SUPER BOWL XXX / Cowboys 27, Steelers 17 : Spotlight : JORDAN WANTED NONE OF THIS ACTION

Michael Jordan, who has done his share of gambling, didn’t appreciate a Super Bowl betting line linked to his performance on the basketball court.

The Mirage hotel’s sports book in Las Vegas let bettors wager on whether Jordan or the Cowboys would score more points Sunday.

Those who bet on Jordan were the winners. He had 31 points for the Chicago Bulls against the Phoenix Suns in the afternoon, about six hours before the Cowboys beat the Steelers.

“I didn’t have anything to do with it, I didn’t have any wagers on it, and I certainly was not in control of what was going to happen,” Jordan said after hitting his NBA-leading average against the Suns.

“I wasn’t surprised. It was just another way for people to use Michael Jordan to make a profit. I wouldn’t even lower myself to thinking if it offends me. It’s just another thing that people use to make another few dollars.”

Before the Bull-Sun game, other players teased Jordan about the betting line.

“All the ribbing I’ve been getting from my teammates added some fun to it,” he said. “But I don’t really take it to heart. It’s one of those things. I’ve just got to play my game and whatever happens happens.”

Jordan’s gambling habits became public during the 1993 playoffs, when he was spotted in an Atlantic City, N.J., casino in the wee hours. In a book published later that year, Jordan was described as a compulsive gambler who did not pay off on large golf-betting debts.