actually a suspen-

sion for gambling, that CommissionerDavid Stern ordered him to go away and gethelp.

Daniel Green and Larry Demery, both 19,were small-time miscreants with no ties toany sort of organized crime and weresubsequently convicted of James Jordansmurder. But a darker theory held that hedbeen killed in retribution for Michaelsunpaid gambling debts.

Many news organizations, including theChicago Tribune, investigated and reportedno links between Jordans retirement andhis gambling.

NBA spokesman Brian McIntyre calledthe theories complete fabrications.

David Falk, Jordans longtime agent,acknowledged talking to his client aboutthe people he was associating with lest hejeopardize his status as the worlds mostsuccessful athlete/endorser.

It wasnt easy for Michael, but herealized hed made some poor decisions,and he apologized to the people affected andhe moved on, Falk said.

It took a lot of guts to retire when he did.It took a lot of guts to go play baseball andrun the risk of failure after being incrediblysuccessful at something else. But Michael isfearless.Dan McGrath

gh-risk action: Hembles with his image

dan Bulls memorabilia in some

tructive to consider that Jordand for the Bulls 11 years ago. And

en, not Jordan, is in attendance.sum it up like this, said Nigelod Holt, 26, who watched the

ngs wearing a Jordan No. 45 BullsMichael Jordan is so cold thaty theyre the Michael Jordan of

could be the Michael Jordan of rape would be like, Yo, he must be

the way, Marco Tinio, 29, isa Jordan T-shirt and Air Jordano came to the U.S. from thees just as Jordan began his Bulls1984. Bulls championships formedtrack of his youth.

anged the game, not only throughl but through his name and

Tinio said. Now, everybody is

e like MikeLeBron, Kobe. Hes ag genius.

Krasnycouldve been excused foreling like a business bust on theght of Sept. 14, 1991.he day Krasny opened Vivo Res-n West Randolph Street, blockscago Stadium. To say Krasny, aoker for Bear Stearns, was takingke saying Jordan liked the ball in

at pressure moments.the longest shot in the world

his area was just a skid row,aid at his restaurant. We were theurant on the street, and wed take

matches and put them in the middleph Street and get our drivers outolf balls. If you sliced, you heardh because everything was aban-ere was nothinghere. There wereeping in the alleys. It was nasty, at town.

hen when the Bulls played, we hadercedes, Porsche, Maserati andhini right in front of the restau-

t hurt that Jordan himself beganng Krasnys restaurant afterurbs in newspaper gossip columnsdining there boosted business as

well. Krasny would keep the restaurantopen late and send Jordan to a private room,reached by a winding staircase that revealsan eight-seat table, exposed brick, vaultedceilings and, of course, a black curtainshielding him from the rest of the restau-rant.

He used to walk in and people would givehim a standing ovation, Krasny said.Butits funny: I never received one of his signedcopies of his bill. Somehow, those always gotlost.

Indeed, entrepreneurial waiters or bus-boys relished the autographs value. Mean-while, the value of Krasnys initial in-vestment kept rising.

Wed do 120-seat dinners at 5:30 p.m.,Krasny said, and at one point the entirerestaurant would empty and theyd go rightto the Stadium or, later, the United Center.And then wed do another full turn after thegame.

You could count on a percentage ofmoney coming in every time there was a

home game. And then the playoffs! It wasJune! I added 30 to 60 seats outside! Oh, man,it was heaven. A full two turns every game ofthe right kind of clientele coming in. I couldbudget my entire business around that.

Krasny even expanded his business toopen Marche across the street from Vivo inJanuary 1994. Though he later sold thatproperty, his initial fears The first night,I was terrified, Krasny said were longgone.

Thrown the suggestion that surely greatfood and service played a part in hisrestaurants success, Krasny agreed, butonly to a point. Every restaurant has a1-in-10 shot, Krasny said. You need to belucky. Our luck was Jordan completely.Without him, this restaurant isnt stillhere.

Then again, Krasnys profit marginspale a little in comparison to those ofJerry Reinsdorf and his partners.

Reinsdorf led a group of investors thatpurchased the Bulls for $16 million in March1985, a month before Jordans rookie seasonconcluded. Earlier this year, Forbes Maga-zine estimated the franchises value, whichnow includes half of the United Center, at$500 million.

Michael has impacted my life verydirectly, Reinsdorf said in a United Centerconference room. I dont think Im goingout on a limb by saying that we wouldnthave won six championships without Mi-chael Jordan. That built the value of thefranchise. It enabled us to build the UnitedCenter.

I think 10, 11 years after Michael retired,we still benefit from the fact he was here.The Chicago Bulls are known all over theworld as the team that Michael Jordanplayed for. ... People still feel good about

being a Bulls fan or playing for the Bullsbecause of Michael Jordan.

Through negotiation sessions, Reinsdorfsaw a side of Jordan few ever saw. But hisfavorite Michael memory is another mostlyprivate moment, witnessed only by otherteam personnel.

Were up three games to two and have togo back to Phoenix to finish out the [1993NBA Finals], Reinsdorf said. A lot ofpeople were really feeling down and worry-ing could we win on the road. Everybodywas on the plane, getting ready to take off.The last guy to walk on the plane wasMichael. He had a big cigar in his mouth butit wasnt lit.

Somebody said, Whats the cigar for?And he said, Thats my victory cigar. Youcould sense the whole spirit of the planelifted with his attitude.

John Paxson sealed that championshipin Phoenix, the Bulls third, with aclutch three-pointer to win Game 6.

Jordan long has called Paxson one of hisfavorite teammates, and their mutual re-spect perhaps played out most publiclywhen Jordan asked Paxson to be his firstcoach when he assumed control of basket-ball operations for t he Washington Wizardsin January 2000.

Paxson declined. But in a suburbanrestaurant recently, he leans forward in abooth when asked to summarize Jordansimpact on his life.

