Jordan to play final home game

WASHINGTON -- Although he couldn't take the Washington Wizards to the playoffs in two years as a player, Michael Jordan brought sellouts, big profits and national TV exposure to a listless franchise.

Jordan plays his last home game Monday when the Wizards host the New York Knicks, and owner Abe Pollin could be forgiven for taking a long gaze during the game at a sight unimaginable pre-MJ: an 84th consecutive sellout.

"Nobody talked about the Washington Wizards," coach Doug Collins said. "They were a 19-win organization. And all of a sudden, everybody's watching the Wizards on TV. We're the No. 1 road team in the NBA. (Friday night in Miami) was the biggest crowd in the history of the American Airlines Arena. Cleveland had two sellouts -- they were us. That's the way it's been. That's what Michael brings."

The Wizards were barely on anyone's radar before Jordan came to town. They haven't won a playoff game since 1988 and haven't won a playoff series since 1982. They were known more for shoestring budgets and bad trades -- Chris Webber for Mitch Richmond? Ben Wallace for Ike Austin? They hadn't been on network TV for years, and their average announced attendance of about 15,000 seemed like fuzzy math given all the empty seats.

With Jordan in uniform, every game has sold out, and nearly all 20,000 seats have been filled. Wizards merchandise is a hot commodity, as long as there's a No. 23 on it. TNT and ABC have roamed the hallways. The games have been compelling largely because Jordan is such a fierce competitor.

"Every game, there's electricity," Collins said. "Every team is wanting to beat Michael. There was no night where teams didn't play hard against us."

The Wizards plan a ceremony for Jordan's final game. He's already been feted by the rest of the league, with special tributes at most of his final games at other arenas.

Still, Jordan said he's thinking of the game more as a farewell to the league, not specifically to the Wizards. After all, he played 13 years and won six titles with the Chicago Bulls.

During a video tribute in Miami, it was notable that every Jordan highlight was in a Bulls uniform -- except one clip at the end in which Jordan was waving to the crowd in his Wizards gear.

"I only got a chance to play two years here," Jordan said. "I take this and enjoy it obviously, playing in front of fans I used to play against, and try to bring a certain joy to the game."

Now that the Wizards' playoff hopes are gone, Jordan can take time to soak in the farewells he was previously reticent to embrace. He's down to two games remaining, with a Wednesday trip to Philadelphia marking the end of his career.

"Right now, we can't make the playoffs, but I'm just going to go out and have a good time," Jordan said. "I'm enjoying what's left of my career. It's going fast. It's going very fast. That's what good things do."

Washington doesn't expect to lose Jordan altogether. He has said his first choice is to return as president of basketball operations, the job he held before his second comeback. The only hitch would be if Pollin for some reason can't work out an acceptable deal with the player who put the franchise on the map.

"We've got a good base with a bunch of young players," Jordan said. "Now we've got to keep building."

Copyright C 2003 Deseret News Publishing Co.
Provided by ProQuest Information and Learning Company. All rights Reserved.