The Cincinnati Enquirer from Cincinnati, Ohio • Page 42

TC D4SportS THE CINCINNATI ENQUIRER Thursday, October 7, 1993 Jordan retires: 'This is the perfect time to walk away. Future of the NBA Torch passes to Shaquille ment for him," Williams said, "but Qhsn is Shan and is doine his job No refunds for Bulls game If you have tickets to the Bulls' sold-out exhibition game Oct. 16 vs. Seattle at Riverfront Coliseum, you'd better plan to go because you won't get your money back. "No refunds.

It's not Michael Jordan coming to town, it's the Chicago Bulls," said Joe Napoli, the Bulls' promotions manager. Jordan wouldn't have played anyway because of scheduled toe surgery. Bill Barrett, the Coliseum's marketing director, said he was surprised by how few calls came in following Jordan's announcement. jf The Associated Press NEW YORK Michael Jordan's retirement, on the heels of the departures of Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, leaves a void in the NBA in talent, charisma, name recognition and marketability. Jordan's shocking decision also greases the way for a handful of teams whose hopes for an NBA title the last three years and in the immediate future were blocked by Jordan and the Chicago Bulls.

"Sad as this day is, there's a lot more hope in a lot of cities today," Orlando Magic General Manager Pat Williams said Wednesday. Michael Jordan leaps onto the 5, Si '-X 4 well. He'll have a significant role in the future of the NBA because he's comfortable in the limelight. He enjoys being Shaquille O'Neal." Jordan, who always rejected his role as "ambassador of basketball," said the NBA's future will be brighter if no single player is dominant on the court and off. "You've got a lot of superstars in this league, and with me stepping away, there's a lot of other people to carry it," Jordan said.

"You've always got a better man out there somewhere." Knight-RidderTribuneJim Prisching second NBA title in 1992. The Associated Press Jordan's retirement gives other teams a chance to win. Bulls' future Odds Of winning title drop Enquirer news services CHICAGO The impact of Michael Jordan's retirement on the Chicago Bulls was felt immediately. Bookies stopped taking future bets on the upcoming NBA season Tuesday night as word of Jordan's decision spread. When they reopened betting Wednesday morning, the Bulls, who had been 2-1 picks to win their fourth straight championship, dropped to as much as 25-1 underdogs.

"I don't think they have a chance to win it without him in the lineup," said Jimmy Vaccaro, sports book director at The Mirage hotel-casino. The Knicks had been 6-1 picks, but Jordan's retirement moved them to 3-1 at The Mirage, where they were co-favorites with the Phoenix Suns. With Jordan gone, Scottie Pip-pen's role will increase dramatically, and he will get the chance to find out if he can be a big-time scorer every game in the NBA. Also, the Bulls will have to rely immediately on rookie Toni Kukoc. Kukoc has said he considers shooting guard, where Jordan ruled, and small forward his best positions.

"I think I can pass the ball good," said the 6-9 Croatian. "I handle the ball good and I can score if I'm open." Jordan's teammates were stunned by the news. Pippen first got wind of it during Tuesday night's American League Championship Series opener at Chicago when a group of reporters asked him if he heard that Jordan was retiring. When Jordan told Pippen it was true, Pippen's jaw dropped. B.J.

Armstrong, Bill Cartwright and Scott Williams had tears in their eyes at Wednesday's press conference. Williams left the Berto Center weeping. General Manager Jerry Krause, too, had tears in his eyes as he talked with reporters. I' i i fl5 I .41. r-lt in fy i -4 Reaction fir "We may never see his like again in every small-town backyard and paved city lot where kids play one-on-one and dream of being like Mike.

