Miami Retires 23

[Wolf Hopper]

http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0411/1537876.html

The Miami Heat retired Michael Jordan's No. 23 jersey before his final game at the team's arena on Friday night.

The jersey -- half red for the Chicago Bulls and half blue for the Washington Wizards -- was hung from the rafters, and Miami coach Pat Riley said no Heat player will wear the number again.

"In honor of your greatness and for all you've done for the game of basketball -- and not just the NBA, but for all the fans around the world -- we want to honor you tonight and hang your jersey, No. 23, from the rafters,'' Riley said at midcourt. "No one will ever wear No. 23 for the Miami Heat. You're the best.''

Jordan then hugged Riley and waved to the crowd.

It was the first jersey the Heat have retired in their 15-year history.

Is this insane, or what?

[Skip]

To use a word as strong as 'insane', I'd have to give a flying fig first. However, I will say that I just don't get it. Guess it looked good and was cheaper than a Hummer.

[LeGrandOrange]

If Cleveland was retiring 23, then there would be a point. :)

If the new Charlotte team retires Jordan's jersey in 2 years, I can understand...this is akin to Nawlins retiring Maravich's jersey even though he never played for the franchise because he's a legend there.

This is just a lame publicity stunt. Very lame. And pretty much puts the Miami Heat into "joke" territory as far as franchises go...amazing how far Pat Riley's fallen.

[gyb13]

if the rest of the league follows suit, will it be insane?

[Wolf Hopper]

Originally posted by gyb13
if the rest of the league follows suit, will it be insane?

That's the joke - Washington probably won't do it.

[Wolf Hopper]

Originally posted by LeGrandOrange
Very lame. And pretty much puts the Miami Heat into "joke" territory as far as franchises go...

Agree - 100%.

[Craig S.]

Isn't this also rather insulting to all the players who have played in the past for the Heat? It's like saying, "None of you were good enough to have your number retired, so we've decided to pick someone who's not associated with our team." Granted, they may not have anyone ready to have their number retired, but I think it's a huge mistake to make your first retired number that of someone who never played for your team. Personally, I would have saved the honor for the eventual retirement of Alonzo Mourning, a good player who has shown incredible determination in trying to serve his team, and who's also the guy I most associate with this franchise.

If the rest of the league retires his number, that would be ludicrous. It's not like he broke a color barrier, or even changed the game in the same manner as Chamberlain or the Bird/Magic rivalry.

The Heat have been a joke on the court for the past couple of years, and now they're following suit off the court.

[WiredTiger]

Seems like a cheap publicity stunt to me. I very much doubt they would do this in Detroit or Cleveland. What's next for the Heat retiring Magic Johnson's number because he played under Pat Riley?

[KCBOOMER]

Seems silly to me. Honoring another team's great player? You do that with a standing O on his last appearance on his farewell tour.

[LeGrandOrange]

Well, the NBA could retire the number like the NHL did with 99. Granted, no one wore 99 for more of the years Wayne Gretzky used it. 23 is far too popular a number to retire for everyone else.

It's not the kind of thing the NBA needs at the moment. After all, it didn't retire Chamberlain's number. Chamberlain was more influential than MJ. MJ was just the best player who was a bigger star with media.

It's impressive how far Miami has fallen...they used to be the next big thing...these days they're comic relief.

I can't even really think of anything else to say to criticize them.

[WiredTiger]

I would think there would be several people in line before Jordan for this kind of honor. Bill Russell, Wilt, Dr J., Magic, Bird, etc.


What number will Lebron wear if the Heat luck out?

[gyb13]

Originally posted by LeGrandOrange
Well, the NBA could retire the number like the NHL did with 99. Granted, no one wore 99 for more of the years Wayne Gretzky used it. 23 is far too popular a number to retire for everyone else. then again, a lot of people pick 23 to honor MJ

[JamesI]

I guess I don't find it insane. As possibly the best player ever, Jordan could have the league retire his number as Gretzky's was in NHL. Would anyone find it inappropriate if baseball decided to retire #3 for Ruth?

[LeGrandOrange]

I don't think Boston would want to go through with that. :)

[gyb13]

i guess the question is - how should a league honor its legends? is the HoF enough? number retirement? statues? etc etc

[LeGrandOrange]

Quite honestly, I feel like Jordan should be the guy in the logo. Jerry West is great and all that but MJ essentially carried the league on his back for many seasons...and that would be the ultimate repayment. He did as much for the game and as much off the floor representing it, as anyone in any sport did ever. That's of course debatable. I personally think this way.

But I still think he deserves on the logo.

[WiredTiger]

Originally posted by LeGrandOrange
Quite honestly, I feel like Jordan should be the guy in the logo. Jerry West is great and all that but MJ essentially carried the league on his back for many seasons...and that would be the ultimate repayment. He did as much for the game and as much off the floor representing it, as anyone in any sport did ever. That's of course debatable. I personally think this way.

But I still think he deserves on the logo. That's a pretty unique and interesting idea. I think Nike might have the patent on that though.

[gyb13]

Originally posted by LeGrandOrange
Quite honestly, I feel like Jordan should be the guy in the logo. Jerry West is great and all that but MJ essentially carried the league on his back for many seasons...and that would be the ultimate repayment. we're on the same wavelength - i was thinking about West and the logo while making my previous post... but I personally like the logo as is (as opposed to, say, the air jordan nike logo)... maybe nike would go for it though (cheap publicity)

[SmedIndy]

Respect the past and the history. Change the logo and you kowtow to this selfish, arrogant generation (not that Jordan is, but it's not all about the now).

As for Jordan's number, the Heat are of little consequence in my life, except for Alan Ogg, I haven't cared and won't care.

[gyb13]

Originally posted by SmedIndy
the Heat are of little consequence in my life, except for Alan Ogg, I haven't cared and won't care. heavens, why? why not Jon Sundvold or some other lovely benchwarmer?

[Ytown Tribe fan]

The Cavs SHOULD retire 23. They're damned happy they never have to be tortured by MJ again.

[SmedIndy]

Originally posted by gyb13
heavens, why? why not Jon Sundvold or some other lovely benchwarmer?

The NAME, Gustavo, the NAME. That and he looked like Boo Radley.

[gyb13]

Originally posted by Ytown Tribe fan
The Cavs SHOULD retire 23. They're damned happy they never have to be tortured by MJ again. they should retire a 23 jersey with 'visitor' on it.... and never let any opposing player wear that # :p

[pathogan]

Originally posted by KCBOOMER
Seems silly to me. Honoring another team's great player? You do that with a standing O on his last appearance on his farewell tour.

[rcartman28]

I think it was basically a publicity stunt, for the reasons mentioned above, too....and I certainly wouldn't go and change the logo from Jerry West to Jordan.......