MICHAEL JORDAN will endorse BILL BRADLEY for the
Democratic presidential nomination and has "made a TV ad"
supporting Bradley, according to sources of USA TODAY's Jill
Lawrence. The spot will debut Friday or Saturday "in some
of the dozen states" holding primaries March 7. Lawrence
writes that Jordan, like "many athletes," has been "reticent
about endorsing politicians," and in a '90 NC U.S. Senate
race, he didn't support Democratic candidate HARVEY GANTT
over GOP U.S. Senator JESSE HELMS, saying, "Republicans buy
shoes too." But Jordan and his wife, JUANITA, have each
contributed $1,000 to Bradley's campaign (USA TODAY, 2/10).
NEW JERSEY? In Chicago, Sam Smith writes that the NBA
is "going to figure out some way to continue selling"
Jordan. After Jordan became the Wizards President of
Basketball Operations, the NBA "decided to issue a No. 23
Wizards jersey for Jordan," as Jordan practices
"occasionally" with the team. But Jordan "was able to put a
hold on the effort because the league didn't have the
licensing rights." Smith wonders, "What's next? The NBA
store selling pinstriped suits with Jordan's name stitched
on the back?" (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 2/10). Meanwhile, in
Chicago, Elliott Harris reports that Jordan is on the cover
of the current SI, marking the 49th time he has appeared on
the cover, an SI record. Jordan will be in S.F. on Saturday
for a sneak preview of the IMAX film, "Michael Jordan To The
Max." The movie opens nationwide May 5 (SUN-TIMES, 2/10).
