Jordan won't tip hand on future plans

All those nights playing cards with Bobby Baldwin at The Mirage have rubbed off on Michael Jordan. For try as the dozens of assembled media could, there was no way His Airness was tipping his hand regarding his future on the basketball court.

Jordan, in town for the NBA Players Association's meeting Thursday at Caesars Palace, said don't read anything into his presence at the day-long proceedings.

"I'm here because I owe an obligation to the young players and the players who came before me and paved the way," Jordan said. "I'm still a member of the union.

"It doesn't matter if I play or not. All that matters is that it benefits my peers. With the showing we have, it means we're together."

And while the impressive assemblage of players at the dais, which included Patrick Ewing, Karl Malone, David Robinson and Jordan's teammate Scottie Pippen, tried to spread the message of solidarity and talk of a "fair deal," everyone's focus was on whether Jordan would return for a 15th NBA season and pursue a seventh world championship with the Chicago Bulls.

"None. None at all," was Jordan's reply when asked if he had made up his mind. "I have no decision."

David Faulk, Jordan's high-powered agent, echoed similar comments.

"He hasn't indicated anything to me one way or the other," Faulk said. "But it's a tremendous gesture by Michael being here. He's a student of the game and some of the things he has been able to accomplish in his career has come of the expense of others. He feels a certain obligation to the next generation of players."

Jordan's presence was not lost on the other players.

"As a young player, to have him here means a lot," the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant said. "It's important for him to be standing up for us."

Veteran Michael Cage said: "This is about doing what's right for everybody and it was nice to see Michael show up and give a speech to that effect. This doesn't really effect him like it does me and a lot of the middle and lower class players, so for him to stand up for all the players and show his support is important."

The union is planning a series of all-star games to raise money for its strike fund. Obviously, Jordan's presence would all but guarantee the success of those exhibitions. But Jordan said he has made no commitment to participate at this point.

"I don't know if I'm going to play," he said. "I haven't been keeping in shape. Right now, I'm just resting and relaxing."

But he left the door open by saying, "I'll be ready if that's the case."

And with the press conference concluded, Jordan beat a hasty retreat through a back door at Caesars to head back to the Bellagio, where he is staying. When a national television crew tried to stop him for a quick interview, he deftly shifted routes, saying, "You guys know better than that."

It was the only time all day he tipped his hand.

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