Here’s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Jan. 13, according to the Tribune’s archives.
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Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago)
- High temperature: 58 degrees (1932)
- Low temperature: Minus 9 degrees (1929)
- Precipitation: 1.37 inches (1950)
- Snowfall: 16.5 inches (1979)
1999: “It’s not really 100 percent,” Michael Jordan said, “but it’s close. That’s where I stand. I’m not going to say never. But I will say 99.9.” Jordan retired from the Chicago Bulls for the second time.
Jordan, who first retired in 1993 after the Bulls won the third of their six championships, said this was as good a time as any to hang up the Air Jordans. Over a storybook career he won six championship rings and 10 scoring titles while earning five Most Valuable Player awards and six NBA Finals MVP trophies.
In addition to being remembered as perhaps the greatest player in the history of the game, Jordan sealed his reputation as the pre-eminent clutch performer by hitting the game-winning basket with 5.2 seconds remaining to give the Bulls their sixth title with an 87-86 victory over the Utah Jazz in Game 6 of the previous season’s NBA Finals.
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As he did when Jordan retired on Oct. 6, 1993, NBA Commissioner David Stern flew to Chicago to honor Jordan, calling him one of the greatest ambassadors the game had even seen. Stern, who all but begged Jordan to play at least one more season to help repair the public relations damage caused by the labor dispute that shortened the season, thanked Jordan for a spectacular career that boosted the popularity of the league worldwide.
Bulls Chairman Jerry Reinsdorf, who presented Jordan with his 1998 championship ring and re-hoisted Jordan’s retired No. 23 jersey to the United Center rafters, said it was a sad day for the Bulls and for basketball.
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“This is a day that I hoped would never come,” Reinsdorf said. “It has to be the toughest day in the history of the Chicago Bulls. It’s a tough day for Chicago; it’s a tough day for the NBA.”
Jordan acknowledged the decision was a tough one for him.
“I’m doing a good job of trying to hold back the emotions because it’s like taking back something I truly have loved. I started when I was 12 years old and I’m 36 next month, so 24 years I’ve been playing the game,” he said. “It’s sad that I’m leaving the game but it’s happy that my life is starting to go into a whole new stage.
Jordan said he reached his decision over the summer, when he knew Phil Jackson wouldn’t return as Bulls coach.
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