It was like old times. Sort of.
Fans camped out near the players’ parking lot Saturday night, anxiously waiting for Michael Jordan to show up for the Bulls’ home opener against the Miami Heat. Meanwhile, a group of fans inside the Stadium crowded around the players’ entrance.
Michael Jordan may be retired, but he can still draw a crowd.
Instead of the usual seven or eight security guards, there were just three flanking Jordan as he, his wife Juanita and their children arrived at the Stadium.
He walked down the hallway unscathed, turned the corner and made his way to the Bulls locker room. No fanfare. No mayhem. No autographs. Just a few hellos, that’s all.
“It feels kind of funny,” joked one of the security guards.
Jordan just smiled. He then sneaked into the Bulls trainers’ room-which happens to be off limits to the media.
Once the word traveled that the trainers’ room was, indeed, where Jordan was hiding out, a few of his teammates went in to say hello. When it was safe to come out-when the media types were gone-Jordan came out and formally greeted his old teammates. Jordan also posed for pictures with members of the Bulls staff.
Jordan then waited in his old locker room with his former mates for the pregame ring and banner ceremony celebrating the Bulls’ third straight NBA title.
The rest of the 1992-93 team made the walk, down to last season’s starting five. Horace Grant. . . . Scottie Pippen. . . . Bill Cartwright. . . . B.J. Armstrong. The crowd started to go wild. The place was loud.
“Michael Jordan,” announced Johnny “Red” Kerr. And the place got even louder. Jordan received a thunderous ovation and when it appeared that it would die down, it got even louder. Jordan stood there smiling, soaking it in one last time.
Kerr then had Jordan come out and say a few words to the fans. He got another standing ovation.
“It brings me great pleasure to have represented this organization and the city of Chicago,” Jordan said. There was another ovation.
Jordan went on to talk about how much he loved playing for the Bulls the past nine years. He thanked the fans for all their support during a trying summer-up to and including his retirement.
“I will always be a Chicago Bulls fan,” Jordan said. “And I will support my teammates to the fullest.”
Then that third championship banner was hoisted.
And if there was any doubt the ride was over, when Jordan sat with his family a few feet from the Bulls’ bench it was evident.
The ride is officially over.
