What to watch in MJ comeback
What to watch in MJ comeback
October 1st, 2001 | by cbssports.com
Beginning with Day One of the NBA season, the spotlight will be on the Wizards -- um, on Michael Jordan -- pretty much every night. Of course, that should surprise nobody since MJ has been in the news the last few months as a retired athlete anyway.
A Wizards team that won 19 games a year ago, with precious few of them noteworthy for any reason, will have plenty of games to watch this season. However, as of now, most people won't get to see that many of them. So far NBC, TBS and TNT have scheduled a grand total of one Wiz game for national TV (Nov. 28), though we suspect the total will change.
But of the 82 games the Wiz are scheduled to play, here are some to watch specifically.
Oct 18, vs. Philadelphia: Well you can be certain there won't be any available tickets for this one, MJ's first game back from retirement and officially his first home game ever outside Chicago. Not only is this the most interesting home game in Wiz history, we'll get to see how much Michael wants to chase after the quickest guy around, Allen Iverson.
Oct. 25, at L.A. Lakers: Kobe Bryant and the two-time defending Lakers may not expect a tough game, but they'll be circling it on the calendar regardless. Bryant has made comments in the past that he's the next MJ in terms of his ability and marketability. Now we'll see them play each other.
Nov. 5, at Toronto: Oh, Canada, think the NBA world begins and ends with Vince Carter? Get a load of another North Carolina product, one who has won something. And unlike the big matchups with Philly, the Raptors' star will likely match up with MJ.
Nov. 25, vs. Portland: We didn't pick this one for the big Jahidi White-Dale Davis matchup. It's time for Michael and his ol' pal Scottie Pippen to join hands and sign a song. Don't look for an Isiah-Magic kiss.
Nov. 29, at Philadelphia: Michael brings his talent to Philly this time, and another match-up with the 76ers and Iverson. Things will be starting to shape up in the Eastern Conference at this stage, so expect a tough match-up once again.
Dec. 4, at Utah: Well, Bryon Russell is still around, so maybe he and MJ can re-enact what we all thought was the final shot of a great career. Jazz fans are classy, but even they probably have some anger at the guy who made sure Karl Malone and John Stockton never won a championship.
Dec 25, vs. Celtics: Well we may have to wait until the following week for Jordan to face the Bulls for the first time again, but this fixture was a late change this week. The Wizards will feature on Christmas day for the first time since... ever? Jordan vs Pierce should provide us with some ferocious moments, and both teams hope to be in the thick of the playoff race at this stage.
Dec. 31, vs. Chicago: When they made the schedule, a match-up of the East's two worst teams seemed like a dud for New Years Eve. And while it still might be, Michael would surely like to embarrass the Bulls, even though there's nobody from his day on the team. Plus, rumors are that Ron Artest, a top defender, was constantly matched up on MJ this summer.
Feb. 10, at Chicago: Just an ordinary Saturday night? When MJ enters this building, he'll see his jersey hanging from the rafters. What kind of reception will he get from a town that must be crushed to see him in another uniform? Probably a nicer one than Jerry Krause will get on this night.
Feb. 14, at New York: Well the schedule maker clearly had no idea Jordan would come back. It's a long time to wait for MJ to grace the Garden again, where MJ has had some of his most memorable games. There's a TBS doubleheader that night featuring Iverson-Garnett and Rasheed-Shaq, but look for many sneak peaks on this one.
Apr. 1, at Chicago: So what if we've been through this once already. Every time Michael comes home it will be a big event.
October 1st, 2001 | by cbssports.com
Beginning with Day One of the NBA season, the spotlight will be on the Wizards -- um, on Michael Jordan -- pretty much every night. Of course, that should surprise nobody since MJ has been in the news the last few months as a retired athlete anyway.
A Wizards team that won 19 games a year ago, with precious few of them noteworthy for any reason, will have plenty of games to watch this season. However, as of now, most people won't get to see that many of them. So far NBC, TBS and TNT have scheduled a grand total of one Wiz game for national TV (Nov. 28), though we suspect the total will change.
But of the 82 games the Wiz are scheduled to play, here are some to watch specifically.
Oct 18, vs. Philadelphia: Well you can be certain there won't be any available tickets for this one, MJ's first game back from retirement and officially his first home game ever outside Chicago. Not only is this the most interesting home game in Wiz history, we'll get to see how much Michael wants to chase after the quickest guy around, Allen Iverson.
Oct. 25, at L.A. Lakers: Kobe Bryant and the two-time defending Lakers may not expect a tough game, but they'll be circling it on the calendar regardless. Bryant has made comments in the past that he's the next MJ in terms of his ability and marketability. Now we'll see them play each other.
Nov. 5, at Toronto: Oh, Canada, think the NBA world begins and ends with Vince Carter? Get a load of another North Carolina product, one who has won something. And unlike the big matchups with Philly, the Raptors' star will likely match up with MJ.
Nov. 25, vs. Portland: We didn't pick this one for the big Jahidi White-Dale Davis matchup. It's time for Michael and his ol' pal Scottie Pippen to join hands and sign a song. Don't look for an Isiah-Magic kiss.
Nov. 29, at Philadelphia: Michael brings his talent to Philly this time, and another match-up with the 76ers and Iverson. Things will be starting to shape up in the Eastern Conference at this stage, so expect a tough match-up once again.
Dec. 4, at Utah: Well, Bryon Russell is still around, so maybe he and MJ can re-enact what we all thought was the final shot of a great career. Jazz fans are classy, but even they probably have some anger at the guy who made sure Karl Malone and John Stockton never won a championship.
Dec 25, vs. Celtics: Well we may have to wait until the following week for Jordan to face the Bulls for the first time again, but this fixture was a late change this week. The Wizards will feature on Christmas day for the first time since... ever? Jordan vs Pierce should provide us with some ferocious moments, and both teams hope to be in the thick of the playoff race at this stage.
Dec. 31, vs. Chicago: When they made the schedule, a match-up of the East's two worst teams seemed like a dud for New Years Eve. And while it still might be, Michael would surely like to embarrass the Bulls, even though there's nobody from his day on the team. Plus, rumors are that Ron Artest, a top defender, was constantly matched up on MJ this summer.
Feb. 10, at Chicago: Just an ordinary Saturday night? When MJ enters this building, he'll see his jersey hanging from the rafters. What kind of reception will he get from a town that must be crushed to see him in another uniform? Probably a nicer one than Jerry Krause will get on this night.
Feb. 14, at New York: Well the schedule maker clearly had no idea Jordan would come back. It's a long time to wait for MJ to grace the Garden again, where MJ has had some of his most memorable games. There's a TBS doubleheader that night featuring Iverson-Garnett and Rasheed-Shaq, but look for many sneak peaks on this one.
Apr. 1, at Chicago: So what if we've been through this once already. Every time Michael comes home it will be a big event.
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