First Came the Beating, Then the Praise

Before the Chicago Bulls faced the Lakers Friday at the Forum, Michael Jordan paid Magic Johnson his respects.

Once the game began, Jordan and the Bulls simply made Johnson pay.

With little apparent effort, Jordan contributed 17 points to the Bulls’ 99-84 pounding of the Lakers, Chicago’s 18th consecutive victory. By contrast, Johnson--playing the second game of his comeback--had only three points in the third quarter, missed several easy shots and was visibly winded by the fourth quarter.

Johnson finished with 15 points, but was a negligible factor on offense and lagged behind on defense, lacking the spark that made his return Tuesday so remarkable.

“Actually, of course I didn’t have as much fun,” Johnson said. “You’ve got to give them credit. They were all they were thought to be, a team on all cylinders.”

Jordan, no stranger to this comeback business, had anticipated Johnson might have a tougher time Friday than he had on Tuesday, when the adrenaline generated by his return to NBA competition helped Johnson pour in 19 points and hand out 10 assists.

“I’d be impressed if he’s doing it to the level where he can get that team to be a contender,” Jordan said before the game. “There are some tough teams you have to contend with in the West. Golden State is not one of them. That’s why tonight’s game is an important game. It sends a message and it sends a message to teams we’ve beaten.”

The two superstars embraced warmly after the game. The respect and admiration built during the many epic battles they fought over the years clearly survived each player’s retirement and his return.

“Magic has the instincts. He has the killer in his eyes,” Jordan said. “The rest of the team is not on the same page yet. What we did tonight, we’re getting him ready for the tough games. We beat up on him a little bit.”

Said Johnson: “This was an indicator game for us. We have to get the swagger that they have. When I saw him walk out on the court and he was looking at me, I know he knew he had the firepower behind him. It was a thrill playing against Michael once again.”

It probably wasn’t a thrill, though, for him to be gasping. Or to shoot one for four in the third quarter. Jordan understood that too. He played 17 games and the playoffs last season after ending his baseball career, and he said he never found a familiar rhythm on the court until this season.

“I didn’t get my rhythm back for a while. I like to feel like you can predict the situation,” Jordan said. “Those are the things you lose touch with and it’s tough to get that rhythm back. Last year, I saw a hole I knew I could get to, but physically, I couldn’t get to it. This year, I feel more comfortable. He’s going to deal with that.”

Plus, there’s the little matter of coming back to different teammates.

“He doesn’t have [Kareem Abdul-] Jabbar to throw the ball to, or [James] Worthy,” Jordan said, as Johnson nodded in silent agreement. “He had to adjust. I had to make adjustments too. I came back to no [John] Paxson or Horace Grant.”

The Bulls gave Johnson no leniency because of his lack of game conditioning or his HIV-positive status.

“Everyone worries about his health physically and the constant pounding and overall physical abilities. But once he steps out there, he’s healthy. I feel he’s as healthy as one of us,” Jordan said.

Johnson seemed to appreciate being bumped like everyone else. “Actually I enjoyed it,” he said of the physical nature of the game.

It was impossible not to get caught up in Friday’s hoopla. The crowd of 17,505 was in a festive mood--at least until the Bulls pulled away in the third quarter.

“This is a big occasion, a gala event,” Jordan said. “I respect his skills, without a doubt. Our friendship is our friendship. I compete against my friends as hard as I compete against my enemies. I don’t have a problem paying my respects before the game. After the game he either earns that respect, or he didn’t.

“We’re not here to fulfill a play act or a role. We’re here to make sure there’s no storybook ending to this story.”

Both hope the ending to their rivalry is far off. “I’m going to stick around a couple of years and I hope he does, too,” Jordan said. “I just hope we have a better game next time.”