Who says that NBA players are greedy?  Realising that this is Michael Jordan's final All-Star game Orlando superstar Tracy McGrady has offered to forfeit his starting position on the Eastern Conference squad to make way for Jordan, ESPN.com is reporting.

"I have thought about this for a while. I'll do it, absolutely," McGrady told the newspaper. "For what Michael Jordan has done for this league and this game, I'll do anything.

"It's his last All-Star Game. I don't have any problem with that. I'll get in the game. I'd love to see it. I have to call the league office to see if I can do it."

"We'd consider it,'' league spokesman Michael Broeker said. A Wizards spokeswoman said Thursday that Jordan had no immediate comment.

"T-Mac wanting to do that doesn't surprise me," Magic coach Doc Rivers said in the Sentinel. "As aloof as he looks, he has a real sense for the history of the game. And he doesn't look at it like he's kissing Michael's butt. He wants to beat Michael's butt any other time."

"That's a terrific gesture from Tracy," said the official who requested anonymity. "We'll have to see. We've made exceptions before."

Vince Carter will start the NBA All-Star Game and enjoy the experience. Speculation that he may bow out of the starting lineup to allow Michael Jordan one last hurrah is just that? speculation. Jennifer Quinn of the Toronto Star reports that Carter was puzzled by the notion.

"Next question" was his response to the initial inquiry. When prodded, Carter explained, "It's not like I planned on getting injured, but, you know, it happened. I'm thankful for the opportunity to play regardless of the amount of games I've played, and that's why I've taken the initiative to get back and get healthy and then play in some games so when I go in the All-Star Game I can go out there and have a lot of fun."

A recent Washington Post story said that there is a "chance one of the starters" could give up that honour for Jordan; the Washington Times says only "there has been some speculation that Carter, who has appeared in just 11 games this season due to injury, will allow Jordan to start."

It has happened in the past. Doug Collins allowed John Havlicek to take his starting spot in 1978. Tim Hardaway let Magic Johnson start in 1982. Carter said he intends to take his place alongside the other Eastern Conference all-star starters: Tracy McGrady, Ben Wallace, Allen Iverson and Jermaine O'Neal. As a reserve, Jordan will be appearing for the 14th time.

"It is what it is. The fans vote on who it is they want to see, and who are we to change that?" former all-star Antonio Davis said yesterday.

In a recent game between the Wizards and Nuggets last week, Nuggets rookie Vincent Yarbrough decided to go after Michael Jordan after scoring six straight points.  Amazingly Yarbrough's talking stopped when Jordan responded "You watched me, I didn't watch you." After this point Yarbrough scored two points through the rest of the game.

The source of Jordan's ammunition?  Yarbrough's bio in the Nuggets' media guide lists Jordan as his favorite player growing up.

"It happens in the streets, it happens on the playground," Jordan said. "Today turned into a vocal game. For me I take great competition in talking trash, especially against someone that doesn't have any business talking trash."

"They initiated everything. Juwan (Howard) got things going and the young kids chimed in after that. The thing about talking trash if you've got to back it up. You can talk all day but if you're not putting forth the effort and backing up what you say it becomes an added burden on you."

Michael Jordan said goodbye to Chicago last night, and the fans let him know how much he is appreciated. Steve Wyche of the Washington Post reports that during the introduction of the starting lineups, Jordan received a three-minute ovation. HE then went to center court and grabbed the microphone.

"Thank you," Jordan said to the 23 thousand-plus fans. "It's truly been a pleasure. You guys have given me great pleasure to play in the city of Chicago. I love you all. Still support the Chicago Bulls. Thank you for the support over the years. I love you all. Thank you very much."

His speech was an attempt to get everyone focused on the game. "I felt if I said something they could cut the lights out and get to the game," said Jordan, who spontaneously took the microphone at halfcourt. "I'm glad for the ovation that they gave me."

