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Chicago hope Jordan looking forward to facing former teamPosted: Friday January 04, 2002 12:29 PM
Last September, Michael Jordan sat on a curb outside his restaurant on Chicago's West Side and talked about his impending NBA comeback. When asked about the prospect of someday facing his former franchise, the Bulls, he broke into a slight smile. "I may skip [it]," he joked, referring to the mixed feelings he would have about suiting up against his old team. But pivoting as quickly as he ever did on one of his patented fadeaways, he suddenly lobbed a dagger at the heart of Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and general manager Jerry Krause. "I would love to come back and play Chicago," he said. "I wish we could play more games here. The fans deserve it. If it was left up to me I would never ... I'd still be playing."
Chicago fans can mull over those words tonight as they watch Jordan take the floor at Washington's MCI Center for the first time as an opponent. Worse, all signs point to a magical night for His Airness. Coming off 51- and 45-point efforts, and well-rested after four days off, Jordan looks primed to torture his old franchise and stick it to the two Jerry's. For many Bulls fans, a vintage Jordan performance tonight would be more painful than walking naked down Michigan Ave. in February. It would be the Great Fire, the St. Valentine's Day Massacre and the Blizzard of '79 all rolled into one. Oprah might have to call in her resident shrink. Even Bulls forward Ron Artest, the man who will have the assignment of guarding Jordan, sounded like a man about to face a firing squad. "He's probably going to try to give me about 70 [points]," Artest said Wednesday. Given that Artest accidentally broke two of Jordan's ribs during summer workouts, that estimate might be conservative. The good news for Chicago is that the team has played better under new coach Bill Cartwright, who took over for Tim Floyd last week. They have picked up their defensive intensity, relying more on Artest, Charles Oakley and Greg Anthony, and limited second chances. They defeated the Cavaliers and Bucks in Cartwright's first two games before falling to the red-hot Mavericks in a hard-fought game Wednesday night. Will they be good enough to stop a Jordan onslaught tonight? Probably not. More likely His Airness will leave his old teammate Cartwright crying out in pain like another Mr. Bill ("Oh Noooooo!!!!!"). At least the Bulls will have company in their misery. Chicago fans, happy for Jordan but wondering what could have been, will no doubt be feeling bittersweet at best. After all, as Jordan said himself that day on the curb, he could still be wearing a Bulls uniform. Marty Burns covers pro basketball for CNNSI.com. Click here to send Marty a question or comment.
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