My identity as a player was defined byplaying with Michael, so I dont think youcan measure that, Paxson said. I was a bitplayer, very much a role pl ayer, didnt scoreawhole lot. And yet when I did well, it stoodout because I played with him and we werewinning and my points made a diff erence. IfIwere playing for some other organization, Icant see the same thing happening.

He impacted my life tremendously. Who

knows if Id ever have gotten the opportuni-ty to be an executive in the league if I had notplayed with Michael, had success andshowed myself to Jerry Reinsdorf and theorganization? I dont take that for granted.And its one of the reasons why I neverinfringe on Michaels privacy.

Ive made a conscious effort never to askhim for anything. I dont want to do that. Itsmy way of telling him I do respect what hesdone for me. For all of us who played withhim, if we earned his respect, then weshould feel pretty good about what hap-pened.

Paxson and Jordan played together from1985 to 1993, winning the Bulls first threechampionships. They now talk businessoccasionally as executives running theBulls and Charlotte Bobcats. But Paxsonsfondest memories come from their sharedplaying days.

Even in drills and competitions inpractice, if you were on his team youwouldnt want to let him down because hewould take that personally, Paxson said.Its always best when the best player is themodel for work ethic and competitiveness inpractice. How could anyone else sit thereand not try to live up to that? Youd end uplooking like a fool. And some guys did.

So much of life is right place at righttime. For some reason, I ended up inChicago and got to be his teammate for eightyears. Why, I have no clue. But I feel prettydarn lucky.

Tim Hallam is poring over boundbooks of old newspaper clippings inhis United Center office. The Bulls

senior director of public and media rela-tions joined the organization in 1977, sevenyears before Jordan arrived.

Hallam spent hours traveling with Jor-

dan, watching the phenomenon and legacygrow. He remembers the time the womanstrapped herself under the team bus inDenver, refusing to leave until she receivedJordans autograph. And he jokes that theteam led the league in seeing hotel kitch-ens, a reference to countless secret en-trances and exits on trips.

This wasnt the case during Jordansrookie season in 1984-85. But while it hadntyet reached later levels of hysteria, thelegend already was growing by Jordanssecond season.

We went to Gary, Ind., for a preseasongame and thats when you could tell, Thingscould get out of control with this guy, Hallam said. People were chasing himdown the hall after the game. It wasnt likethe Beatles yet. But you had the peoplestarting to get hysterical.

Eventually, the demands got to Jordan.Those first 10 years, it was from all

angles at all times, Hallam said. Therewas such a boom with cable TV, everybodyhad something going on. Michael had thislegacy and he had to carry on. Hed get to thedestination and find another hill to climb.He didnt want to meet all the mediademands. But he knew he had to.

So hed vent frustration, something anynormal human being would do. The differ-ence with him was he never just said, Imnot doing it. You had to coax him. Youdplead. Youd beg, borrow, whine, rationalize.But he always managed to produce.

Until he retired the first time.On Oct. 6, 1993, a little more than two

months after his father James had beenmurdered, Jordan walked away while on

top, closing the door on his first Chicagostint.

I remember just being shocked and sosad, said Keith Dalton.

Keith Dalton, who works in childdevelopment and youth centers forthe Navy, named his son after Jordan

because, like many in 1987, he couldnt getenough of the high-flying dunker.

Once he did that Rock the Cradle dunk,I was hooked, said Daltonin reference toone of Jordans more memorable slam-dunkcontest efforts. When I played, I had thewrist band, the knee brace.

I wanted to be him.Instead, Dalton ensured Jordans legacy

would live in his family through his son.When I was younger, I didnt understand

the significance of my name as much,Jordan Dalton said. As I got older, obvi-ously I developed a sense of pride about it.When you hear the name Jordan on thebasketball court, though, it does createpressure. People assumed I had to be good. IfI wasnt good, Id be made fun of more thananyone.

And so Jordan Dalton worked. Andworked. And worked some more. Hed studyBulls games he said he cried for 30minutes on Jan. 19, 1997, when they lost toHouston because he so rarely saw them loseand enjoyed the communal aspect to theirplayoff runs.

That was the best basketball you couldfind anywhere, he said. There was noth-ing like sitting back and watching thosegames. That intensity, you dont see thatanymore at all.

Ceola Clark, Jordan Daltons high schoolteammate, agrees. Clark said he used tokeep Bulls statistics during games and

would rush to ter to buy Bulchampionship

Clark has shJordan sickneswith Jeff Jordatrips have incluidol.

I remembeshooting in hisoff, Clark saidhe missed a colittle smack to hget my shoes.after that.

Hes still watwo games in awas a champion

An equally fiClark and Dalto

I still watchand Im just blo

Bulls teams ptimes today, pnever seen MJthat rubbed offlose, whether wpick-up at the g

I remember[Dalton], we wWarren. I just connection. Ivthat much fire abacked down toalways had a te

Jordan Daltonext to him.

I just like thesaid. When Iplaying. But asmany opportuhad because oeverything Ivebasketball.

That includwith his fatherwhen Keith wabeat his dad at high school and

Not that DadI remember

a freshman, Kguys were a lotwas so mentalhis years.

I always saiMichael Jordanpen. But he hJordan. He eargraduate next yasuccess story

JORDAN:CHAPTER 6

CHICAGO TRIBUNE | JORDAN | THURSDAY,SE| CHICAGOTRIBUNE | JORDAN | THURSDAY,SEPTEMBER 10,2009

cago: The first three-peat

taurant has a1-in-10 shot,saysy, whoopenedVivo in 1991, afewmChicago Stadium. Our luckn. BRIAN CASSELLA/CHICAGO TRIBUNE

Jordan soarsduring the 1988 NBASlam Dunk Contest at the oldChicago Stadium.GETTYFILEPHOTO

When Iwas younger, I didnt understandthe significance ofmy name,saysJordanDalton, whose father namedhimafterMichael.K.C.JOHNSON/TRIBUNEPHOTO

Jordan, Bill Cartwright andScottie Pippen celebrate the first three-peat at a Grant Park rally in 1993. TRIBUNEFILEPHO

We had the mind-set to do whatever it took to win. It wasnt really about any individual accomplishment.hatever happened for us as individuals just kind of happened and evolved with how we played the game.

