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Show Sunday, April By MIKE NADEL AP Sports Writer at old Chicago Stadium, where the In Chicago, he was worshiped. In Atlanta, he was treated better than one of their own. In New York, he lit up Broadway. It was quite a week for Michael 'Ufa USs Jordan's "I'm Back" Tour. - Despite the distractions, even though it seemed everyone in the free world was elbowing for position to get close to him, Jordan reclaimed his throne as king of the dourt. ' It's inconceivable that just a month ago he was in spring training with the Chicago White Sox, another minor leaguer caught in the middle of the baseball strike. He hadn't played pro basketball since June 1993. Nevertheless, after 21 months away, after only a few practices dnd games, he again was the best player in the NBA. He was the show; everyone else was a bit player. " Jordan followed a disappointing performance in his March 24 home return with last Saturday's scintil- 9MF overhanging balcony and tight g quarters made for noise. It certainly didn't seem like the antiseptic United Center, where the clamor usually is lost in eardrum-splittin- JTrjth. i the vast expanses. At 7:40 p.m., the lights were dimmed for public address announcer Ray Clay's introduction of the Bulls' lineup. Flash bulbs popped mi fimA from courtside seats, which fetched $3,000 on the scalper's market, to the most distant Clay introduced Scottie Pippen, Toni Kukoc, Will Perdue, B.J. Armstrong. And then ... No one ever heard Jordan's name over the screaming of a franchise-record 24,247 fans. The emotion left over from three NBA titles, pent up from Jordan's hiatus, stoked by the anticipation of f I Q his return, whipped into a frenzy by his simple "I'm back" announcement engulfed the United Center. Earlier, players from both teams talked about the historic significance of the event. Orlando's Anfernee Hardaway, who entered the league in 1993 just after Jordan left, said: "When he retired, it was like basketball re- lating showing and buzzer-beatat Atlanta. He followed that with the impossible 55 points at Mad-fso- n Garden on Tuesday in Square only his fifth game since er ; It's the stuff of which legends are made, and Jordan's legend alcontinues to ready mountainous swell. His legion of followers is grow as well. ing ' ; "It's an amazing hysteria," "Bulls coach Phil Jackson said. "It says something about our society. I'm not concerned about it. It's just kind of a wonderment in a rather society that a sports stobecomes the top story. We're ry " real happy to have him back, no doubt about it, but there's a certain ' tanity that we hope returns. ' 9i Said Jordan: "To a certain degree, I've enjoyed this glory. But it's become absurd, embarrassing " o a certain extent. It's time to get J back to the basics of basketball and t .let things die out a little bit." Fat chance, Chicago will keep on embracing t iits hero. And the NBA, so desper-at- e to focus on a positive role mod-e- l, will continue to cash in on Jor-- , dan's return. e9"' Until the playoffs, however, probably nothing will top the 'mazing hysteria surrounding the recent events. ! ' Here's a summary of some of his recent games. 1 fast-pac- ed -- v ', tired." iimn in imiiiiiiiih in gi,w)t;jM.' ijiw AP Photo Michael Jordan, here dunking the ball against Boston Thursday night, has returned in better fashion than even his most ardent supporters could have imagined. Chicago, Friday, Aesthetically, Jordan's return home was a dud. He looked tired !! he often wasn't going close. He offered no excuses: "I stunk it up. As much as I want to blame someone else, I've got to blame club of Jordan victims. Smith's teammate, Craig Ehlo, is the club president. When he was with Cleveland, Ehlo was lit up by Jordan for 50, 50 k and 55 points in a span of 1988. In 1989, there was "The Shot," Jordan's jumper over Ehlo that gave the Bulls a playoff series victory. In 1990, Jordan burned Ehlo for a two-wee- 16-fo- ot Bulls-recor- d 69 points. "Believe it or not, it's a great association," Ehlo said. "It was the ultimate challenge, great memories, something I can pass on to my kids." Ehlo, who just came off the injured list and wasn't quite ready to be victimized again, sought out Jordan before the game. "I told him that he makes me a