His Airness or his Err-ness?

It's finally official -- Michael Jordan is coming back again. I'll try to contain my excitement.

If I sound sarcastic, it's intentional. I am one of the growing voices that wishes his "Airness" would have left well enough alone and remained in the front office of the Washington Wizards.

Instead he joins a poorly undermanned Wizards team that will hardly feel his presence because they have no other weapons. As of right now, their average age is just over 25. I hope Jordan really understands what he's getting himself into.

Michael Jordan is the best player to ever play the game. There can be no debate about that. The numbers have all been hashed out before, and I dare say no one needs to be reminded about his ability to score.

Another thing that needs not be mentioned is the magic he brought to the game. The belief that he could not be stopped -- not even contained. The acrobatic dunks and lay-ups, the stellar defense, and the overall persona he displayed day-in and day-out created an image of invincibility that was never penetrated.

He wowed the league from the beginning, scoring 28.2 points per game his rookie year. He never slowed down, averaging 31.5 for his career. He was known for his leaping and scoring, but not necessarily winning.

That changed after the 1990-91 season when the Bulls won the first of their six NBA Championships in eight years. The gleam from the trophy only added to the "Jordan Mystique."

Then there was the almost two year break where he attempted a professional baseball career. When he came back then, it seemed like a sense of normalcy had returned to the NBA, even if he wasn't the same Jordan initially. He would go on to guide the Bulls to three more consecutive NBA Titles. The fact that he came back stronger than ever, furthered the idea that he was god-like.

The only way a player like Jordan could properly end a career like his would be to go out a winner. And he did that against the Utah Jazz in 1998. What's more, he did it in the most picture-perfect way possible. By hitting not only the game winning shot, but also the SERIES winning shot. He had successfully did the only impossible thing left to do in his amazing career at the time.

Now he comes back to a team that won only 19 games last season. With the amount of youth on the roster, including high schooler Kwame Brown, that number doesn't figure to increase much. The only players remotely resembling a threat are the unproven Richard Hamilton and the much traveled Christian Laettner. Enough said.

Three years off only gave Jordan time to think up another impossible challenge -- making the Wizards a contender. This task will be the most difficult of his career. Yes, it will be harder than winning his first title, and at age 38, time is not on his side.

Is this how we want to remember Jordan? In a Wizards' uniform, ending his seasons in April instead of June?

Jordan has become this generation's Johnny Unitas in a Rams' uniform. Or O.J. Simpson clad in the 49ers' gold and red. Players that were the best at what they did at the time -- that didn't have the opportunity to go out on top -- playing out their last years on teams other than the ones that allowed them to display all their greatness.

Jordan had a chance to be remembered like all athletes dream -- as a champion. Hopefully someday, perhaps few will remember the Wizards' years.

However, the magic is gone for this observer. When I think of Jordan, my memory will glance at the titles and awards and only remember Jordan for his inability to appreciate his place in history. And that is most unfortunate.