Fond farewell to the MadIt wasnt the tight rims or the poor shooting backdrop at the U

was the Bulls spiffy new home was not Chicago Stadium, the b

Madison Street that was the site of so many of Michael Jordan

moments. MJ kissed the court in appreciation after playing in

at the Stadium, Scottie Pippens charity game on Sept. 9, 1994.

d from Previous Page


15/28

The Nike-conceived, wall-sized mural ofichael Jordan in spectacular flight that

nce loomed over a busy downtown plazalong gone, replaced by a glitzy ad for thetest in Euro-hip menswear.But if Jordan is no longer a visible

resence in this corner of the basketballworld, hes still atangible one.

Seventeenyears ago, NBAasketball came to the Olympics, to the

and P.J. Carlesimo as assistants to the lateChuck Daly on the Dream Team staff. Longa leader within USA Basketball, Krzyzew-ski coached the 2008 U.S. squad knownas the Redeem Team following its dis-appointing play in Athens to a goldmedal in Beijing and has agreed to stay onfor the London campaign in 2012.

Barcelona was the impetus for how far

the rest of the world has come, Krzyzew-ski said. Ive been told about ManuGinobili as a kid watching in Argentina, a

great passion in his native Yugoslavia formost of his life.

Im a hobby tennis player, and Ivealways felt that if Im going to get better I

have to play against better competition,Stankovic, now 84, said from his vacationhome in the Greek islands.

owned a gold medal as the leadon Bob Knights 1984 team that wAngeles.

Michael was pretty coy with but he assured us he was cominsaid.

Nike, which had become ancolossus since its humble startturing track shoes, wanted its mnent representative there, obvio

FIBAs Stankovic had no worrIm very good friends w

Smith, he said of Jordans collwhom MJ respects like few othlife. Dean told me hed talk tabout coming, that it was very iAnd when Dean Smith asks

Chris Mullin and Patriwere among Jordans teammates in 84. Charle

and John Stockton had been cutsquad and welcomed anotheDavid Robinson was looking 1988. Aging icons Larry Bird aJohnson were eager to add an

experience to their distingusumes, as were NBA All-Starslone, Clyde Drexler and Scottie P

JORDAN:CHAPTER 7

AGE 18 | CHICAGO TRIBUNE | JORDAN | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBE R 10, 2009

BarcelonaStar-studded Dream Team dominates92 Olympics, taking basketball global

The once ubiquitous Jordan 23 Bulls jersey is rarely

seen on Spanish youngsters these days theyre

more likely to favor the distinctive blue-and-garnet

10 shirt worn by FC Barcelona idol Lionel Messi.

Futbolstill reigns in this part of the world.

arry Bird (from left), Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan and Clyde Drexler celebrate their gold medals at the Barcelona Olympics. REUTERS FILE PHOTO

y Dan McGrath

OlympicsYEAR GAMES REBS.POINTSFG% ASST.

1984 8 54.5 17.1 3.0 2.0

1992 8 45.1 14.9 2.4 4.8

Totals 16 49.8 16.0 2.7 3.4

PER GAME AVERAGES


16/28

nd a bunch of college guys. The first timee scrimmaged, they beat us. We couldntake a shot, they played great they beat

s. Chuck [Daly] was really pissed. Gethat [expletive] score off the scoreboardnd not a word of this to anybody.Well, of course word got out, and now

heres speculation whether this Dreameam idea can work too many egos?ow everybodys pissed.The next day we scrimmaged them

gain and its 12-0 before the first timeout,-1 before the second we just destroyed

hem.Daly was jokingly referred to as the

Prince of Pessimism, but he knew whate had as the team left for Barcelona,

onfiding one goal to assistant Wilkens:ot to call a timeout during the tourna-ent. And he didnt, over eight games in

JORDAN:CHAPTER 7


SPAIN

FRA. ITA.

Barcelona

June 3, 1992:Jordan torches tBlazers in Game 1 of the Finals

first-half points.

June 14, 1992:Jordan scores 3points and wins his second chaonship with a 97-93 win in Gamagainst the Blazers.

Aug. 8, 1992:With 22 points fJordan, the U.S. Dream Team wgold medal with a 117-85 victoragainst Croatia at the BarceloOlympics.

October 1992: Jordans namesurfaces in drug and money-laundering trial of convicted codealer James Slim Bouler. Jorinitially says a check to Bouler $57,000 was a business loan. Uoath, Jordan acknowledges thewas payment for gambling los

Jan. 8, 1993: Jordan reaches 2career points, becoming the sefastest to do so, behind Cham

May 24, 1993:Jordan sparks cversy by gambling in Atlantic Cnos the night before Game 2 oEastern Conference finals aga

Knicks. Hes criticized the nextfor shooting 12-for-32 in a 96-9

June 20, 1993: The Bulls win tthird championship. Jordan hapoints, eight rebounds and sevassists against the Phoenix Suthe clinching 99-98 Game 6 vi

June 22, 1993: The Bulls celebthird NBA title in Grant Park.

July 12, 1993:On the eve of baballs All-Star Game, Jordan copetes in a celebrity home-run

Aug. 3, 1993: A decomposed found in Gum Swamp Creek, a

miles southwest of FayettevilleTwo days later, a Lexus is foundFayetteville with the vanity liceplate UNC0023 missing.

Aug. 13, 1993: Officials identifbody as that of James Jordan,Michaels father.

Sept. 7, 1993:Daniel Andre GrLarry Martin Demery are chargfirst-degree murder, armed roband conspiracy to commit armrobbery as suspects in the slayJordans father.

Oct. 5, 1993:Jordan throws ofirst pitch at a White Sox game

Oct. 6, 1993: Jordan announc

retirement from basketball: I jdont have anything else to pro

1992-93

1st retirement

1991-92

rdan drives to the hoop against Angola. The practices were a lot harder than the games, Lenny Wilkens said. ALLSPORT FILE PHOTO


Barcelona

Michael, Patrick, Larry ... They were not just great players, they had such a feel for eachther. We all thought, This is what basketball should look like.


