Jordan won’t attend Sunday’s Chelios jersey ceremony

Blackhawks fans and Chicago celebrity seekers, hold on to all the gold kicks.

Charlotte Hornets owner Michael Jordan talks to the media about hosting the NBA All-Star Basketball Game during a press conference on Tuesday, February 12, 2019, in Charlotte, North Carolina. (AP Photo/Chuck Burton)
Associated Press

Michael Jordan will not attend Sunday’s Chris Chelios memorial ceremony at the United Center.

Despite widespread reports that Jordan may be in Chicago for the event, a Bulls representative told the Daily Herald Thursday afternoon that “unfortunately, Michael will not be able to attend.”

The initial thought that Jordan would attend Cal came on Wednesday morning, when Chelios told a Chicago radio station, “I’m going to let them bring over as many people as they can who have been influential to me, obviously (Jordan) was a “most of my 90s. “

From that wish list, speculation about Jordan’s surprise visit to Cal snowballed. By Thursday afternoon, some media outlets were reporting the news.

But that won’t happen.

Chelios will be honored and his Blackhawks No. 7 sweater will be retired and raised to the rafters of the arena.

From 1990 to 1999, the Chicago native was the team’s mainstay star. That included being the top defender on Mike Keenan’s 1991-92 team that reached the Stanley Cup Finals but was swept 4-0 by Mario Lemieux and Pittsburgh.

The championship peak of Jordan’s long Bulls career (1984-98) came in Chelios against the Blackhawks. All things aside, the two are good friends, but not close friends.

If Jordan showed up on Sunday, some would also consider it a slap in the face to Bulls president Jerry Reinsdorf. When the basketball organization unveiled its initial Ring of Honor roster last month, Jordan opted to send a brief video recognition rather than participate in the two-night festivities.

Jordan will always be angry about the clumsy unraveling of his defending champion Bulls after their sixth title in 1997-98, something that has long been an open secret in the highest sports circles. Still, the two billionaire businessmen, who celebrated their 61st birthdays on Saturday, were careful not to directly alienate or embarrass the influential Reinsdorf.

Jim O’Donnell’s sports and media column appears every Sunday and Thursday.Contact him at jimodonnelldh@yahoo.com. All communications may be considered for publication.