Jordan's wizardry belongs in Chicago

As a child growing up in the Chicagoland, I was always obsessed with the Bulls; hardly a day went by when I wasn't reciting game statistics from the night before or clipping newspaper articles to hang up in my room.

During the course of their dynasty, the Bulls' fearless leader, Michael Jordan, dazzled Chicagoans with his mastery of the game, whether soaring through the air for a dunk, schooling his defender on the dribble, or spinning for a quick fade-away jump shot. Jordan brought us six NBA championships, five MVP titles, and 10 scoring championships; he amazed us with his gravity-defying dunks; and he reinvigorated a city that had not experienced a winning season of any kind in decades. We in Chicago cherish Michael Jordan as the greatest player ever to grace the hardwood. We know that No. 23 will live on as the city's most beloved hero. We love the Michael Jordan who left his opponents breathless and an entire city in awe.

COURTESY NEWSMAKERS Jordan's training camp troubles are a taste of the Comeback King letdown to come.

Within the next couple of weeks, the NBA legend will formally announce his decision regarding a potential comeback to a league that has not seen him in uniform since the end of the 1997-1998 season. While the possibility of MJ's Third Coming certainly evokes memories of his former dominance, the media and fans realize that at the age of 38, Mike may not have the stamina to endure another rigorous year in the NBA. From tendonitis in his knee to recurring back spasms and cracked ribs, "His Airness" has shown that he is in fact an aging human being with weaknesses, and not the unflappable basketball god that he once was. Now, rumors are leaking from Jordan's Chicago "Comeback Camp" that the one-time king of head-to-head basketball has lost games to fellow campers such as Penny Hardaway, Charles Oakley, and Michael Finley. Older and far more vulnerable, Jordan will not be able to return with the same amazing flare that highlighted his 1995 "I'm Back" campaign, when Jordan was only 32 years old and in prime physical shape.

But Jordan's competitive nature continues to motivate him to accomplish what most fans feel to be impossible. How can a man who has spent more time in an owner's office than on a basketball court over the past three years regain the legendary status he achieved in Chicago? We want to remember Jordan for his gutsy fourth-quarter performances, his game-winning shots at the buzzer, and his spectacular showmanship on the floor. These memories of MJ are embedded into our minds forever; they shouldn't be shared with images of an aging Wizard displaying his geriatric mediocrity.

But who am I to count out the greatest of all time? He could surprise all of us by returning in top form or even altering his game, resurrecting his career when most people thought it couldn't be done. Maybe my concerns about his return are rooted in selfishness rather than fear of his failure. Far more horrific than watching a physically diminished Jordan would be seeing him represent any city other than Chicago. During the '90s, he helped build one of the greatest sports dynasties in history; his legacy with the Bulls was, first and foremost, winning NBA championships. By returning to the league, only to play for the mediocre Washington Wizards, he will distance himself from what has always been his greatest achievement: winning.

If Michael returns this season, what would become of his curtain call in the 1998 NBA Finals against the Utah Jazz? Who can forget how the game-winning shot swooshed through the net as MJ confidently extended his right arm in the air? This is exactly how Jordan's legacy needs to be preserved; a comeback now would only cloud our image of his nearly flawless career.

Maybe Jordan will lead the Wizards in scoring; maybe he'll even lead one of the league's most consistent cellar dwellers to the playoffs. Even then, I'd still rather have my fairy-tale ending. Michael Jordan's legacy started and ended in Chicago, and that's where it should remain.

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