It's hard to predict where Michael Jordan will be on the final day of the NBA season.

Last night, there was no mistaking where Jordan was on the first day of the NBA season.

He was at Madison Square Garden in New York. He was causing a stir, as only the greatest basketball player ever can do, even with legs that have less spring and with a Washington Wizards team that figures to frustrate him, no matter how much he promises to teach, push and inspire.

Is it really his nature to play this parental supervisory role, even if this is the only role left to him?

It is almost impossible to imagine this will satisfy him, but this is the plot line Jordan has set. He maintains he is back to do a new job, at the same time refusing to lay the Jordan of old completely to rest.

With 18 seconds left in the game, Jordan wanted to be the Jordan of old, not an old Jordan.

After working three quarters to involve his young teammates and distribute the ball like he was the new John Stockton, Jordan knew it was his time.

He switched from point guard to gimme-the-damn-ball clutch shooter. It didn't quite follow Jordan form of the past.