SportsLine wire reports
Jan. 13, 1999

The text of Michael Jordan's statement announcing his retirement:

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 9 to 5. 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 announce 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.