Bulls’ Jordan Not Denying Gambling Loss

Michael Jordan did not deny a Chicago Sun-Times story that reported the Chicago Bulls’ star acknowledged losing $57,000 while gambling, but said he will comment only to a North Carolina jury.

The Sun-Times reported in a copyright story that Jordan said that he lost the money while the rest of the Chicago Bulls were visiting President Bush. Jordan had insisted publicly that the money was a loan to a convicted drug dealer to help him build a golf driving range.

“The story is an allegation from the Sun-Times,” Jordan said during a news conference. “It’s not something I gave them.”

The Sun-Times quoted him as saying he initially put out a false story about the money because he was embarrassed.

The Sun-Times said Jordan lost the money playing poker, dice and golf in October of 1991 while his teammates were at the White House receiving the President’s congratulations for winning their first NBA title.

Jordan has been subpoenaed to testify in the trial of convicted cocaine dealer James Bouler. The trial is scheduled to begin next Tuesday in U.S. District Court at Charlotte, N.C.

“I will show up. I won’t run, and I’ll answer the questions that are put to me,” said Jordan, who is not under criminal investigation. A spokesman for the NBA said the league knew in March that the money wasn’t a loan, but would not comment about the incident.

Court documents filed by U.S. Attorney Tom Ashcraft allege the check was a payoff for a golf gambling debt.