The new Michael Jordan is going to be difficult to watch, more difficult than I could ever have imagined. Who knew that a basketball game featuring Jordan could make you want to sing the blues?

This sadness has nothing to do with Jordan's physical abilities. He is 38, not 88, so it's not as if varicose veins are preventing him from touching the rim. He still stalks the court like a panther, making his opponents wonder if their next flinch or facial expression will set him off.

Michael Jordan can still play. No one should question that. When he decides to leave the game for good, he'll take his ball?and most likely a final-season 20-point average?and go home.

His game is not the biggest problem. His present company is. Jordan and his new band, the Washington Wizards, opened their season Tuesday night at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks. After the first quarter of an eventual 93-91 Washington loss, it was obvious something was wrong:

A game involving Michael Jordan was ? boring.