This was his last appearance in Chicago as a player. Jordan reiterated during the pre-game shootaround that this would be his final NBA season. When he?s retired in the past, he has always left the door open for a possible return. But not this time. "I'm 100 percent sure this time. I've fulfilled my dreams," he said. "Playing is not an option."

"I'm glad that it's over with," Jordan said of his farewell to Chicago. "We both had a chance to say good bye. Let's move on to the rest of the season and move on with life."

So this is it.  The final hurrah for Michael Jordan in the Windy City, the place that he built and where his legend developed.  Take a good look at the picture above, because after tonight there will be no encore.

As you may have guessed Michael Jordan and the Washington Wizards visit Chicago for the final time this season, the game also marking the final time that Jordan will play an official NBA game in the city.

"I love that place," Jordan said. "I truly appreciate coming back there to play. It's tough to be in another uniform, but those things happen. It's part of the business. It's a pleasure for me (to go back). I look forward to it."

Jordan's presence for the last time has touched everyone, even Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf who made a statement about the occasion.

"Although this is Michael's final appearance as a player at the United Center, the spectacular memories that he has provided during his career, not only to Bulls fans but fans throughout the NBA and the entire world, will last forever. [Friday] will be one more special moment to add to the collection."

The Bulls have promised to let the standing ovation Jordan is destined to receive run it's course, no matter how long it lasts.  The team has also prepared a video tribute for Jordan which will run during a timeout early in the second quarter, Jordan himself not wanting anything more than that.

While the Bulls have hopes of helping Michael left the United Center floor one last time with his familiar Bulls white victorious.  "That would be a great going-away present for him," said Jalen Rose, but Jordan's current coach has other plans.

"I know [his teammates] and myself want him to end his career at the United Center with a win," former Bulls coach and current Wizards coach Doug Collins said after Washington's practice Thursday. "Last time it was Game 5 of the NBA Finals and they lost to Utah. That looked like it was going to be his last game there."

"I want this one to be a win."

"I know [the Bulls are] going to allow everybody to say thank you," Collins said. "The people know what he means to this city and they're going to show him.

"He's the most beloved athlete in Chicago ? for what he brought to the city in the championships and the winning attitude.

"For 10 years plus, the Chicago Bulls were the universal team, and Michael Jordan was at the hub of that."

Michael Jordan has never been one to hold firm on a decision.  After retiring from the NBA after the 1993 season Jordan came back in March of 1995, winning three more championships.  As he closed out his stellar career with the Chicago Bulls with what "was" referred to as "The Last Shot", Jordan again felt the tickle has he returned to the NBA last season with the Washington Wizards.  Jordan is now half way through the last year on his two year contract and has already announced that this will be the final hurrah.... or will it?

Sam Smith of the Chicago Tribune is no stranger to Jordan, and if what Smith says is true the NBA will have a very interesting scenario.  As Jordan perpares for what might be his last game as an NBA player in Chicago today Smith delivers the bombshell that talk around the NBA is that Jordan will join the ownership of the expansion Charlotte team starting in the 2004-05 season.

Smith says that Jordan still has juice in the tank, and John Stockton of the Jazz is living proof that a 41 year old can still be successful in the NBA.  'After a year off, why couldn't a 41-year-old Jordan come back and shoot jump shots when it could mean millions of dollars for his next investment?,' asks Smith.

Jordan states that he is going back to his front office job with the Wizards once he hangs up his sneakers while Charlotte owner Robert Johnson says he has his management team in place.

But Jordan back home in North Carolina makes much more sense writes Smith, with Jordan being both the lead figure in a new franchise in his home state and having the greatest ever as the public figure in the first primarily African-American-owned franchise in pro sports.  Jordan with the Wizards simly isn't a fit long-term, and it may be time for him to move on.

Jordan would be free to flee if he so desired, his five year deal with the Wizards concluding at the end of next season.

