‘Respect’ for Michael Jordan?

[MU Avenue]

I have just read that Marquette alumnus Wesley Matthews, who is having a terrific rookie season with the Utah Jazz, is giving up No. 23 next season and will wear No. 11.

The change is in response to LeBron James' having asked last November that NBA players wearing No. 23 give up the number out of respect for Michael Jordan.

James, who wears No. 23 for the Cleveland Cavaliers, has requested to wear No. 6 next season.

James is essentially asking that Jordan's number be "retired" by every NBA team? And some players are actually agreeing to this?

I wonder if James is also asking that every NBA player who wears No. 9, No. 12 or No. 45 also change his jersey number?

After all, Jordan wore No. 9 in the 1984 and 1992 Olympics, No. 12 as an "emergency uniform" during a game against the Orlando Magic in the 1990-91 season after his uniforms were stolen from the visitors' locker room and No. 45 for a short time after his return from his first retirement.

Bizarrely, the Chicago Bulls are not the only NBA team to have retired No. 23 in tribute to Jordan. The Miami Heat has done it, too.

In doing a little reading, I found this silly anecdote about Jordan and his uniform number: Jordan wore No. 23 because he admired his bigger brother, Larry, who wore No. 45 at Laney High School. Jordan reportedly chose 23 because it is one-half of 45, rounded up, because he wanted to be at least half the player his brother was.

I know Matthews holds Jordan in high regard. But Matthews should also know that he, and not Michael Jordan, will always be No. 23 to some of us.

[BuzzSucksSucks]

A sign of the times, a subtle harbinger of things to come. 

[reinko]

Funny Bron changing to #6, because if any # in NBA should be retired, it should #6 for Bill Russell. 

Bron is doing this to overtake Kobe for global jersey sales.

Bron = douchechill

[cheebs09]

Well my number 23 Matthews Jazz jersey will be a throwback much sooner than I thought it would be.

As for outselling Kobe's jersey Lebron could just go to another team and accomplish the same thing. I think Jordan had a huge influence on these players and he was the man while these guys were all growing up. I think it might be a bit much to have a league retired jersey for him, but I'm sure these guys feel strongly about it since they looked up to him and worked hard to be like him and are now in a position to honor him. However, there are so many great players that made the league what it is that I think it is a little foolish to do this. It's not like you have to go very far down the list to find a great player who wore number 6 that could be worthy of a league wide retirement.

[Niv Berkowitz]

Will those that change their number as a sign of respect for Jordan also develop bad gambling habits and start tossin' down money on NBA games? Also, will they have to "retire" at some point for a year or two and then make a comeback?

[MU Avenue]

Will those that change their number as a sign of respect for Jordan also develop bad gambling habits and start tossin' down money on NBA games? Also, will they have to "retire" at some point for a year or two and then make a comeback?

Does anyone, including almighty LeBron James, look at history when making embarrassing requests that seek to deify athletes?

Good ol' Michael Jordan has hardly led an exemplary, honorable life. If one-tenth of what is written or said about Jordan is true, it would be great to see a seemingly standup guy like Wesley Matthews not buy into this self-serving hype.

The speculation that this is James' effort to boost jersey sales seems too sleazy to accept. But we are left with no choice but to believe it.

I would rather see Matthews and all others who wear No. 23 be their own men, stand their ground and remain "23."

[Avenue Commons]

It's their number; they can do whatever they want with their uniform. It's not like some mandate was issued. You guys need to lighten up.

[avid1010]

Bron = douchechill

Agreed.  Although I got a kick out of Labron first bringing this up when MJ was on hand to watch he and Wade play after allowing Wade to wear his shoes.  To me it was almost childish on Labron's part as MJ was paying attention to Wade and not him.  Jordan himself said it was silly.

[ecompt]

Can the guy win a game in the Finals before we hang on every word he says?