I think we can all understand his wish to take his leave and devote himself to more private concerns." President Bill Clinton "Every basketball fan would agree that Michael Jordan has been one of the greatest players of all time, and the contributions that he has made to the NBA and our sport has been enormous We are certainly all going to miss the thrill of watching him perform." David Stern, NBA commissioner "A great period in basketball history has ended with Michael's retirement." Dean Smith, North Carolina coach "This is a bittersweet day. The greatest athlete to play a team game is leaving the sport." Jerry Reinsdorf Bulls owner "Michael Jordan is the only person in this entire world that I've ever met who is as competitive as I am. That's why I'll miss playing against him The thing that bugs me is we were going to retire in the same year. We came into the league together and we wanted to leave together. It disappoints me but I just want Michael to be happy." Charles Barkley, Phoenix Suns "Every time I went into the gym for a workout or to practice, he was the guy I went in to practice against.

The rivalry will suffer a bit. First Magic and Larry. Now Michael. I'm starting to feel alone." Isiah Thomas, Detroit Pistons "They said football would never be the same when Jim Brown retired in his prime. It goes on.

I mean, I can guarantee you people in five years people will be saying, 'Michael And that's the way it is in this league. The names on the backs of the jerseys change; the league just keeps rolling on." Kevin McHale, ex-Boston Celtic "When we played them, J'd go into the locker room and say hello. We'd just talk for a little bit. People were always trying to get him on 'something. Why couldn't i they let the guy be at ease? He's the kind of guy that just wants to be with the fellas." Tyrone Hill, Xavier graduate, Cleveland Cavaliers "It's even now.

It wasn't 'even when he was playing. This guy was really capable of embarrassing you." Nate McMillan, "Teams who thought they had to go through Michael Jordan don't have to anymore." Cleveland, tortured twice by Jordan's last-second baskets in the NBA playoffs, and the New York Knicks will be favored to replace the Bulls as Eastern Conference champions. Phoenix, Seattle. Portland and Houston believe their title chances are improved. As for the superstar void, Williams said Orlando's Shaquille O'Neal will do his part to carry the NBA with Jordan gone.

"Michael's place in history is unrivaled and there's no replace scorer's table to celebrate the Bulls' help fans ing and pleasure. Wester likened Jordan's announcement to the reminders and words of wisdom children sometimes receive from grandparents who have retired and reassessed their lives. Freed from their jobs, they begin enjoying their families more, getting involved in community affairs and volunteer activities, developing outside interests. "They've reordered their priorities, and I think that's an OK message that other things are equally important in life," Wester said. "But my hunch is that we haven't seen the last of Michael Jordan.

He's not going to just slip between the cracks. I think you'll see him taking up some causes or some kind of charitable work." we dunked would have steals there's a and Robertson and credited so he could Robertson that was "He'd money highlights. watching It's good Notebook Retirement big news world-wide Enquirer news services Romanian television put Michael Jordan's retirement in perspective for Europeans. At the end of its main news program, state TV aired a special presentation on Jordan, concluding, "Basketball without Jordan is like ballet without Maya Plisetskaya." From Bucharest to Bejing, from Sydney to Seville, news of Jordan's decision drew shocked reaction, confirming that Jordan is the best-known sports figure on the planet. Newspapers in Japan, the Philippines, Spain, France and Australia gave the story extensive and prominent display.

Jordan's news conference was broadcast live on Israeli radio with simultaneous translation. In Athens, the Antenna television network billed the news as a "sporting bomb" from the United States. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Jordan's retirement will not end an investigation into his alleged off-court activities, NBA commissioner David Stern said Wednesday. "I have stated previously that I planned to meet with Michael Jordan prior to the start of the season to discuss his offcourt activities," Stern said. "In light of Michael's announcement that he is retiring, the timetable for such a meeting has been relaxed, although Michael has indicated to me that it is important that we go forward with the meeting in order to complete the matter." STILL MR.

