Comments on: If the Blazers EVER retire Michael Jordan’s No. 23 . . .

By: Paul McClotney

Paul McClotney — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:25:21 +0000

The NBA under David Stern has attained all the credibility of the WWE and its marketing geniuses. Why stop with retiring an opponent’s jersey in the rafters of the Rose Garden? Let’s do it right and bring MJ back to center court and have a folding chair smash-off between him and Sam Bowie. Sir Charles could referee and Brent Mussburger could do the play-by-play. Between rounds, Pamela Anderson could sell hot dogs on sticks to the rubes at courtside while the soundtrack from “Transformers 2″ played over the P.A. system. Now that’s hoops!

By: Toshi

Toshi — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:14:37 +0000

Honestly, if you ask me, just use the Jordan logo as the new logo for the NBA. It’s all commercial now, it fits. I mean, Adidas might be upset, but it’s not like they sponsor anyone important.

By: don't feed the trolls

don't feed the trolls — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:58:56 +0000

My life is an open book sir. I’ve never done anything to harm anyone, I certainly never made a profit off of gambling on my fellow employees or the people writing my check. Pete Rose did the same thing and isn’t being let into the baseball hall of fame, yet when Jordan does it, everyone looks the other way. It’s rather pathetic. Are there some sour grapes here? Most definitely. Does that make anything I said less true? Not necessarily.

By: Destonio

Destonio — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:49:44 +0000

Please keep in mind that this idiotic suggestion came from someone who hasn’t won a thing. I don’t think we need any additional suggestions on how the NBA can further sniff Jordan’s bum.

By: Nick

Nick — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:03:22 +0000

Didn’t read any of the other comments, so don’t know if someone already said this, but it doesn’t make sense to include Wayne Gretzky in your list of people who’s numbers were iconic for just a generation and then all but forgotten since the NHL retired 99 in the year 2000. 23 is Jordan and will forever be that. LeBron wants the number change because he realizes more than anything he won’t have an iconic number if he stays at 23.

By: lyleleander

lyleleander — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:29:42 +0000

I’d agree with you if he qualified his ‘Thank god statement’ with something like, ‘I’d be drinking tree sap, shooting heroin and wearing all flannel right now…’ or some other equally stereotypical dig at us.

But I just can’t see how anything he’s said about Portland can be taken as anything other than an ultra-competetive person puffing up his chest a little bit.

In fact, I’d bet you when he thinks about Portland, he probably actually gets a pretty good feeling deep-down, considering the hundreds of millions Nike has put in his pocket.

That said, I’m with the general sentiment that he doesn’t deserve a league-wide retirement.

By: don't feed the trolls

don't feed the trolls — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:24:06 +0000

I understand that, but why was Pat Riley sucking up to Jordan last night? Why did the HEAT retire Jordan’s number in the first place? It’s ridiculous.

By: Tim

Tim — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:19:55 +0000

Iyleleander, I agree he is probably the most competitive person ever to breathe, and no I don’t think he should like us. However, you can be ultra competitive without saying things like, “Thank God I wasn’t drafted by that team.” I respect a confident, ultra-competitive person. I don’t respect someone with a smug attitude who looks down on others. The fact that he is the best player to ever play does not impress me in the least. What impresses me is how someone comports themselves off the court, as a person. We may just see things differently, which is fine.

I also think that individual teams should decide which numbers get retired. Not the league. That also is a matter of opinion. It is true that Jordan did a lot for the league. However, Bird and Magic did even more for the league than he did. If you are going to retire Jordan’s number but not Magic’s and Bird’s, then that seems a bit hypocritical.

By: Lance

Lance — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:47:35 +0000

Then I guess the 12 teams that passed on Kobe will have to hang his jersey from their rafters when he retires? That’s a pretty foolish argument too.

By: Lance

Lance — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:46:29 +0000

Nobody has made a compelling argument as to why we should be hanging Jordan’s number up in the rafters of the Rose Garden. That’s bush league.

If players want to make a gentleman’s agreement that they won’t wear #23, let them have it. Don’t make teams retire a competitor’s jersey number. It is ridiculous.