immediately." , N.Y., Tuesday, March 28 If the Knicks weren't at full alert, the New York newspapers were. "HE'S HERE," screamed the Dailv New Most times, athletic events don't live up to the hype surrounding them. Most times, athletic events don't include Michael Jordan. So was anyone really surprised that Jordan scored 55 points? very popular guy," Ehlo said, "because I'm in a lot of his highlight films." Chicago, Monday, March 27 In the first three games, Jordan seemed otherworldly. He was public property, not a Chicago Bull. Will trotters. And for the first time in the Fs'W "I'm Back" Tour, he proved worthy of all the hype. from the Jordan was floor and scored 32 points. He had 18 points in the third quarter as the defiBulls rallied from a Air cit. He had two flying jams Jordan, circa early-1990- s. d rush He began an myself." Mstsreb 14-of-- After three games, Jordan was shooting 33.8 percent. The Bulls were Despite Jordan's performance, the evening was electric. It felt like an NBA Finals game sportswriters followed him down the hall. Just before ducking into a doorway, Jordan said: "I'm going to the bathroom. You coming with me.' I er 17-fo- ot well have been the road team. Every time Jordan's name was announced, every time he touched the basketball, he was cheered. Fans inscribed wearing No. 45 with the words "Just When You Thought It Was Safe" stood and applauded. The Hawks, in their own arena, were the Washington Generals to Michael Jordan's Harlem Globe- 9, tographers, broadcasters and IMIIIIW at Finally, after his buzzer-beatAtlanta, Jordan belonged. "We're taking a totally different approach down the stretch than if we were going into the playoffs without Michael," Perdue said. "He's a great teammate," backup guard Steve Kerr said. Said Jackson: "It's a tremendous relief for the club that we have this kind of weapon. The fact that he can make those shots in the waning moments adds confidence. " Jackson could tell Jordan was ready to take New York by storm. And he felt the Knicks would be prepared for Jordan, who wasn't there last time when New York fell behind by 22 points before rallying to win. "I think they were rather bored with us; that's one of the reasons we got a lead," the coach said. "This will bring them to a full alert with 5.9 seconds left, capping it with a jumper over defender Steve Smith just before the buzzer sounded. "That's the first time we've seen that apparent ease in which he takes over a game," Jackson said. Smith joined a surreal. The home team, in its first true sellout of the season, might as and tentative. In the end, he was to beaten, as the Bulls lost, 106-9the Orlando Magic. Of his three games to date, this was Jordan's worst. Even at Indiana, where in his first game back he shot from the floor, it seemed he was just a few inches from magnificence. This night, in Jordan worked out for the first the time at the United Center $175 million edifice he made possible. His retired No. 23 hangs in the rafters and a statue in his honor sits outside the entrance. After practice, he emerged from the locker room. TV cameras, pho- ,iiy.wi C7 The atmosphere in the Omni was March 24 minds. Jl' Page Atlanta, Saturday, March 25 Anticipation of Jordan's first game at the new United Center was building. Media from foreign countries descended upon Chicago. imprinted with Jordan's new No. 45 disappeared off store shelves as quickly as they appeared. Michael was on everybody's JlhMiiJW- - - THE DAILY HERALD, Provo, Utah, Larry Krystkowiak, who signed with the Bulls as a free agent before this season, said: "Looking back on it when I'm 80 years old, I'll be able to say I was part of this. If I were a musician, it'd be like saying I was part of Elvis' band . ' ' Minirtift Chicago, Thursday, March 23 . s, nose-bleeder- which could be had for a mere $300. 2, 1995 Ctessic II Ce&siar Phone nt 2. end-to-en- Kit Bsttsry, Car J IIPPffRiiMIT frYr-TrX-iJ- 7 I 2ND ANNUAL Adta Lestbep Cast i t. 3 - fl I'll r.l V M : Prsgrsnalri Fa C0-.'-- l Sv5"!I I r 4 , & ) I ri-Hj lAf 4'$ ijky i ill I f. V " I 1 if"' l W f ! t Ww TsLr ' ; a J -- ' ; s" . "siy FREE J t F v? L, HEART MONITOR I f Complete as shown. dumbbells that increase weight in increments of 2a lbs from 5 lbs up to 95 lbs. 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