17/28

many years, and historically, lpercent of those tickets had been

They had been dispersed wthere was talk of Jordan cBirmingham, and now the Barthe prospect of 65,000 children angry parents descending uponpark for his third game as a minoThe stadium seats 10,800.

Team officials called a news cafter stories began to appear baseball team that snatched ticfrom kids. It was about this timBarons realized they were in for a season-long swoosh of happinresolved the mess by allowintickets to be used for any gamthrough Thursday until late Jun

Jordans first game was acBarons second. He played for tthe Windy City Classic exhibiagainst the Cubs at Wrigley Fi2-for-5 with two runs battedheaded to Birmingham for hidebut.He started in right field aChattanooga Lookouts, wearinghigh school number. The radio a

was ready.I didnt want to overdo it

God, its Michael Jordan! asound like a fool, Bloom said. slow and clear, That will bring uJeffrey Jordan.

It might have been the last unthing about the Barons for themonths. Jordan flied out in his fand finished the game 0-for-3. Awas 10,359, not including the 13and international media membe

His first hit came in his eighagainst Knoxville, on that Sunall the schoolchildren might hfighting each other and securifor seats at Hoover MetropolitanIt was the beginning of a 13-gamstreak.

The streak gave life to the perhaps Jordan was the real t

rare human being who can takeskills and transfer them to anotand succeed. Well, no. He coulslider. But one thing could not bThe man could run. He stole 30 season and covered a lot of grounfield.

There was something else abomight go 0-for-4 in a game, but hehave a knack for driving in a third with less than two outs.

His first home run arrivedagainst the Carolina Mudcats. Iabout 380 feet before landingleft-center-field wall. It came inat-bat and raised his average tohomer was impressive becausepark (its called Regions Park nohitters park. Its a big field, anballs tend to lose interest in

humidity.When Jordan rounded thirdpointed to the sky. His fathers

JORDAN:CHAPTER 8


BirminghamBarons

SEASON GAMES SBHR RBIAB

1994 127 436 3 51 30

Totals 127 436 3 51 30

DOUBLE A SOUTHE


18/28

m. Im thinking, OK, what do you do?o I go over and pick his man. He looksown at me and waves me off. He says, CB,dont need that. Then he hits a 30-footer.

I know Michael really enjoyed that. Heaid, Youre going to tell a lot of peoplebout this, arent you? Yes, Michael. The answer is yes. Bloomould tell the story over and over.Word had spread that Jordan wasaying that day, and people from the

partment complex lined the court toatch. Francona took the last shot for hisam and missed, allowing the other squadhit the winning basket. Unfortunately,

ordan was his teammate.Dont you know I always take the last

hot? he said to Francona.

In 1994, the franchise set records foranything that involved counted num-bers: attendance, cars parked, hot dogs

old, goose bumps, you name it. Thearons averaged almost 3,000 more fans aame that season than they did in 1993,hen they won the Southern League

hampionship. Little Leaguers in Bir-ingham fought to wear No. 45 in honor of

ordan the Baseball Player, not 23 in honorJordan the Basketball Player. When the

aseball strike hit in August, ESPN didhat every network did when it wanted tocrease ratings. It turned to Jordan,levising several Baronsgames.Hanes, Gatorade and Ball Park Franks

hot commercials in Birmingham.It was a five-month-long tornado. Whatas left in the wake of Jordans celebrity?I give a lot of speeches to civic clubs andlot of organizations here, Nelson said.

This organization has been around since85. Some great players. But the No. 1

uestion is not really about whetherichael Jordan was good or not. Its, Do

ou still have the bus?

Ah, the bus. The Jordan Cruiser. Itecame the embodiment of the miraclehat had been visited upon Birmingham. Itas living proof that Air Jordan hadescended and was moving about amonghe people. He rode the bus with team-

ates and coaches most of the time, excepthen he had prior commitments in-olving endorsements or appearances.Mostly, he slept in the back of that bus.Three companies spent $337,500 to cus-m-build the vehicle for Jordan and thearons, thinking, rightly, that someone ofs stature would not enjoy the 400-plus-ile ride from Birmingham to Jackson-lle on a bus in its senior years. The bus

ad a lounge area in the back where afoot-6-inch man might be able to lie downhe contorted himself enough. It had TVs,deo players and a stereo, and at the timeas considered state-of-the-art.

But it wasnt Jordans bus, as manyeople had wrongly assumed.That turned into an urban legend,elson said. He posed for an advertise-ent for the bus company and he signed

ome autographs for the bus company. Bute didnt own the bus.He did upgrade the quality of the bus,

o doubt about it. But no matter whichay you slice it, a bus drive to Orlando,orida, or to Greenville, South Carolina,still going to be the same.The arrival was a different story.Every day, you didnt know what to

xpect, said Kirk Champion, the Baronstching coach at the time and now the

ox minor-league pitching coordinator.Wed pull into Orlando at 2 in theorning, and the hotel lobby would be

acked.

That Barons team had Steve Sax, armer All-Star, on a rehab assignment.itcher Atlee Hammaker, who also had

sold it to a Wyoming finance company,which is in the process of selling the bus toa company in Durham, N.C., where itsurely will be popular a few miles downthe road, in Chapel Hill.

Jordans autograph is on both doors.

Jordan finished the season with a .202batting average, three home runs and51 RBIs. He struck out 114 times in 127

was playing minor-league baseball some-where? Maybe you didnt know where, butyou knew he was doing his thing.

And this is where it was. The legacy isin your mind. For the staff members andthe people that worked here and the fansthat came out, thats what you have to hold

onto. You have to cherish those memoriesand realize whether hes here or nevercomes back, he was here and youve got

JORDAN:CHAPTER 8


Birmingham

It instantly, unquestionably, unfathomably changed the second we knew he wasoming. Then the phone started ringing, and the story began.

