Meeting his match

Has Father Time finally caught up with His Airness?

Michael Jordan didn't let the Bad Boys, Patrick Ewing, Charles Barkley or the pizza in Utah stop him.

Could he now get done in by Arthur Itis?

Hard as it might be to believe, that's the reality of the situation, according to Wizards team officials. In announcing Tuesday that Jordan will undergo arthroscopic surgery on his arthritic right knee, Washington head coach Doug Collins admitted it is possible No. 23 might have to shut it down for the rest of the season. "He knows that if he didn't have this done, he wouldn't be able to continue to play," he said.

The timing couldn't be worse for the Wizards. Losers of five in a row, they have fallen back under .500 and into eighth spot in the Eastern Conference standings. Even Jordan acknowledges the urgency of the situation: One of the reasons he wants to get the procedure done now is so he can get back in time for a brutal six-game Western road trip next month.

Jordan's absence also robs NBA fans of two much-anticipated matchups on the league schedule. His Airness was set to make his first appearance against former teammate Scottie Pippen and the Blazers at MCI Center on Wednesday. On Friday, he was scheduled to return to Chicago for his final appearance in the Windy City this season.

When Jordan announced his comeback in September, many predicted his biggest obstacle would be staying healthy. But he worked out as hard as ever this season, even starting a new version of his famed Breakfast Club pre-practice sessions with teammates, and he appeared to be in good shape as recently as two weeks ago. Ironically, his latest knee pain resurfaced just after he celebrated his 39th birthday.

Jordan might have beaten all comers during his spectacular career, but now he appears to be finally meeting his match. It seems even The Greatest Ever can't beat Father Time.

Marty Burns covers pro basketball for CNNSI.com. Click here to send Marty a question or comment.

 

Related information
Stories
Jordan to have knee surgery NBA Power Rankings: Feb. 26-Mar. 4 Week at a Glance: Showing his age CNNSI.com's Burns: Roundball Roundup
Multimedia
Visit Video Plus for the latest audio and video
Search our site	Watch CNN/SI 24 hours a day
	Sports Illustrated and CNN have combined to form a 24 hour sports news and information channel. To receive CNN/SI at your home call your cable operator or DirecTV.