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"I think you should never anticipate going in unless you're Michael Jordan or John Stockton or Karl Malone or someone like that," he said. "I'm happy for everyone who got in." Among those who formally will be named for induction Monday is Gary Payton, who will become the first former Heat player to be enshrined in Springfield. Payton helped the Heat win the 2006 NBA title, also spending the following season with the team. "I'm happy for Gary," Hardaway said. South Florida Sun-Sentinel

Michael Jordan, Gary Payton, Karl Malone, Hall of Fame, John Stockton, Tim Hardaway 

Love is in the air for NBA legend Michael Jordan, who arrived on the Strip today in advance of Thursday’s start of his 12th annual Celebrity Invitational golf tournament and fundraiser. He is here with fiancee Yvette Prieto, and wedding invitations have gone out to their friends for the ceremony in Palm Beach, Fla., on April 27. It’s the third consecutive year of his golf tournament at Aria and the high-roller golf course Shadow Creek. Michael’s event has already attracted some of the biggest names in sports and entertainment for the four days of competitive golf and party events. “We raised more than $500,000 last year for charity and enjoyed a lot of special moments. This year’s tournament is certain to be even better. Shadow Creek is incredible and one of my favorite golf courses, and it’s open to the public once again,” Michael said in a press release. Las Vegas Sun

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan 

The Wizards have a small basket of gum in the locker room for the players, but on Tuesday I got to see the main supply for the first time, and it was impressive. Dentyne Ice, Trident, something called Bubbaloo and the ever-popular Bubblicious, with some cough drops thrown in for good measure. But why does an NBA locker room need so much gum? “The GOAT, the greatest to ever do it, chewed gum, so I think it’s spurred basketball players chewing gum,” Garrett Temple told me. “[Michael Jordan] used to always have gum in his mouth, chewing it while we was waiting for free throws or something like that. They’d always show that. That’s the reason I always tried to chew gum, but I got to the point where I found myself losing my breath quicker when I’d run up and down the court having to chew gum also.” Washington Post

Washington Wizards, Michael Jordan, Garrett Temple 

His relationship with Michael Jordan: It's good. I call him up and bust his chops when his team is not doing well, which is a lot. What he will do on his first day of retirement: I keep telling my wife I'm going to go grocery shopping with her. But I don't know, whatever it is, it's going to be fun. Gothamist

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan, David Stern 

Upper Deck will be the latest company to benefit from the infinite popularity of Michael Jordan , issuing a card set that features him during his North Carolina days. Upper Deck will release just 250 sets of 23 cards of Jordan in college, four Jordan autograph cards, one replica 1982 championship ring, and two other premium cards. The set could be valued as high as $5,000. Jordan’s 1984 Star rookie card with the Bulls is valued as high as $5,000 in mint condition. Star released NBA team sets on a limited run when Topps, the main basketball card company, stopped producing cards for a decade, making the Jordan card even more valuable. Boston Globe

Michael Jordan, Merchandising 

Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan told an audience of season-ticket holders Tuesday that he anticipates off- season change and that everyone in the organization – basketball and business side – will be evaluated come spring. Jordan was speaking to about 100 of the team’s highest-spending customers, as they decide whether to renew their ticket plans. He sat on a panel with team president Fred Whitfield and general manager Rich Cho. Former San Antonio Spurs guard Bruce Bowen served as a moderator for the event. Charlotte Observer

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan 

A lawyer for a woman who says Michael Jordan fathered her teenage son has withdrawn her paternity suit, but left open the possibility that it could be refiled. Attorney Randall Kessler said Monday that Pamela Smith "stands by the facts alleged in her original filing." Kessler says the lawsuit was withdrawn Friday without prejudice, meaning it can be refiled. Smith last month filed the suit against Jordan herself and asked that the basketball hall of famer take a paternity test and pay child support. She later hired Kessler's firm. USA Today Sports

Michael Jordan, Law 

The woman suing Michael Jordan for paternity and child support -- claiming he fathered her 16-year-old son -- has dismissed her case against the NBA star ... but he might not be out of the woods yet. TMZ has learned Pamela Smith has filed legal documents in Georgia asking the judge to dismiss her case against MJ -- and her request was granted without prejudice (meaning she can refile at a later time if she wants to). It's unclear why Pamela wanted the case dismissed -- considering she had recently asked the court to order a DNA test ASAP. TMZ.com

Michael Jordan, Law 

Lawyers for an Atlanta woman who says basketball legend Michael Jordan is the father of her 16-year-old son asked a judge Tuesday to order Jordan to immediately take a DNA test. Pamela Smith, 48, filed a paternity suit against Jordan last month seeking child support. Jordan denies he is the father of the child and has also filed a counterclaim seeking sanctions against Smith for making false claims. Smith acknowledged in a divorce proceeding that her now ex-husband is the father of the child, according to Jordan’s lawyers. “It is unfortunate that well known figures are the target of these kind of claims,” Jordan’s spokeswoman, Estee Portnoy, said in a statement. Toronto Sun

