Believe it or not
Jordan's sold on retiring; not everybody's buying it
Posted: Mon February 9, 1998 at 7:53 PM ET
ATLANTA (CNN/SI) -- Sports' fans occasionally and secretly urge their favorite players to retire while they're on top, to call it quits before the skills do.
But while on no occasion would a fan suggest the time is up for the greatest basketball player of all time, Michael Jordan's urge to retire is anything but secret.
"How many times do you want me to say it?" Jordan asked Sunday
after winning his third All-Star MVP award. "I'll say it once
more. If Phil [Jackson] is not in Chicago, I'm not playing."
Jordan did not change his stance during what looks likely to be his final All-Star weekend. He simply reiterated what he has been saying for weeks: If the Bulls change coaches, as management maintains they will, he will retire.
Neither side figures to blink until the playoffs are over and
it's clear whether the Bulls have added to their dynasty with a
sixth title in eight years.
If they win, the pressure to capitulate will be on owner Jerry
Reinsdorf and general manager Jerry Krause.
If someone knocks the Bulls off, management will have an excuse
to rebuild the team.
"He's such a great person, a great player, that it will really
hurt if we lose him," Eastern Conference All-Star coach Larry Bird
said.
Bird, like nearly everyone at All-Star weekend, heard the Jordan
question over and over. And like everyone, he didn't know whether
to believe it.
"Michael will be here again next year and will win the MVP
again," Jayson Williams said. "I don't know why Mike needs so
much drama in his life."
"I think this was his last [All-Star] Game," Penny Hardaway
said.
"We hope he won't retire," Gary Payton said. "We hope he
comes back because he makes it more competitive."
Added West coach George Karl: "The league will learn how to
function without Michael, but I'll go on record right now that I
personally think Michael should continue to play.
"I think we all want to try to beat him. He has set the
standard at such a height that anybody who has the opportunity
wants to go after the best. And he has proven to be the best many,
many times."
Jordan won the MVP award after leading all scorers with 23
points as the East beat the West 135-114. Jordan shot 10 for 18
with eight assists, six rebounds and three steals.
"If that was his last, it was a great way to go out," Jason
Kidd said. "If he does decide to retire, he's going out at the
right time -- out on top."
There is skepticism regarding Jordan's pronouncements because he
has gone back on his word before.
When he retired in 1993 to become a baseball player, he said he
was finished playing basketball.
When he returned in 1995, he wore uniform No. 45 and said he
would never wear No. 23 again.
In both cases, Jordan flip-flopped. Now, people are looking for
any sliver of hedging on his part.
If he won't play for any coach other than Jackson, would he
consider being a player/coach?
"No. That was just an appetizer thrown out by Phil," Jordan
said.
Would he play elsewhere next season if Jackson gets a job
coaching another team?
"Nowhere else," Jordan said.
Would he play for the Knicks?
"No. I said I'd only do that if I was single. I'm not single,"
Jordan said.
Why don't people believe him?
"I don't know," he said. "I guess you'll have to wait and
see. People don't want to see it or people just don't want it to
happen. But this day was going to happen sooner or later.
"I've always said I would not walk out of the game limping. If
I walk out of the game, I want to walk out knowing I can still
play. People have to believe that."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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