Jordan down but not out

by Scott Miller
For The Post

Some have questioned if we have seen the last of Michael Jordan in an NBA uniform after the megastar suffered a knee injury. However, it would be foolish to think this king of comebacks doesn’t have one more up his sleeve.

Sure, Jordan has six NBA championship rings, 10 scoring titles, five Most Valuable Player awards and more money than one man can spend, but that does nothing now to quench his competitive desire or subdue his love of basketball.

Jordan needs to be on a basketball court.

Baseball and golf proved to be second-rate for him upon his first “retirement” right before the 1993-94 season, and Jordan returned home to the NBA a year-and-a-half later.

Then Jordan entered the front office of the Washington Wizards during his second “retirement,” which began following the 1997-98 season. But not surprisingly, Jordan still was not satisfied.

Three years and a few broken ribs suffered in a pick-up game later, “his airness” suited up in a Wizards uniform and returned to action this season. Few thought he could still play at a superstar caliber level, but in just a short period of time he once again won the hearts of NBA fans, supporters and critics.

In 53 games Jordan dazzled large crowds with show-stopping moments reminiscent of his glory days in Chicago. He nailed clutch buzzer-beaters against

Cleveland and Phoenix and helped ensure another Wizards victory against his former team with a vicious denial of a Ron Mercer shot attempt.

On Dec. 29 Jordan poured in 51 points against Charlotte, one of five times he scored 40 or more points in a game. He averaged an eighth best 24.2 points per game through Feb. 24.

Now after being placed on the injured list following knee surgery to repair torn lateral meniscus cartilage in his right knee, Jordan faces another uphill climb to endure therapy and regain strength in the knee, not an easy task for a 39-year-old.

Again, some think Jordan might decide finally to call it quits for good.

But with his teammates’ playoff hopes in jeopardy and the NBA fleeting without him, the man of many heroics knows there is more work to be done.

As NBA fans have come to recognize, Jordan certainly is not one to pass up a challenge. That being said, odds are the legend will continue.

 

—Miller is a freshman journalism major. Send him an e-mail at sm254801@ohio.edu