Washington have learnt first had the value of having Jordan's name linked to the franchise, even though it took Jordan pulling on a Wizards jersey for them to start to turn around the ship and become a drawing ticket.  Jordan could have a similar drawing power in Charlotte, a place where he'd be able to start fresh with his own team to mould without the pressure of having to get results immediately.

Larry Bird, who tried to get the new Charlotte franchise, was said to be unenthusiastic about acquiring an existing franchise because he wanted the challenge of building a team from the ground up.  

Larry might have missed his opportunity, but Michael may not.

Last night was a night that Michael Jordan will remember for the rest of his life.  Going into last night's game Jordan needed just 14 points to pass Wilt Chamberlain on the All-Time scoring list, easing himself into third position where he will remain as his career draws to a close.

Jordan's feat arrived off a jump shot in the second quarter and was met by a standing ovation which lasted for over a minute by the New Orleans crowd.  Last night marked Jordan's first official game back in New Orleans since the shot that his father claimed would change his life forever against Georgetown in the 1982 NCAA Championship game.

Jordan didn't have everything his own way however, being held to only two points in the second half to finish with 18 in the game.  Jordan failed to make a trip to the free throw line.

"A milestone's a milestone," Jordan said. "I think it symbolizes the effort I've given over my career. It's something to reflect back on. I wasn't really aware of it. It wasn't something I go in thinking about. I was going in thinking about winning this game. The thing about stats to me, it defines you 10, 20 years from when you're past the game, when somebody can see you and say, 'This guy must have been good 20 years ago.' What matters to me is wins, championships, things of that nature."

It might have been Jordan's big night in an official sense, but it was the New Orleans Hornets who quickly stole the show.  According to Steve Wyche of the Washington Post it was Jamal Mashburn who held Jordan in check while scoring 24 points, handing out eight assists and grabbed seven rebounds as the Hornets cruised to a casual 103-94 victory.

"The difference in the game was transition points," Wizards Coach Doug Collins. "We knew coming in fast- breaking was going to be a big problem and they ran right at us. We couldn't stop them when we had to."

The game was not without it's fireworks either, with both Charles Oakley and PJ Brown ejected after the two brawled on the ground after a rebound attempt.

"We do what we go to," Oakley said. "You got to fight . . . that's part of leadership. Didn't nobody bleed. Things happen, the game kept going and they won. He came on my back, he tried to run to the basket, he was mouthing off a couple times before that. He came around my back, I blocked him out, he grabbed me and I got him up off me."

Jordan now trails Kareem Abdul-Jabaar and Karl Malone on the all-time scoring list, but with Malone out-scoring Jordan this season after already holding a healthy lead the player they call the greatest ever's chances of moving any higher are highly improbable.

The Washington Wizards are hoping to get shooting guard Jerry Stackhouse back onto the court in time for the team's match against the New Orleans Hornets tonight, Steve Wyche of the Washington Post is reporting.  Stackhouse, who has missed the last four games with a pulled left groin, says he'd like to play but isn't sure.

"I still won't know until [today]," Stackhouse said yesterday. "I don't want it to be that feel-good-for-a-minute thing, go back and have it bothering me. I need to do the right thing."

Stackhouse, according to a team official, is listed as probable.

Milton Kent of the Baltimore Sun reports on last nights Wizards vs. Nuggets game.

There have been some whispers around the NBA that the league may run with a 13-a-team All-Star game this year if Wizards guard Michael Jordan and Spurs center David Robinson are not selected by fans or coaches, with both players having already announced their intentions to retire after this season.

Jordan, however, wants no part of a charity trip to Atlanta this February.

"I would not want [the league] to do that," Jordan said. "If I can't make it on merit as one of the 12 players on the team, I don't want them to create a 13th spot. I would not feel comfortable with that."

"If I am not elected, I will have no remorse," said Jordan, a 13-time all-star. "That's seven days of relaxation. If I am, it's always a pleasure to represent the fans, coaches, whoever puts you on the team. It will be a good way to end my career playing in an all-star game. If I don't, it will not spoil my lunch."