After Michael Jordan's retirement from the NBA
yesterday, NBA Commissioner David Stern said, "The NBA takes
a hit every time it loses a big name, but I'm optimistic.
See us in six months. I think you'll be pleasantly
surprised" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/14). Stern, on the league's
future without Jordan: "Piece of cake." He then cited "a
long list of players who have not gotten considerable
coverage because of the brightness of Michael" (N.Y. POST,
1/14). Magic Exec VP Julius Erving, on the league's future:
"So much depends on what the sport's partners decides. ...
If corporate America sits back and takes a wait-and-see
attitude, the aura of the league might slip lower than it
has ever been, and if that happens, the damage might be
irreparable. ... If corporate America votes that it's still
in, maybe because it already has so much invested, it'll be
OK" (Phil Jasner, PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 1/14). NMG's
Peter Kaplan: "Let's get all the negative stuff out of the
way and realize that the NBA is a marketing juggernaut
second to none. It has its work cut out for it, but they are
equal to the task" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 1/14).
LESS THAN GLOWING REVIEWS: In Chicago, Richard Roeper
notes a "number of strange and puzzling moments" at
yesterday's retirement announcement, including Bulls Chair
Jerry Reinsdorf presenting Jordan with his '98 Championship
ring "on the spot" and writes, "even weirder was the
decision to retire Michael's jersey right then and there"
(CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 1/14). Also in Chicago, Jay Mariotti
writes the scene "felt like a funeral, not a coronation. ...
Incredibly, it was colder inside the United Center than
outside." Asked why they presented the ring yesterday,
Bulls VP/Marketing & Broadcasting Steve Schanwald said,
"There might not be a ring ceremony" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES,
1/14). In Chicago, Bernie Lincicome notes the ring and
jersey elements and writes, "Let's just say that Jordan is
much better at leaving than Reinsdorf is of letting him go"
(CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 1/14). In N.Y., William Rhoden calls
yesterday's ceremony, "Not simply flat, but chilly. ...
There was a distinct coldness between management and
player." Rhoden: "This was not an emotion-filled farewell,
rather an icy goodbye that had the finality of a divorce,
not the cuddly warmth of retirement" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/14).
A GOOD READ: ESPN MAGAZINE features an excerpt from
David Halberstam's new book: "Playing For Keeps: Michael
Jordan and the World He Made" (ESPN MAGAZINE, 1/25 issue).
The Random House book is due out in early-February.