WIS. MICH.

ILL. IND.

Chicago

March 18, 1995: Im back.

March 19, 1995:Starting at gNo. 45? Jordan plays 43 minutscores 19 points in his first gamback, a 103-96 overtime loss aIndiana. I really, truly missed tgame, he says.

March 28, 1995: The Double Jordan scores 55 points and dthe game-winning assist in a 1win at Madison Square Garden

May 10, 1995: For Game 2 of aplayoff series against Orlandoputs No. 23 back on. He scorespoints in a 104-94 win.

May 18, 1995: Jordan shoots 8scores 24 points and the Bullsends with a Game 6 loss to Or

July 1, 1995: The NBA locks ouplayers.

Oct. 6, 1995:Jordans first datraining camp since 1992. I feedo basically the same things, bmore knowledgeable about mand about the game, he says.

Oct. 23, 1995: Jordan and newteammate Dennis Rodman apthe cover of Sports IllustratedJordans 34th appearance, surMuhammad Ali for most ever.

Nov. 3, 1995:Jordan scores 4season opener.

Jan. 24, 1996: The Bulls, at 36

The return

1995-96

July 30, 1994:Jordan hits thehome run of his pro career, thepoints to the sky as he crosseplate, in tribute to his father.

Sept. 9, 1994: Jordan plays inScottie Pippen All-Star Classicfinal game at Chicago Stadiumscores 52 points. He kisses thelogo on the floor at games en

Nov. 1, 1994: Jordans No. 23 jascends to the rafters in the UCenterthough it gets momestuck halfway up.

Feb. 18, 1995: Day 1 of White Sworkouts during the players sIm not here to break down wplayers are trying to achieve, Jsays.

March 2, 1995: Jordan stuffs stuff into a Bulls duffel bag anSox training camp, after mana

said players would be moved tminor-league clubhouse.

March 10, 1995:Jordan quitsbaseball, citing the sports labdisputes effect on his develop

Harry Caray interviews Jordan before the 1994 Windy City Classic. AP FILE PHOTO

Jordan gets caught in a rundown at Wrigley. AP FILE PHOTO



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Stage 22 at Warner Bros. had gone from a movie shoot to a

receiving line.

One by one, bigwig after bigwig, glad-hander after

glad-hander, men and women had started to come to the

tudio daily just to meet the star. Shake his hand. Take his picture.

Rub his head. Whatever they wanted, the star obliged, one

nterruption after another, smiling through gritted teeth.

The first week of shooting, nobody camethe stage until they started looking at the

ailies [unedited footage shot each day] ofichael, and they were blown away,

Space Jam director Joe Pytka said insides home office. Then they couldnt stay

way. It got out of hand for awhile after theysaw this was go-ing to work. Hewas great. Thenthey were using

m for publicity and every day theydring in some dignitary to meet him andhat started to pisshim off.

Originally, I just couldnt think of abigger star to pair Michael with than BugsBunny, so thats how it started, JimRiswold, the ad man behind the HareJordan commercial, said from his Port-land, Ore., home. He also was the brainsbehind successful Nike campaigns such asBo Knows and I Am Tiger Woods.

I am forever astonished that any com-mercial I did was popular, let alone have amovie made from it, but if it put Bugs back

in the public eye, thats great, said Riswold,a cartoon buff. The best thing about thatspot to me was that after it was out, Michael

why he didnt want to play with Rodman.Michael says, Because he is a crazy man

and the only person I know whos crazier is

you, Pytka said. I was, like, Are you anidiot? All he does is play defense andrebound. You need somebody else to shoot? So where was Rodman that night?Staying at the Beverly Hills Hotel whereMichael was staying because they werescheduled to have a meeting to get to knoweach other better.

From that day on, he would call Rod-man, your boy ... We had constant argu-ments about everything. It was great.

Jordan spent hours away from the setinside a temporary indoor gymnasiumWarner Bros. built near the studio espe-cially for Jordan. NBA stars such as ReggieMiller and Magic Johnson stopped by forpickup games, and Jordan worked out withtrainer Tim Grover. It was in that mini-gymwhere Jordan, committed to reshaping hisbody for basketball after a foray into

baseball, would lay the groundwork for theBulls 1995-96 championship season.Pytka called the gym the Jordan Dome,

Bugs and Daffy Duck. The greenwas replaced with animation induction.

Cinesite, the company that creFramed Roger Rabbit, mergeaction and animation with the inanimators. All Jordan had to do wstraight face while playing against men dressed in green sui

That way he could play againsa stick, which would have been

for him, Pytka said. One day awho was 6-10, 350, and we had to pgreen suit. Michael cracked up.

JORDAN:CHAPTER 9

AGE 22 | CHICAGO TRIBUNE | JORDAN | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

Los AngelesThe accidental movie star goes one-on-onewith Bugs Bunnyand they both prevail

y David Haugh

ll Murray, Bugs Bunny and Michael Jordan in the 1996 movie Space Jam, which earned nearly $320 million at the box office worldwide, and billions in merchandising. WARNER BROS. PH

I just think he hated the whole eence, says director Joe Pytka of Jfilming Space Jam. In basketbain total control. ... In a movie, youmercy of everybody. BUDWEISER P


20/28

expressing yourself. But Micnitely opened a huge door fohelped us find a niche in the spoBeing in the middle of all that hreally inspiring and unleashedativity.

Schanwald, the Bulls markehad asked the artists to create thof flight. They met with Jordaphotos of him, measuring his haand body, recording his jumps.

Amrany was born and raikibbutz in Israels Jordan Valleyto the U.S. with his wife, who waHighland Park, in 1989. Five ytheir paths intertwined with thmost famous athlete.

If you think about Michael Jnever was the tallest or strongrany said. He was not the Nodrafted; that was Hakeem [OEverybody saw this potential bmeasured his spirit, the spirit tnated the NBA for a decade, thehuman who can fly the highest, the craziest ways and coordinateities as disparate as [Scottie] P[Dennis] Rodman around him.

