Welcome Back, MJ

`Basketball Emperor` Michael Jordan (38) came back again to the fans.

Jordan announced his comeback to NBA through the report of the SFX, Jordan`s management agency, ``I am returning as a player to the game that I love.``

Jordan retired from the NBA in January, 1999, and this is his second return. Jordan had once came back to the NBA in March, 1995, in one and a half years since he had left the court in October, 1993, shocked by his father`s death. His father was found dead 10 days after he was reported missing.

Jordan signed a two-year contract of one million dollars yearly salary with the Washington Wizards, which is the lowest salary for over 10-year veteran NBA player. This amount is too small to compare to his highest salary of 36 million dollars he received before his retiring. However, Jordan signed on such a term in order not to bring too much burden with his team. And he decided to donate his first-year`s salary to the rescue organizations for the victims of the terrorist attacks.

Before announcing his comeback, Jordan sold his share (10 percent) of the team`s stock following the NBA regulation.

Jordan said, `` I`m convinced we have the foundation on which to build a playoff-contention team. And I will concentrate on the challenge and the future I will have to face.``

However, it is not that Jordan has only a rosy future. Jordan`s team, Washington Wizards was the weakest team in the NBA with just 20 winning percentage last year. Moreover, his weight reached 108 kg at the beginning of this year, and he suffered three physical setbacks including the cracked ribs, raising doubts about whether his body could endure the rigors of an 82-game schedule.

Meanwhile, the economic magazine, `Fortune` had estimated that Jordan would bring about the economic effects amounting 10 billion dollars a year including the NBA goods sales of 3.1 billion dollars, Nike`s sales increase of 2.6 billion dollars, and the TV broadcasting of 360 million dollars. Because of such a tremendous economic effects, Jordan`s sponsors such as Nike, McDonald, and Gatorade as well as the NBA welcomed enthusiastically his comeback.

Starting his comeback schedule with the team`s training camp on 2nd next month, Jordan will participate in the pre-season game with the Detroit Pistons on 12th, and will make an official debut facing the New York Knicks at the Madison Square Garden on 31st.

Kim Sang-Ho hyangsan@donga.com