8A = THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 26, 2001
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WASHINGTON—The worst-kept secret in sports is out: Michael Jordan will play again in the NBA—and not just for one season, but two.
"I am returning as a player to the game I love," said Jordan, 38 and three years removed from what seemed to be a storybook ending to an unparalleled career. "I am especially excited about the Washington Wizards, and I'm convinced we have the foundation on which to build a playoff-contention team.
"The opportunity to teach our young players and help them elevate their game to a higher level, and to thank the fans in Washington for their loyalty and support, strongly influenced my decision," he said in a statement issued through his management agency.
After months of hints, smiles and winks that kept his fans on edge, Jordan finally announced his comeback yesterday, saying he would play for the Washington Wizards through 2003 and donate his first year's salary to victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks.
The Associated Press
The five-time league MVP, who retired for a second time in 1999 after leading the Chicago Bulls to their sixth title of the decade, made it official after clearing up a licensing issue with one of his sponsors — a disagreement that delayed the announcement by a day. NBA rules also required Jordan to sell his ownership stake in the Wizards.
'His Airness' returns for two more seasons
Jordan never completely ruled out a comeback when he retired in January 1999, hedging his bets with the statement that he was '99.9 percent' certain he would never play again. Leaving the door open, even by one-tenth of 1 percent, meant Jordan could slip back into a uniform without going back on his word.
Now, he has.
"I am happy to welcome Michael Jordan, the player, back to the NBA, although, as commissioner, I am sorry to lose him in the board room," NBA commissioner David Stern said. "Michael has always brought joy to basketball fans around the world, and, in these difficult times, we can all use a little more joy in our lives."
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Surgery: Iverson sidelined
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 10A
"We hoped rest would resolve it, but it did not," King said. "Surgery was a last resort."
Team physician Jack McPhilemy said surgery was recommended to Iverson after the end of the 1999-00 season and the day after last season ended on June 15. It also was suggested to McKie earlier in the summer.
"Suggesting it and getting it done sometimes are two different things," McPhilemy said. "When the subject was brought up, both players seemed amenable to it, but it never got done."
Now that Iverson isn't expected to play, Aaron Goldberg, New Orleans senior, probably won't go to the exhibition game.
"Allen Iverson is one of the most exciting players in the NBA," Goldberg said. "Watching him on TV is not nearly the same as seeing him in person."
Joel Goldetski, Minneapolis senior,
already bought his ticket for the game.
"It's annoying that Allen Iverson won't
be there," Goldetski said. "But it will still be fun to go to the game. It's still an NBA game."
Iverson led the league in scoring for the second time in three years with an average of 51.1 points. He was first in steals (2.51) and tied for first in minutes (42.0).
McKie averaged career highs in points (11.6), rebounds (4.1), assists (five), steals (1.39) and minutes (31.5). He started 33 of the 76 games in which he played during the regular season mainly because of injuries to point guard Eric Snow.
McKie signed a six-year contract in July worth a guaranteed $35.5 million. Iverson married longtime girlfriend Tawanna Turner in August.
King said McKie's free agency and Iverson's wedding were factors in the delay.
- The Associated Press contributed to this story.
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The Associated Press
Bledsoe expected to miss two games after hard hit
Belichick added that Bledsoe could leave the hospital today and still is projected to miss at least the next two games.
"There's no damage that's been detected to any internal organ or ribs or anything like that, or lungs," Belichick said on a conference call. "The chest tube will probably be removed (Wednesday). Assuming that all continues to go well, my guess is that he'll be discharged in the next day or two."
BOSTON — Drew Bledsoe escaped damage to his internal organs when he was knocked out of Sunday's game, New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick said yesterday.
niecese was injured when linebacker Mo Lewis hit him full-speed in the fourth
quarter of New York's 10-3 victory on Sunday. Although Bledsoe played one more series, he was taken to Massachusetts General Hospital when he became uncomfortable 45 minutes after the game.
Doctors inserted a chest tube to drain internal bleeding. Belichick said he did not know how long Dledsoe would be out, but that he doesn't expect him back in the next two weeks. It is possible Bledsoe will be on the sideline — but inactive — before then to help with signals.
The greatest damage appeared to be a sheared blood vessel that filled his left chest cavity with blood.
Bledsoe's agent, David Dunn, did not return a call seeking comment.
Detroit takes Royals down
The Associated Press
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Bobby Higginson hit a three-run homer and Jose Lima again beat Kansas City as the Detroit Tigers downed the Royals 6-4 last night.
The Tigers won their fourth in a row. The Royals lost their fifth straight game.
Lima kept the Royals to one run and eight hits in 7-1/3 innings. He walked none and struck out four.
Lima (5-8) had lost his previous five starts and seven of his past eight. Three of his victories since being acquired from Houston on June 23 have come against Kansas City.
Matt Anderson entered the ninth with runners on first and second and two outs, and walked pinch-hitter Greg Zaun, loading the bases. He then gave up a two-run double before getting Mike Sweeney to fly out to right for his 21st save.
Notes: Tigers 1B Tony Clark, hitting .287 with 16 home runs and a team-leading 75 RBIs, left for Birmingham, Ala., to have his sore right wrist examined by doctors.
Detroit 3B Shane Halter batted cleanup for the first time in his major league career.
The crowd of 11,160 was the smallest of the year at Kauffman Stadium. The previous low was 11,479 on Aug.28 against Anaheim.
Mets roll past Montreal 2-0
The Associated Press
MONTREAL — Kevin Appier pitched a four-hitter for his first complete game of the season and Mike Piazza hit his 35th homer and led the New York Mets past the Montreal Expos 2-0 last night.
New York began the day four games behind NL East co-leaders Atlanta and Philadelphia.
Appier (9-10) last went the distance in a 6-0 win for Oakland at Los Angeles on June 11, 2000. He held Montreal to singles by Brian Schneider, Geoff Blum, Brad Wilkerson and a ground-rule double by Orlando Cabrera.
Appier struck out three
and walked one in his 12th career shutout. He is 3-0 with a 2.29 ERA over his last six starts.
Notes: The teams lined up along the baselines prior to the game for the singing of the American and Canadian national anthems. The players then came together to shake hands on the diamond and the small Olympic stadium crowd gave the Mets a warm ovation as they returned to their dugout. The crowd was announced as 4.166.
One week after baseball resumed play following a six-day shutdown in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the Expos finally received their shipment of new caps with the American flag on the left side.
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