How will the tragedy motivate Jordan himself? The violence of his father’s death, coupled with speculation that Michael’s gambling provoked it, have so far made him more bitter than anything else. In a statement last week, he slammed the media for “pour[ing] salt in my open wound” by repeating the innuendoes, even after North Carolina police said the two 18-year-olds charged with the murder had no idea who James Jordan was when they allegedly shot him for his wallet and flame-red Lexus. That anger, his friends worry, may impede the normal six- to 12-month grieving process.
Even before the killing, Jordan had hinted he might retire before his contract expires in 1996, but few friends think he will quit basketball now. The game is what made him, and what he lives for. “Basketball is my refuge,” Jordan has said. And the worse things get off the court the higher he soars on it: he led the Bulls to the 1992 NBA crown just after Sam Smith’s “The Jordan Rules” chronicled the problems his extreme competitiveness caused with teammates, and he starred in this spring’s three-peat after headlines trumpeted his gambling losses. “Somehow,” says Fred Whitfield, a North Carolina lawyer and one of jordan’s best friends, ,Mike will know his dad will want him to try to raise his game to an even higher level."
Can he? Physically, an athlete distracted by grief is more prone to injury. If Jordan pushes too hard, he could also hurt his game. Mentally, he must find inner reserves or another source of the comfort and counsel Jaynes Jordan provided.
Jordan “would view it as shaming his father if he used [the murder] as an excuse” for poor play, says Smith. He may not have to. Something as corny as dedicating the season to “Pops” may focus and inspire Jordan. And if his grief makes him seem more mortal to the Bulls, who considered Pops a peer and pal, “it may pull them further together,” says psychiatrist Robert Burton of Northwestern University. As Jordan said, “With the help of God’s strength, I will find the inner peace to carry on in Dad’s way.” Fans and family are pulling for him to do so not only off the court, but on it.
