Well, we get to do this again for the second time. I told my
wife coming down I felt like I was getting married.
The first and foremost thing that I want to do, and I think for
everyone here, today is not just a day for Michael Jordan. There
are a lot of serious things happening in the world. I wanted to
take time out, from my family and hopefully from you guys, to
give condolences to the officer who was killed in action, who so
happened to have his funeral presentation scheduled for today at
the same time. It's unfortunate and I think that puts a lot of
things in perspective in terms of what life is really about.
My responsibility has been to play the game of basketball and
relieve some of the pressures of everyday life for people who
work from nine to five. I've tried to do that with the best of
my abilities. What's happening with his family and the
unfortunate circumstances that happened, I'd like to pass on my
condolences from my family to his and I'm pretty sure you guys
mean the same thing.
I am here to announcement my retirement from the game of
basketball. There won't be another announcement to baseball or
anything to that nature. Everyone has their own reasoning.
There has been a lot of speculation as to why and I'm pretty
sure I'll get to that point once you guys get the opportunity to
start asking questions.
I want to say thank you to the two gentlemen here, Mr. Stern and
Mr. Reinsdorf, for presenting me with the opportunity to play
the game of basketball and certainly giving me the opportunity
to come to Chicago, meet my beautiful wife and build a family
here. And my family in North Carolina and a lot my friends who
have come up to support this day, support me and who have always
supported me once I stepped foot on the basketball court and
even when I didn't play on the basketball court.
I want to say thanks to both of those gentlemen and all the fans
of Chicago for allowing me to come here and they have adopted me
as one of theirs. In response, I've tried to step on the
basketball court and get rid of the gangster mentality that
Chicago was known for for a long time. I think I successfully,
myself, my teammates and the whole organization made an effort
to change the perspective about Chicago. We are hopefully going
to be known as a championship city and I hope it continues on
even when Michael Jordan is not in uniform. I will support the
Chicago Bulls.
I think the game itself is a lot bigger than Michael Jordan.
I've been given an opportunity by people before me. To name a
few, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Dr. J, Elgin Baylor, Jerry West. These
guys played the game way before Michael Jordan was born.
Michael Jordan came on the heels of all that activity and with
Mr. Stern and what he has done for the league, gave me an
opportunity to play the game of basketball and I played it to
the best of my ability. I tried to enhance the game itself. I
tried to be the best basketball player I could be. Next thing
you know, here we are as a league.
I think the league is going to carry on although we've had our
troubles over the last six months. I think that is a reality
check for all of us. It is a business, yet it is still fun. It
is still a game. And the game will continue on.
Once again, I've had a great time. I can't say enough for the
people who have supported me. My life will take a change. A lot
of people say Michael Jordan doesn't have any challenges away
from the game of basketball. Well, I dispute that. Being a
parent is very challenging. If you have kids you know that. I
welcome that challenge and I look forward to it. I will live
vicariously through my kids if they play the game of basketball.
If they don't, I will support that. My wife and I will do what
we can as parents and that's the challenge that I have in front
of me and I look forward to that.
Unfortunately, my mother, my family, brothers and sisters, could
not be here. But as you see me, you see them. My father, my
mother and certainly my brothers and sisters. They are here,
through me, and they, along with myself, say thank you for
taking me in and showing me the respect and gratitude you have
shown me over the years I have been here. I will be in Chicago
for the rest of my life. My wife won't allow me to move nowhere
else. I will be in Chicago and I will support Chicago teams.
That is really all I truly had to say. I thought about saying
just two words -- I'm gone -- but I kind of figured I owed the
fans and certainly the media a little bit more than that. That's
one of my reasons for being here. I guess Jerry (Reinsdorf)
wants to speak first before David (Stern). I pass it over to
Jerry.