Read All About It: Jordan May Retire Soon

The December issue of Sport magazine was probably written in August or September and is an unfortunate victim of the long lead time for monthly periodicals.

But, somehow, its cover-story salute to “10 years of Michael Jordan” seems weirdly appropriate, even though he retired in October after nine.

“The world has never seen his like,” the 15-page package of stories begins. “Michael Jordan has won three consecutive NBA championships and two Olympic gold medals, but the man transcends sports to such an extent that he can’t be accurately described by the term ‘basketball player.’ . . .

“His larger-than-life physiognomy is complemented by sand-blasted-clean good looks, and the bald pate enhances the impression that he’s some sort of 21st-Century prototype of evolving-man-to-come.”

Hint, hint: One of the articles speculates about the Chicago Bulls’ life after Jordan, with a headline reading: “It hardly seems imaginable, but Michael is hinting of retirement.

“At least Michael’s not retiring tomorrow,” Bull owner Jerry Reinsdorf is quoted as saying.

Trivia time: Whom did Jordan replace in the Bulls’ starting lineup at shooting guard in his rookie year of 1984?

He hits like his mother: Buffalo Bill linebacker Marvcus Patton has football in his blood--from his mother.

Barbara Patton was a 5-foot-4, 130-pound linebacker for the Los Angeles Dandelions of the National Women’s Football League, a semipro league that lasted from 1972 to ’76.

“Barbara was one of our most aggressive players,” Dandelion Coach Robert Edwards said. “She just enjoyed hitting another girl and knocking her down.”

Said Marvcus: “Some of my smaller cousins, their mothers don’t want them to play football. My mother was like, ‘Yeah, play, have a good time, enjoy yourself.’ She always encouraged me.”

Having a ball, or four: Canadian golfer Jack Kay endured a horrible experience when he hit three balls into the water from the same spot in the third round of the Greg Norman Classic at Sydney, Australia, last week.

Kay was attempting a 250-yard water carry on the 11th hole before making it the fourth time for a quintuple-bogey 10.

“I tried my three-wood, four-iron and then three-iron, but the lies were bad,” Kay said. “I didn’t know what else to do.”

Kay shot a five-over 78 on the day.

Trivia answer: Quintin Dailey.

Quotebook: New Jersey Net Coach Chuck Daly, on his team’s propensity to lose close games: “It’s been the same script seven or eight times this year. Bad script. Bad writers. I don’t like who’s writing it. We need a new writer.”