MICHAEL JORDAN was a guest on NBC's "Meet The Press"
with Tim Russert on Sunday and discussed the state of the
NBA, social issues facing many of today's youth and his
increasing involvement in politics. Russert: "Television
viewership [is] way down on the NBA without Michael Jordan.
Is there another Michael Jordan out there?" Jordan: "I
think the problem with the ratings -- and with the fans
watching the game is you have a lot more younger players
coming into the game and they're missing the years of
college to where they perfect their moves and their skills
to where they can call on those skills, so the fans can see
it and [how] it looks -- it's beautiful basketball. So, as
the league continues to grow and mature, and these young
players mature into ... better basketball players, you're
going to see better basketball games, and the fans are going
to appreciate that." Russert noted Jordan's endorsement of
Democratic presidential candidate BILL BRADLEY and asked if
he was "going to become more politically involved now that
you're no longer an active player?" Jordan: "I will be. ...
Now that I'm out of [playing basketball day-to-day] and more
focused on ... my life and where my life is headed and my
children's future, I have to take more of a political stance
and support who I feel is going to benefit me." Russert:
"Any chance you'll ever run for office?" Jordan: "Not right
now." Russert: "Not right now, but maybe?" Jordan: "You
never know" (NBC, 4/23). In Canada, Chris Cobb wrote that
the "usual hard-edged" Russert "gave Jordan an easy ride,
and, indeed, there was a feeling of pre-arrangement to his
questions and Jordan's responses" (NATIONAL POST, 4/24).
IMAX'S SILVER HAMMER ON JORDAN: In Chicago, Rick
Telander previewed the IMAX film, "MICHAEL JORDAN TO THE
MAX," and wrote, "I watched a director's cut on my VCR --
watched it three times -- and even with rough sound and
foreshortened images, the documentary is powerful,
uplifting, riveting and joyous" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 4/24).