As he stood on stage during halftime of last Sunday's NBA All-Star Game in Atlanta, Michael Jordan said goodbye.
"I leave the game in good hands — so many great stars still in the game, so many great stars rising and playing the game," said Jordan, who nearly two years ago left his perch as president of the Washington Wizards for two more seasons of play.
"The things that Dr. J (Julius Erving) and some of the great players — Magic Johnson, Larry Bird — have passed on to me, I pass on to these All-Stars here, as well as to the rest of the players in the NBA.
"I thank you for your support, and, now, I can go home and feel at peace with the game of basketball."
Like those of the just-married couple desperately trying to ditch their wedding reception and get on to better things, though, Jordan's closing goodbye is not his last.
Including tonight's here in Salt Lake, the Washington Wizards have about 30 games left in what Jordan — who has retired twice previously — claims really will be his final NBA season.
That means a few more visits, and a few more farewells, to venues he sold out over the years — like the Delta Center, reluctant host to Jordan's crowning achievement, his fifth and sixth NBA titles, won by the Chicago Bulls against the Utah Jazz in 1997 and '98.
After the basketball world bid him adieu Sunday, everything from here on out seems quite anti-climatic.
Jordan admits as much, suggesting nothing and nowhere — not even, evidently, the Delta Center that was so kind to him — could possibly top Atlanta's farewell.
He wouldn't want it any other way.
"Hopefully it doesn't get like this everywhere I go," Jordan said after the league feted him and Mariah Carey serenaded him while folks from Chicago and Washington to Moscow and Beijing watched.
Privately, Jordan vows to savor his final few days. He just doesn't want anyone to know how much he will.
"I will look around, yes," he admitted. "I have a lot of memories of a lot of places — but I just want to go there, play the game, try to make the playoffs, keep beating teams that we can beat . . .
"Just try to keep moving on — get this thing over and done with."
As he prepares to retire, Jordan leaves us thoughts on a cornucopia of subjects, including these 10:
THE FUTURE STARS
"As I look at tomorrow's future athlete, I can't pick one above the other. I think in certain situations, Kobe (Bryant) is going to be a guy who can really step to the forefront. Tracy McGrady, Vince Carter, Allen Iverson, Shaquille O'Neal - and you've got a new kid coming in, Yao Ming.
"Somebody is going to step to the forefront from that group and probably assume a certain responsibility, as I have, over the years. But to pick that one guy right now - I don't think I could do that."
THE EX-TEAMMATE
Scottie Pippen is a versatile player. . . . I think his ball-handling skills will allow other guys who are scorers to move without the ball, and basically he can control everything.
"I think (Portland coach) Maurice Cheeks did a good job in instituting him at that point guard position so he can control what's happening on the floor.
"Obviously he has to stay healthy . . . But, when he is healthy, certainly his mind will override some of the skill disabilities he may have. But he knows how to play, and he will continue to show that as long as he's got the ball in his hands."
THE NEW TEAM
In terms of what my vision was coming back, it was to help these guys understand, and help what existed for the (Washington Wizards) . . . some of the negative feelings, the feelings of a losing team, a losing franchise.
"What I wanted to do was . . . change that negative feeling to a positive. Have I done that? I think I have, in the sense that we have changed the overall look of the team. We have a mesh of veteran players who (have won); good free agents who are still trying and still vying for that niche, that name, they are in search of, that respect; and a bunch of young, talented players.
"I feel like the ball is rolling in the right direction. I'd like to see us get playoff experience while I'm still on the court, so if the guys are nervous, or they don't understand what's happening, I can give them some insight. . . . It's hard for me to give that from upstairs."
THE COMMISH'S WORLD
I think you commend (NBA commissioner) David Stern for the expansion and the globalization of basketball, along with, obviously, my talent, Magic Johnson's talent, Larry Bird's talent, and all of the guys prior to me and with me...
"(Stern) expanded it to where European players understood the competition, the glamour ... the experience of playing against the best.
"As much as it's been myself as an endorser of NBA basketball, it's been David Stern for opening up the doors, and understanding how to market the league to where the European and Asian and (global) guys wanted to come and play at the highest level."
THE STATE OF USA HOOPS
I would like to see the United States maintain its dominance in basketball globally, just because I think ... it's our game. No one likes to see our game being taken away from us and dominated by someone else.
"But I think (the U.S.'s embarrassing showing in the recent FIBA World Championships) it made us realize that the Europeans ... are catching up; or, if we take them for granted, they will be caught up. ... I think the next games you will see our best players playing."
THE POLITICS GAME
Personally, I have no aspirations politically.
" I have heard Charles (Barkley) talking about governor. I heard Magic (Johnson) talk about mayor. ... Obviously, they are going to be judged on the merits that they are preaching and they are standing for. I would not expect them to be standing on what they have accomplished in the sports arena.
"I think the public is not fooled in that sense. But I don't condemn those guys. As long as they believe in what they believe in, and they are willing to step forward and believe in that, I wish them the best."
THE REFEREES
I (deal with referees) respectfully.
"If you see me when I'm talking to the referees, if I have something that may misconstrued by a word or people can hear or see, I put shirt over my mouth and I say it. ... As long as the referees feel they are not getting embarrassed or (you are) bringing the whole arena down on them, I think they will respond well."
THE GAME'S EVOLUTION
Prior to me, it was a big man's game, and, I think, prior to me, the game started to change.
"The versatility aspect came into the game with Magic Johnson playing multi-positions, Larry Bird playing multi-positions, and then myself, Scottie Pippen, Clyde Drexler, Charles Barkley. ... What I am an example of is versatility. ... I would not say I originated that. I think Magic Johnson, even Oscar Robertson back in his day originated (it).
"We more or less brought it back into focus, and made it an impact situation to where you can change an outcome of a game. ... So, I won't take that credit. I think it was there before me."
THE LEGACY
I played against Dr. J at the time he was bridging, along with Magic (Johnson) and Larry (Bird), to my generation and my era. And I guess I have an obligation to the game to bridge to the next generation.
"How I want to be perceived is (as) a guy that ... played his best in all facets of the game, not just scoring. Obviously, my record is going to be from an offensive standpoint. But I think people understand that I play defense, I help make players better, I won championships. I came from a team, a franchise (Chicago) that was not successful - and got it to a point where it was very successful.
"And (I want to be remembered) as a guy who truly loved the game, and loved to take challenges, and always against the odds. People said he couldn't do anything, and he said he could. Or, he just believed in the unknown - that, no matter what, he chased it. I'm not saying everything good happened to him. Some bad things happened, but he was able to rise above the bad things. I just want to be remembered that way - as a helluva competitor that never gave up on anything."
THE GOODBYE
Hey, I've got memories to live with. And I will enjoy the rest of the season - no matter how you look at it."
E-MAIL: tbuckley@desnews.com