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CNN Saturday Morning News

Jordan, Wizards Face Bulls in Chicago

Aired January 19, 2002 - 10:27   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Michael Jordan returns to Chicago today, but he will not be wearing his Bull's uniform. Jordan heads back to the United Center as a Washington Wizard of course. And CNN/SI's John Giannone is joining us now live from Chicago's United Center and he's kind of down playing this, isn't he?

JOHN GIANNONE, CNN/SI CORRESPONDENT: He sure is, Catherine. Yeah, in fact, the last time he was here was Game Five of the 1998 NBA finals, a game the Bulls lost but actually a game that was a precursor to another great Jordan moment when a few days later he hit a last second shot against the Utah Jazz to help the Bulls win their sixth NBA championship.

Now, since then, in the three-and-a-half years, the Bulls have lost an astounding 199 games. And that's nearly twice as many as Jordan lost during his six NBA championships combined. So can you understand why, even though he comes here in a very different uniform, playing for a different city and a different team, that he will receive a loud ruckus and long standing ovation from the United Center crowd today.

The United Center has not been the same since Jordan left. The electricity for the most part is gone, so are the fans. The attendance has fallen from first in the league to 11 overall, but it will be full today. And even though Doug Collins, the Wizards' coach, says that this will be a huge game for the Jordan, the center of attention, refuses to heap more attention on himself.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

MICHAEL JORDAN, WASHINGTON WIZARDS: Yeah, I'm pretty sure everybody is going to make a big thing about me going to Chicago. I'm not. I'm not going to make a big thing of it. I'm just going in and trying to get a win. I mean, sure, I've had some, you know, some memories there and still there, actually and you know, emotionally, I'm pretty sure, you know, the crowd -- once the crowd starts yelling, it's tough to swallow a little bit but once the ball goes up, it's all about basketball.

And if I advise anybody, go to the Bears game. I mean, you know, that's, you know, they've been fighting all year for where they are right now and what they have at stake. I'd rather see everybody go to the Bear's game. So you go see us later.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

GIANNONE: Now, the Bulls have said that they are not going to do anything special to honor Jordan. They say those six championship banners, his retired uniform number in the rafters and that statute outside the building should be enough.

CALLAWAY: So John, where is the real interest going on there in Chicago, is it in the Bears or in Jordan's return?

GIANNONE: I think a lot of people, Catherine, are following Jordan's lead and placing their interest in the Bulls and placing their money in the Bears as well. Monitoring the local radio shows this week, four out of every five phone calls were Bears related. The "Chicago Tribune" on Friday had a special pullout for the Bears and one page on the Bulls. And I called some of those independent ticket brokers, otherwise known as scalpers, $60 for a ticket to this game is the minimum price, 250 for a ticket to the Bears game.

CALLAWAY: Hey, it's a big town there! They can be interested in both, right?

GIANNONE: They sure can. And it's a great sport city.

CALLAWAY: Yes, it is. Thanks John.

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