At the end of this season, Jordan will go "Poof!"

Opponent File
Washington Wizards
The Wiz play in the MCI Center in Washington, D.C. Their 2001 - 2002 record was 37 - 45 (fifth in the Atlantic). Here's what Joe and Champagne had to say about Washington in their Atlantic Division Previews. Here's the Washington Wizards Roster.

Local Paper:
Washington Post | Wizards
Team Pages:
CNNSI.com | Wizards
ESPN.com | Wizards
NBA.com | Wizards
The Sporting News | Wizards
Sportsline.com | Wizards

Head Coach: Doug Collins
2002 Draft: Jared Jeffries, SF (Indiana), selected at #11. Juan Dixon, SG (Maryland), selected at #17. Rod Grizzard, SG (Alabama), selected at #39. Juan Carlos Navarro, PG (F.C. Barcelona, Spain), selected at #40.
New Players: Brian Cardinal, F (trade from Detroit). Larry Hughes, G (Golden State, Free Agency). Charles Oakley, F (Chicago, Free Agency). Bryon Russell, G (Utah, Free Agency). Jerry Stackhouse, G (trade from Detroit). Ratko Varda, C (trade from Detroit).
Season Goal: Keeping Michael Jordan healthy for the playoffs, should they make it.
Record vs. Nets: 0 - 1
Previous Game: Nets 87 - Wizards 79
Other Opponent Files

Projected Atlantic Division Standing:
Chris Carrino: 4
Champagne: 5
Frank DiGraci: 2
Ian Eagle: 5
Joe Netsfan: 5

Washington Wizards (9 - 12) - Friday, December 13, 2002, 8:00pm EST - Continental Airlines Arena
Not The Retiring Type
Can it be a good sign that Michael Jordan and the Washington Wizards come to town on Friday the 13th? Jordan, who announced last week his intention to once again retire at season's end (a motivational ploy?) makes what would be his second-to-last appearance in New Jersey (pending any playoff matchup), likes to bring bad luck to the Nets whenever he's around. Michael's not what he once was, true – but don't roll out the rocking chair for him just yet.

Jordan's back as a starter after the early season experiment of his coming off the bench as the sixth man, and while the team chemistry has been altered (I would imagine the team's best player, Jerry Stackhouse, was happier with Jordan starting the game on the bench, since both love to keep the rock for themselves), the results thus far have been about the same (the team is 3 - 3 with Jordan as a starter). In fact, the Wiz need Jordan to stick around and will this team to fulfilling the potential they were thought to have in the preseason. The Wiz have lost 8 of their last 11; first round pick Kwame Brown, who had elevated his game early in the season has been being planted on the bench lately, and the Wiz have replaced him in the starting lineup with Christian Laettner, of all people. So, can the Wiz party up a storm in anticipation of The Giving of Jordan's Gold Watch and pick up a win on the road? Or will the Nets once again shut the door on any rowdy Wiz behavior and up their home record to 12 - 1?

See You in Hell, Dolans: The number holds at Nets game number 18 lost to the Cablevision/YES Mess (once again ESPN has deemed this matchup national TV-worthy). Want to do something about the Cablevision/YES Mess? Click here.
- Joe

Washington Wizards Cheat Sheet
The Story from Washington: One game after the Wiz were embarassed at home by the Blazers, Tarik El-Bashir (Washington Post) reports that Coach Doug Collins put Washington through an intense, two hour workout that Larry Hughes likened to training camp. The loss "was probably the best thing that could have happened to this team. It gave me a chance to address a lot of the things I've been feeling. And the reality of it is that it was right there for everyone to see." What did MJ think of the loss? Jordan called the loss "sad" and "embarassing."

Jordan again, this time on the possibility of leaving any "wiggle room" in his retirement annoucement: "There will be no want. I'm 100 percent sure that after this (season) I'm done." Jordan is expected to return to his role as the Wizards' President of Basketball Operations and repurchase his share in the team.

Pain Game: G Juan Dixon (sprained left elbow), C Jahidi White (recovering from left knee surgery) are on the injured list.

Controversy: Michael Jordan's retirement. Not exactly controversial for a 40 year old NBA player to announce it, but the timing of the annoucement was nothing short of curious.

Archive | Backlash | Bio | Calendar | Champagne's Blog | Diatribe | Game x Game | History | Home | Joe Netsfan's Blog | Media | Opponents | Players | Playoffs | Search | Specials