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I'M BACK..........AGAIN SAYS MJ.

JORDAN'S BACK


HIS ROYAL AIRNESS WILL BE PLAYING ON THE 30TH OF OCTOBER AT THE MADSON SQUARE GARDEN AGAINST THE KICKS FOR THE WASHINGTON WIZARDS.

HIS ROYAL AIRNESS

Some praised his ability to soar gracefully over defenders who were a foot taller. Others spoke reverentially of his competitiveness , the trait that forced him to work tirelessly at honning his skills that were already legendary. Still others paid tribute to the charisma and advertising acumen that enabled him to become the premier personality in sports.

But among all the words of homage for Michael Jordan by those linked with the NBA , one thing remained constant : no. 23 of the Bulls was the greatest player in history.

"Pound for pound he is the best ever ," said Julius Erving , who as Dr. J first brought to the NBA the high flying wizardry that made Jordan so dynamic. "He is the most electric , has the most charisma and the most flair." Current stars like Reggie Miller and Grant Hill to up comming stars like Vince Carter agreed.

While Jordan possessed outstanding athleticism , the concensus was that his quickness , strength , and leaping ability were not all that attributes that set him apart. It was his capacity to combine those qualities with a superior work ethic , an incredible degree of mental toughness and a matchless desire to win. Jordan's dedication to improvement and winning was renowned.

President Clinton noted that Jordan's excellence was not limited to his physical ability. "In my life , i haven't seen another athlete with such a remarkable set of qualities of mind , body and spirit " Clinton said.
Many siad that Jordan's amazing accomplishments were born of his tremendrous drive to be the best. It was the hatred of finishing second that led him to score 38 points while suffering from flu in Game 5 of the 1997 NBA Finals against Utah.

The list of those he conquered in winning titles in the final six seasons he played is awesome : Magic Johnson , Larry Bird , Isiah Thomas , Karl Malone , Patrick Ewing , Charles Barkley. Some current players and coaches said they wished Jordan had not retired , so they had one more chance to beat him. But they had plenty and they failed. "When i lay my head down on the pillow at night , i'll know there was one guy i never had a chance to beat " said Pat Riley , the Miami Heat coach who won five championship rings before Jordan began his reign. "It doesn't look like i'll get another chance. That bothers me."

Jordan's sucess on the court , plus his easy going personality and charm ,
enabled him to prosper. Before he entered the league , only a handful of players had signature basketball shoes and endorsements of any kind. But his ability to relate to Americans of all ages and colours landed him deals
with Nike , McDonald's , Gatorade , Hanes and other companies. When his Air Jordan sneakers helped Nike become the world leader in basketball apparel , marketers began giving out million dollar deals to dozens of players , a development that changed the way many youngsters viewed the game of basketball. To some the game became a means to a larger pile of cash to be made out side of basketball.

Allen Iverson , the 76er's star , said not only inspired him to be a basketball player but also to be an endorsement magnet. "With all his off the court marketing and everything he did , it makes me want to do something like that in my life" said Iverson.

Everbody is not limited to America or the Western Hemisphere. His once in a generation game and his semingly boundless commercial appeal turned him not only into a cultural icon but also into a global hero , one whose influence on the world through sports is comparable only to a Muhammed Ali or a Babe Ruth.

That was clear by the fact that newspapers throught the world ran front page articles about Jordan's retirement on January 13 , 1999. A newspaper in Rome wrote :"America would willingly take Clinton's retirement in exchange for Jordan's. Jordan was not only the greatest basketball player , he was basketball."