MARKETABLE: Jordan's retirement isn't expected to ground his lucrative sideline as a commercial spokesman for products ranging from sneakers to fast-food. Jordan's surprise announcement sent admakers scrambling for new ideas on how to depict him as a retired rather than active player. "For a very long time, there is not going to be any dent in this man's commercial and corporate appeal," said Marty Blackman, who heads a New York-based firm that matches advertisers and sports figures. David Burns of Burns Sports Celebrity Service in Chicago said a retired Jordan "will continue to be a strong name for years." "The critical thing is that Jordan didn't retire from Nike today," said Liz Dolan, Nike vice president for corporate communications. BAD Jordan said he no intention of shoving the Chicago White Sox in the midst of the American League Championship Series off center stage.

"Training camp starts Thursday," he said. "I wanted to get it over and done with before training camp starts. "It wasn't my intention to overshadow the White Sox. I went with my feelings, not with the circumstances surrounding it." Mike "The Bulls were the only team I watched on television, and I watched them to see Michael Jordan." Anthony Davis, 19, Mount Auburn From one great to another Big rates Jordan among game's best the ball, the other team probably broken your legs. They didn't keep (statistics).

With 27 teams out there, bigger gap now between the superstars the other players." said Jordan "elevated" the game, his success to joining a losing team immediately display his wares. noted he was 34 when he quit, but 20 years ago. probably have to keep playing for the then," Robertson said. "I don't watch I watch good teams. Yeah, I liked the Bulls.

They run plays. They press. basketball." know? It was different times. Michael Jordan had his times. We had ours.

What about Bill Russell and all those championships and defense? What about Wilt Chamberlain and the year he averaged 50 points and 25 rebounds?" And what of the Big 0, the Cincinnati businessman who observers say was Michael before Michael in the 1960s, a 6-foot-5 guard who rebounded like a forward and handled the ball like a point guard? Thirty years before Jordan averaged 32.6 points, 5.4 assists and 6.7 rebounds last season, Robertson averaged 28.3 points, 9.5 assists and 11.4 rebounds for the Cincinnati Royals. "It was just different," Robertson said. "If BY GEOFF HOBSON The Cincinnati Enquirer Before the Big 0, there was Bob Cousy. And after him there were Julius Erving, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Oscar Robertson doesn't pretend to know where Michael -Jordan's place is in the constellation, but he says the stars will come out again.

"The league will be looking to find another attractive figure for TV, but somebody else will come along. This is America," Robertson said Wednesday as one of the game's greats reflected on the retirement of the latest great. "I don't know if he's the greatest of all-time," Robertson said. "How does anybody Jordan's message can pi i 1 Young people like "Michael is a role model, and not just for athletics. He always stresses staying in school and making good grades." Lisa Argento, 15, Sayler Park i "I looked a lot.

He best ever the game." Marlon 18, Role model people is that he has rechecked, if you will, the priorities in his life, and he's saying, 'Other things are also important to me. I've had a good career, I've had a good life. But it's time to consider other Jordan's announcement also emphasizes the importance of human relationships, says Dr. Joan Reck-seit, psychologist with Princeton Adult Child Center. "Relationships are a basic issue, perhaps more important than some of the things that are felt to be valued, like wealth and being idolized." From Jordan, children can learn that the loss or death of a parent, friend or relative can affect someone's enthusiasm and enjoyment of things they are good at, forcing them to look elsewhere for mean Seattle SuperSonics "You know how sometimes people have a gift, and you don't get to say 'thank you'? We didn't get a chance to say 'thank Allen McCoy, Florence, S.C., fan "I'm just kind of scared now.

It will give him all that extra time to play golf. Oh man, it's scary. I don't know what I am going to do with him now." Lawrence Taylor, New York Giants BY SUE MacDONALD The Cincinnati Enquirer Since Michael Jordan is a role model to millions of youngsters, the unspoken message behind his retirement might be as powerful as the shock of his surprise announcement, says a Cincinnati psychologist. The man who seemingly has it all money, status, material goods, fame, has admitted that status and sports aren't everything, that material goods don't fill the vacuum left when bad things happen to people. "I think it is a good message for kids," says Dr.

William Wester, psychologist with Behavioral Sciences Center in Mount Auburn. "The message he's conveying to up to him was the to play Styles, Westwood.