Thats why we named the pSpirit.

Of course, the Bulls hadsioned the statue to honofirst retirement in Oct

The official unveiling occurred 1994.

On March 18, 1995, Jordan retuhis famously and dramaticallythat simply said, Im back.

The comeback actually starweek before anyone knew what on, said Bill Wennington, a cenBulls second three-peat team.had come back and practiced couple times before. Hed showthe drills, scrimmage at the enand that was it.

This time, the second daythrough practice I remember Steve Kerr and Steve was like, Hthis really serious today. Someup. Then he comes back the thir

youre kind of like, Hes workinhard for a guy that just wants to

We started asking question

JORDAN:CHAPTER 10

CHICAGO TRIBUNE | JORDAN | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBE R 10, 2009

ChicagoThe statue outside the United Ceit, an inscription reads: He stoodus, suspended above the Earth, fall its laws like a work of art.BRIAN CASSELLA/TRIBUNE PHOTO


21/28

JORDAN:CHAPTER 10

AGE 24 | CHICAGO TRIBUNE | JORDAN | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

76-77 77-78 78-79 79-80 80-81 81-82 82-83 83-84 84-85 85-86 86-87 87-88 88-89 89-90 90-91 91-92 92-93 93-94 94-95 95-96 96-97 97-98 98-99 99-00 00-01 01-02 02-03

Michael JordanMichael Jordanave Corzine

uintin Dailey

hris Engler

dney Greenavid Greenwood

od Higgins

teve Johnson

aldwell Jones

harles Jones

es Matthews

wann Oldham

nnis Whatley

rlando Woolridge

ene Banks

on Brewer

ony Brown

eorge Gervin

ichael Holton

yle Macy

lly McKinney

harles Oakley

ohn Paxson

ike Smrek

ike Brown

ed Cofield

teve Colter

arl Cureton

arren Daye

ete Myers

en Poquette

ad Sellers

edale Threatt

ston Turner

ranville Waiters

erry Young

rtis Gilmore

orace Grantcottie Pippen

ory Sparrow

am Vincent

ony White

ll Cartwright

harles Davis

ck Haley

raig Hodges

nthony Jones

d Nealy

ill Perdue

ominic Pressley

avid Wood

J. Armstrong

tacey King

ifford Lett

ff Sanders

ennis Hopson

iff Levingston

cott Williams

ob Hansen

huck Nevitt

ark Randall

cky Blanton

e Courtney

Jo English

odney McCray

ent Tucker

arrell Walker

orey Williams

orie Blount

teve Kerr

oni Kukoc

uc Longley

ll Wennington

The supporting castEY TO JORDANS TEAMMATES: Bulls championship teams Bulls WITH Michael Jordan Bulls WI THOUT Michael Jordan Other NBA teams

03-04 04-05 05-06 06-07

Wizards


22/28

s organizations modest office. We gothe first new single-family housing inbout 45 years. We got an economic

evelopment fund. We got a library. We gothe [James R.] Jordan [Boys & Girls club].We got a computer center. We got a health

Sides transformation, but several busi-ness and community leaders insist hesthe biggest because of the impact of theBulls success.

And Jordans family name is on one

building, the Boys & Girls club, which wasdedicated in 1996 for his murdered father.Brijon Burtley was born that year, the year

center during the school year, whereeverything from tutoring to leadershipprograms are offered. During the summer,roughly 65 kids attend a summer campwhere field trips are frequent and the

game room and arts and crafts room getheavy workouts.Inside the centers conference room,

JORDAN:CHAPTER 10


Chicago: The dynasty is complete

The comeback actually started a good week beforenyone knew what was going on.

Jan. 21, 1997:Jordan once agatorments the Knicks, this timescoring 51 points.

Feb. 9, 1997:Jordan posts thetriple-double in All-Star Gamehistory14 points, 11 reboundsassistsbut Glen Rice is nameafter scoring 26 points.

April 14, 1997:Jordan scores 3the Bulls reach win No. 69bulose their last two to miss bacback 70-win seasons.

April 27, 1997:Jordan explode55 points in Game 2 of a first-rplayoff series against Washing

May 18, 1997:Karl Malone edgJordan 986-957no one else gfirst-place votefor Malones MVP award. It was the secondclosest voting since 1980-81.

June 11, 1997: In what would bknown as the Flu Game, a vomdehydrated Jordan scores 38 pgrabs seven rebounds, dishes oassists and hits the go-aheadthree-pointer late in a series-sGame 5 win in Utah.

June 13, 1997: Jordan scores 3grabs 11 boards, dishes to Stevfor the game-winning jumper athen dances on the scorers taafter the Bulls win their fifth N

Aug. 28, 1997: After coach Phson signs a one-year contract, dan inks a one-year, $36 millio

Feb. 8, 1998: Jordan once agaearns All-Star Game MVP hono

April 18, 1998: Jordan drops 4the Knicks to seal his 10th NBAing title with 28.7 points per ga

May 18, 1998: Jordan wins hisregular-season MVP award, tyiRussell for second-most in hist

June 14, 1998:In one of the mclutch performances in NBA hiJordan scores 45 points in Gamagainst the Jazz for a sixth titlethe Bulls down three, he recordsteal and two scores in the finaseconds, including The Pose athe shot over Bryon Russella17-footer (with a bit of a push-

with 5.2 seconds to go.

June 27, 1998: At his celebritytournament in North Carolina, says hes leaning toward retir

July 23, 1998: Tim Floyd isannounced as Bulls coach. Jordpreviously was emphatic that no desire to play for anyone nonamed Phil Jackson or Dean Sm

Oct. 13, 1998: NBA cancels firweeks of the regular season.

Jan. 13, 1999: Jordan announcsecond retirement and says th

99.9 percent chance it will st

1997-98

2nd retiremen

ontinued from Page 23

on Reed (top), director of the James R. Jordan Boys & Girls Club, with Brijon Burtley (left) and Douglas Leftridge. BRIAN CASSELLA/TRIBUNE PHOTO


23/28

He would kill me, ONlaughing. I remember being in room once during the Finals aScottie, Michael, I got four tickeyou. Dont ask me for more. Angoes, I need 20, just threw me bus.

