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Jordan prepares to bow out in a blaze of glory
Washington, Apr 14: Although he couldn`t take the Washington Wizards to the playoffs in two years as a player, Michael Jordan brought sellouts and big profits to a listless franchise.
Washington, Apr 14: Although he couldn't take the Washington Wizards to the playoffs in two years as a player, Michael Jordan brought sellouts and big profits to a listless franchise.
Jordan plays his last home game today when the Wizards host the New York Knicks, and owner Abe Pollin could be forgiven for taking a long gaze during the game at a sight unimaginable pre-MJ: an 84th consecutive sellout.
"Nobody talked about the Washington Wizards," coach Doug Collins said. "They were a 19-win organisation. And all of a sudden, everybody's watching the Wizards on TV. We're the no. 1 road team in the NBA. (Friday night in Miami) was the biggest crowd in the history of the American Airlines arena. Cleveland had two sellouts - they were us. That's the way it's been. That's what Michael brings." The Wizards were barely on anyone's radar before Jordan came to town. They haven't won a playoff game since 1988 and haven't won a playoff series since 1982. They were known more for shoestring budgets and bad trades - Chris Webber for Mitch Richmond? Ben Wallace for Ike Austin? They hadn't been on network TV for years, and their average announced attendance of about 15,000 seemed like fuzzy math given all the empty seats.
With Jordan in uniform, every game has sold out, and nearly all 20,000 seats have been filled. Wizards merchandise is a hot commodity, as long as there's a no. 23 on it. The games have been compelling largely because Jordan is such a fierce competitor.
"Every game, there's electricity," Collins said. "Every team is wanting to beat Michael. There was no night where teams didn't play hard against us."
Bureau Report
Jordan plays his last home game today when the Wizards host the New York Knicks, and owner Abe Pollin could be forgiven for taking a long gaze during the game at a sight unimaginable pre-MJ: an 84th consecutive sellout.
"Nobody talked about the Washington Wizards," coach Doug Collins said. "They were a 19-win organisation. And all of a sudden, everybody's watching the Wizards on TV. We're the no. 1 road team in the NBA. (Friday night in Miami) was the biggest crowd in the history of the American Airlines arena. Cleveland had two sellouts - they were us. That's the way it's been. That's what Michael brings." The Wizards were barely on anyone's radar before Jordan came to town. They haven't won a playoff game since 1988 and haven't won a playoff series since 1982. They were known more for shoestring budgets and bad trades - Chris Webber for Mitch Richmond? Ben Wallace for Ike Austin? They hadn't been on network TV for years, and their average announced attendance of about 15,000 seemed like fuzzy math given all the empty seats.
With Jordan in uniform, every game has sold out, and nearly all 20,000 seats have been filled. Wizards merchandise is a hot commodity, as long as there's a no. 23 on it. The games have been compelling largely because Jordan is such a fierce competitor.
"Every game, there's electricity," Collins said. "Every team is wanting to beat Michael. There was no night where teams didn't play hard against us."
Bureau Report