NBA: Michael Jordan isn't coming back

Today's headline in the local newspaper in glaringly obvious: "Jordan: Air of uncertainty."

This uncertainty hasn't changed since Rick Reilley said in his Sports Illustrated column a few weeks back that Michael Jordan would be coming back to play in the NBA next season as a member of the Washington Wizards. Speculation after speculation by every sports poobah from his co-owners to former coaches to basketball experts to his golf buddies say either he'll stay where he is or he'll come back and play. But the only person who can make up Michael Jordan's mind is Michael Jordan.

And why would he want to come back, if only for a short period of time? He did it once before, but back in March of 1995, he was in his prime. Heck, in the second game of first comeback, he lit up the New York Knicks for 55 points. That was then: the 32-year old that had the juice and led the awesome Chicago Bulls to three straight championships after his comeback. This was already on top of the three he had won before his sixteen-month hiatus.

This is now: a 39-year old who is part owner and president of basketball operations of the Washington Wizards, the worst team in the National Basketball Association. And these aren't the Chicago Bulls of the nineties that ran all over the league. These are the Wizards of Mitch Richmond, Richard Hamilton, and Christian Laettner. These aren't your daddy's Bullets. True, the Wizards would be a much better team if Jordan were to play, but again these aren't the Bulls. There will be no Scottie Pippen up front as his complement, no Dennis Rodman grabbing rebounds, no John Paxson or Steve Kerr with clutch shots.

One reason for his possible return is that his name will attract some key free agents (read: Chris Webber) to play in the nation's capital. If there's one thing Jordan does know, it's how to sell his name. This time, he'll have to sell his name not as a player, but as an owner.

Why come back? Why not leave the game with the everlasting impression of his final crowning moment on June 14, 1998? Why not leave as a champion? He isn't coming back, he's happy with the dramatic exit, and he's satisfied by leaving a champion. Furthermore, he's likely happy to be right where he is, which is not playing or having touched a basketball on a professional level in over three years.

Michael Jordan has done it all. He's won a national championship, established (and became) a franchise in Chicago, won six NBA titles, has millions in commercial endorsements, owns part of a shoe company, and became part owner of the worst team in the NBA.

So leave the speculations at the door. He's got enough on his plate already that he doesn't need the added pressure of being asked play again.