I talked to him a couple mont

told him I oughta be in the Hall ohandling all his ticket requests.

Indeed, ONeil, who joined theof college in 1979, said he routinrequest 50-100 tickets per roadJordan, so great were his demfriends and family. In New YorAngeles, this number would gro

ONeil later fulfilled a lifelongopening a bar downtown that hesold. He turns positively pensassessing Jordans direct impalife.

He gave me a visibility and pthis town and allowed me to gepeople I otherwise never wouldvsaid. If Michael Jordan hadnhere, I probably never wouldve oown place downtown because Ihave had the resources.

Schanwald, who joined the Busaid he has met presidents, celebplayed Augusta National becau

JORDAN:CHAPTER 10


BullsREGULAR SEASON

PLAYOFFS

SEASONS GAMES REPOINTSFG%

1984-85 82 51.5 28.2 6

1985-86 18 45.7 22.7 3

1986-87 82 48.2 37.1 5

1987-88 82 53.5 35.0 5

1988-89 81 53.8 32.5 8

1989-90 82 52.6 33.6 6

1990-91 82 53.9 31.5 6

1991-92 80 51.9 30.1 6

1992-93 78 49.5 32.6 6

1994-95 17 41.1 26.9 6

1995-96 82 49.5 30.4 6

1996-97 82 48.6 29.6 5

1997-98 82 46.5 28.7 5

Bulls 930 50.5 31.5 6

Career 1,072 49.7 30.1 6

PER GAME

PER GAME

SEASONS GAMES REPOINTSFG%

1984-85 4 43.6 29.3 5

1985-86 3 50.5 43.7 6

1986-87 3 41.7 35.7 7

1987-88 10 53.1 36.3

1988-89 17 51.0 34.8 7

1989-90 16 51.4 36.7 7

1990-91 17 52.4 31.1 6

1991-92 22 49.9 34.5 6

1992-93 19 47.5 35.1 6

1994-95 10 48.4 31.5 6

1995-96 18 45.9 30.7 4

1996-97 19 45.6 31.1 7

1997-98 21 46.2 32.4

Career 179 48.7 33.4 6


There are other ways kids can be Michael Jordan. They can be Michael Jordan inmedicine or law. They can soar in other fields as high as Mike did on the basketball court.


24/28

roczka said, when asked why he collects.Any player that comes into the leagueow is measured against him. Kobe [Bry-

nt] won a championship [in June] andmmediately articles compared him toordan.

customers in Asia. You could just name aprice and, boom, theyd be gone.

They thought I was like a god that I gotthem seats, especially if I got them lowers.People would almost start crying: Were

going to be right there with MichaelJordan. Whoa! It was a pretty crazy time.He said he runs into some of his old

the road and on the rare occasions hed gointo a bar or restaurant, you could see thewhole place change instantly. The energylevel would go up. He just has an aura.

LeBron James, the NBAs reigning Most

Valuable Player: I remember when I firstmet him, I was speechless. I didnt havenothing to say. I had stage fright. It was like

the follow-through for the expoint on the Bulls sixth champ1998. The locker-room celebraover and the team bus prepared tthe Salt Lake City airport.

I opened the escape hatch to thMike stuck his head out and wasit up, waving six fingers, cel

JORDAN:CHAPTER 10



rdan nails the final shot to beat the Utah Jazz in Salt Lake City and win the 1998 NBA title, the Bulls sixth championship in eight years. PHOTO BY MICHAEL PROEBSTING


My ultimate deal was selling four tickets for $5,000 each to some dude from Indonesia. ... Jordanwas like a four-leaf clover or a rainbow. Theyre around. But theyre hard to find.


25/28


26/28

It wasnt supposed to end like this. Everyone involved seems

to agree on at least that much.

Michael Jordan doesnt do bad endings. He might do corny,

impossible, save-the-day endings, but not bad endings and

finitely not endings in which he might be perceived as anything

t the hero.

ike a lot of other stories, this one carriesstful preamble: and it had started out sol. Jordan was back in the game as theshington Wizards president of basket-

operations, a piece of team ownershipi k Thi h ki f h NBA

But at the beginning? It was a gloriousthing.

It was really a dream come true, saidPopeye Jones, who played with Jordan in2001-02. You knew you were going to play

i h Mi h l J d Y d h

As the season went along, he improved.He was extraordinarily smart as a player, aside of him that had always gotten lost in hisabsurd talent and relentless competitive-ness. He adapted his game to compensatefor the athleticism that age had stolen.Instead of the powerful first step that hadreduced opponents to nervous tics andspasms, he developed a step-back jump shotthat was as merciless as a contract killer.

Until he tore cartilage in his right knee inFebruary 2002, the Wizards were thinkingabout making the playoffs. But the possibil-ity of a physical breakdown was alwaysimplicit in the deal: Youd get glimpses ofh ld Mi h l h b d

JORDAN:CHAPTER 11


WashingtonNov. 28, 2002:Jordan annouthat he will retire for a third tithe 2002-03 season, saying tzero chance of another retu

Jan. 24, 2003: In his final prosional game in Chicago, Jordareceives a four-minute standovation during player introdulove you all very much, he tellcrowd before scoring 11 pointsWizards in a 104-97 loss to th

Feb. 9, 2003: Jordan scores 2in his final All-Star Game, becthe all-time leading All-Star sHe takes Vince Carters startafter Allen Iverson and Tracy

offered theirs.

