Columnist Dean Juipe: More to lose than to gain for Jordan

Dean Juipe

Friday, April 13, 2001 | 10:11 a.m.

Dean Juipe's column appears Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. His boxing notebook appears Thursday. Reach him at juipe@lasvegassun.com or 259-4084.

Coincidental or not, a mere one day after Tiger Woods won the Masters and had people talking about the very real possibility he is the greatest athlete in the history of sports, Michael Jordan's boss speculated that the world had not yet seen the last of the Human Highlight Film on a basketball court.

A little one-upmanship, perhaps?

Jordan, who owns 5-10 percent of the Washington Wizards, has, thus far, refused to contribute to a rumor that was spurred by the Wizards' primary owner, Abe Pollin.

Pollin suggested that Jordan would return from what is already a 33-month retirement and, at the age of 38, resume his playing career next season. Of course Pollin is in a position to have inside information, yet he may also be doing nothing more than a little wishful thinking.

With his Wizards owning a terrible 18-60 record this season and having reached the playoffs only once in the past 12 years, Pollin's pocketbook could use a boost. And inserting Jordan into Washington's lineup would do just that, although there's no guarantee that Jordan -- if he were to return -- would automatically join the Wizards and bypass a more inviting team, such as the Los Angeles Lakers (and his on-the-same-page former coach, Phil Jackson).

There is no denying Jordan's impact on the sport and his achievements with the Chicago Bulls. He led the league in scoring in each of his last 10 full seasons and spearheaded the Bulls to six world championships.

The last shot he took gave the Bulls title No. 6 in 1998.

He should leave well enough alone.

If it's a matter of being superseded by Woods as the reigning "greatest athlete of all time," then so be it.

While he wouldn't necessarily tarnish his sterling image or undermine his earlier achievements, Jordan would have more to lose than to gain by coming back to a league where he no longer would be its finest player.

And from a purely monetary standpoint, he has almost nothing to gain at all. Not only would he have to divest himself of his partial ownership in the Wizards, he would likely be stuck -- due to salary cap reasons -- with a contract at or near the NBA minimum of $1 million for a player with at least 10 years' experience.

Contrast that with the $34 million Jordan made in his final season with the Bulls and it's clear he has no financial incentive to lose the extra 25 pounds he has been carrying and make the other sacrifices it would take to play another NBA season. His golf game would also suffer accordingly.

Yet Jordan could be tempted to come back for a second time -- remember, he "retired" for 18 months in 1995 to play minor-league baseball -- in order to be acclaimed as the savior of the NBA. The league's attendance numbers are slightly down, as are its TV ratings, and things are so discombobulated that zone defenses will be permitted next season in what is apt to be a misguided attempt to broaden the NBA's appeal.

Jordan might find the savior's role appealing.

Or he might also find the decision to return nothing but a huge mistake.

Better to play it safe and stay in the luxury suite.