A il 11 2003 Th Mi i H

A remarkable playing career endswithrustration, betrayal and flashes of brilliance

ats wrong with this picture? In his final professional game in Chicago, Washington Wizard Michael Jordan soaks in the United Center. TRIBUNE FILE PHOTO


27/28

n your knee. Then you have the rest ofour team practice a little longer.Sometimes the younger players took

xception to that, like it was punishment. Iid, This guy doesnt have that manyiles left in those legs, and weve got to

reserve that.That didnt sit well.As time went on, the relationships be-

ween Jordan and some of the youngerayers got ugly, especially his dealings withwame Brown, whom Jordan had takenith the first overall pick in the 2001 draft.Brown is to Jordans rsum what Giglito Ben Afflecks.Unfortunately, a lot of the good stuffichael did get glossed over, Collins said.think people look at it and say, They

rafted Kwame Brown and traded Ripamilton. But I was there when the draftas going on that year, and Kwame Brownas the consensus No. 1 pick by so many ofe teams. I can tell you our phones werenging off the hook, people trying to tradeget to that No. 1 pick.The fact that Kwame didnt play wellen came onto Michael, who took a lot of

eat. But I know the Chicago Bulls wantedmove up to get him. We were going to

ake the deal and get Elton Brand They

Do you think I can still play? I said, Yeah,Michael, I still think you can play. Thatswhy Im here with you to try to help youout to get this franchise right.

And he said, Well, if youre going to bemy coach, you have to believe in me. I said,I believe in you. He said, You did the rightthing tonight, but I just wanted you to know

that I can still play. Two nights later, he scored 51 points

against Charlotte. He followed up with 45,including 22 straight points for the Wizards,against New Jersey. And not long after, hescored his 30,000 career point, against theBulls.

I think in his heart of hearts, he wantedto know the guy that he was locked arm inarm with believed in him, Collins said.

By the second season, some of Jordansteammates were not in lockstep with him.They were stung by his public criticism ofthem, especially when he questioned theirhearts. At least one newspaper story saidJordan turned on players when they didntpass the ball to him. There are those in theJordan camp who point out that the rosterwasnt exactly filled with scorers. Jordansdetractors respond that as the teams defacto general manager, he was in charge of

that roster.Whatever the case, theres no denying

that what had started off so joyfully had

to buy me 150 R&B CDs. He was verygenerous and giving.

Whether Jordans presence had a lastingeffect on the neighborhood around theVerizon Center is open to debate. It alreadywas growing before he arrived. Businesseswere setting up shop. Restaurants werethriving.

But when Jordan was playing, the Wiz-ards were getting 5,000 more people a gamethan they were when he was an executive.The area felt it.

I will say this I aint seen any of thembusinesses close up, said Walker, thepastor. They got established, and theyre

still here. In that sense, I guess youve got tosay his footprint is on the city. He gave it afresh life I think were better off that he was

said. After he was gone, the mantried to keep the place alive by mmore of a bar scene. That was tthat. A lot of people in the city fewas used [by the Wizards].

O

n May 7, 2003, Pollin let Jduring an 18-minute mee

like that. Jordan believedverbal understanding that alloweresume his duties. He felt a keeappreciation for helping the make a huge profit with him in ajersey.

In turn, Pollin and team presideOMalley were taken aback by arrogance and what they perceivpresumption that he would one control of the team, according to L

There were irreconcilable dithough only one side, Pollins, saway. Right until the end, Jordan thwas going to win. He always thgoing to win.

The night before the meeting, Jodinner with Ted Leonsis, the WaCapitals owner who owns 44 percWizards. Jordan being Jordan, hhe could persuade Pollin to give

his title and share of the teambefore, Jordan had implied hfront office free agent ready to tak

JORDAN:CHAPTER 11

AGE 30 | C HICAGO TRIBUNE | JORDAN | THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2009

Washington, D.C.

With young guys sometimes, you get them coming in loafing in practice and they dont

nderstand the true value of hard work. Michael was 39 and he was still trying to get better.


rdan leaves the MCI Center in Washington on May 7, 2003, after he was fired by Wizards owner Abe Pollin. AP FILE PHOTO

WizardsSEASONS GAMES REBS.POINTSFG% ASTS.

2001-02 60 41.6 22.9 5.7 5.2

2002-03 82 44.5 20.0 6.1 3.8

Wizards 142 43.1 2 1.2 5.9 4.4

Career 1,072 49.7 30.1 6.2 5.3

PER GAME AVERAGES


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1982 1984 1984-85

1986-87 1987-88 1990-91

The trophy case

The money

Scale in millions

SOURCE: Forbes, basketball-reference.com

20

30

40

50

60

70

Michael Jordan is one of the worlds foremostpitchmen, a powerful brand that has soldeverything from food to clothing to cologne. In1990, Forbes began tracking his earnings. In1998, Fortune magazine appraised the overallJordan Economic Effect at $10 billion.

Major endorsements and products:

Gatorade

McDonalds

Nike

Cadillac XLR

Wheaties

Rayovac

Oakley sunglasses

Hanes underwear

Michael Jordan Cologne

NBA MVP

Slam Dunk Contest winner

All-Star Game MVP

Defensive Player of the Year

Slam Dunk Contestwinner

NBA MVP

NBA Champions

Eastern ConferenceChampions

NBA Finals MVP

SOURCE: NBA PHIL GEIB AND DAVID INGOLD / TRIBUNE

NCAA Championship NBA Rookie of the YearAdolph F. Rupp Trophy

John R. Wooden Award

Naismith College Player of the Year

1997-98

NBA MVP

All-Star Game MVP

NBA Champions


NBA Finals MVP

1996-97

NBA Champions


NBA Finals MVP

1995-96

NBA MVP

All-Star Game MVP

NBA Champions

Eastern Conference Champions

NBA Finals MVP

1992-93

NBA Champions


NBA Finals MVP

OLYMPIC GAMES

Gold Medal - 1984

Gold Medal - 1992

1991-92

NBA MVP

NBA Champions


NBA Finals MVP

Earnings as a player(by season)$93.8 million

Michael Jordans basketbary has yet to translate to office in his second tou

NBA executive.Following the unsatisfying en

tenure as player/president of the Wton Wizards, Jordan bought into tlotte Bobcats in June 2006and was the role of managing partner.

He began surrounding himsfamiliarForm

chicago tribune michael jordan 2009 special

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