Michael Jordan, Law 

When you’re Michael Jordan you get to play rounds of golf with Tiger Woods, Luke Donald, Ernie Ells and pretty much anyone else you want to. Because you’re Michael Jordan. And he talks to them. About winning. And golf. Over at Golf World Tim Rosaforte got some of golf’s biggest names talk about it, and even Jordan to talk about it a little. When I asked tiger Woods recently if there was one iconic athlete, entertainment star or business leader who he tapped for advice on life at the top, there was no hesitation: “M.J.”… Els was doing a putting drill recently when he heard “I’ve got $100 you don’t make it.” Knowing the voice to be Jordan’s, Els said, “Make it $150,” then made the putt. That’s the mindset Jordan was hoping to see from the reigning British Open Champion. “Just like a free throw,” Jordan said. “You need the right fundamentals, like to make sure you extend. But you should never be defensive, never assume you’re going to miss it, never think, ‘What if?’” NBCSports.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods 

Jalen Rose explains to Bill Simmons and David Jacoby how he gets inside NBA information before everyone else does and offers a cryptic answer to Bill’s question about whether Michael Jordan’s famous flu game was a “flu game or hangover game.” YouTube

Michael Jordan, Media, Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons, David Jacoby 

Rose: When you go to one of your favorite restaurants, you can order things single, or you can order a combo meal... I would think that that was a number three. A combo meal. David Jacoby: What?! If I'm a little bit under the weather, I'm staying home. Rose: Not if it's game six or seven. YouTube

Michael Jordan, Media, Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons, David Jacoby 

Last week I had the opportunity to attend the prestigious MIT Sloan Sports Analytics Conference, where a senior executive of the Dallas Mavericks told me the following when I asked him about the famous "flu game": "The fact that Jordan wasn't sick that afternoon is an open secret in the NBA. Flu is a smokescreen that gives value to what he did. It's much better to say that someone is playing under the weather that saying he's feeling weak because he had few drinks the night before. (...) what Bill Simmons did with Jalen Rose, it's a question to which they both know the answer, but it is a question nobody asks. Simmons, asking that question in a network like ESPN shows why he is the best sports writer out there. (...) It is not surprising that this has not come to light before. There are certain sports brands and sponsors that don't want this to come to light. There is big money at stake. That's why the media is not giving this story any shine. The Jordan brand is worth so much. The media knows it and don't want to take risks, and Jordan's sponsors are going to protect him." Marca.com

Michael Jordan, Media, Jalen Rose, Bill Simmons, David Jacoby 

A lawyer for a woman who says Michael Jordan fathered her teenage son is attacking the basketball Hall of Famer's allegation that her ex-husband has been established as the boy's dad. Pamela Smith last month sued Jordan and asked that he take a paternity test and pay child support. Jordan has said he's not the father and filed a motion to have her lawsuit dismissed. ESPN.com

Michael Jordan, Law 

Michael Jordan's gettin' serious about settling down ... TMZ has learned the NBA icon applied for a marriage certificate in Florida this morning in preparation for his April wedding. MJ and his longtime GF Yvette Prieto were spotted at the counter at the courthouse in Palm Beach County, FL ... and a court spokesperson confirmed the couple had filled out the paperwork. Jordan and Prieto are reportedly set to get hitched on April 27. TMZ.com

Michael Jordan 

I laid out my argument for the Charlotte Hornets rebrand three weeks ago. Since then, MJ addressed the name change on Bobcats.com: “As some of you may be aware, we have engaged a national polling group to survey both our current season ticket holders and randomly selected individuals in our local area to see how our fans and stakeholders feel about this topic. Judging from the e-mails you’ve sent me, the opinion seems to be very mixed.” CBS

Charlotte Bobcats, New Orleans Hornets, Michael Jordan, Charlotte Hornets 

Michael Jordan has asked a Georgia court to dismiss a lawsuit filed against him by a woman who says the NBA hall of famer is the father of her 16-year-old son. Jordan's lawyer John Mayoue said in the document filed Monday in Fulton County Superior Court that the six-time NBA champion is not the father of Pamela Y. Smith's son. Jordan accused her of making false claims against him. The NBA's Charlotte Bobcats majority owner said the paternity of the teen has already been "conclusively established" in divorce filings between Smith and her ex-husband. USA Today Sports

Michael Jordan, Law 

Michael Jordan has asked a Georgia court to dismiss a lawsuit filed against him by a woman who says the NBA hall of famer is the father of her 16-year-old son. Jordan’s lawyer John Mayoue said in the document filed Monday in Fulton County Superior Court that the six-time NBA champion is not the father of Pamela Y. Smith’s son. Jordan accused her of making false claims against him. The NBA’s Charlotte Bobcats owner said the paternity of the teen has already been “conclusively established” in divorce filings between Smith and her ex-husband. Washington Times

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan, Law 

Michael Jordan has been sued by a woman who claims he fathered her 16-year-old son ... and she wants a paternity test to prove it. Pamela Smith claims in her paternity suit -- filed February 6 in Fulton County, GA and obtained by TMZ -- she became pregnant after having sex with Jordan in 1995. Pamela gave birth to Grant Pierce Jay Jordan Reynolds -- aka Taj -- in June 1996. BTW, Jordan was married to Juanita Vanoy at the time he allegedly had sex with Smith. Pamela says in her legal docs she welcomes a paternity test to prove Jordan's the dad. She wants full custody and child support. She also wants Jordan to pay the kid's medical expenses. TMZ.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan, Law 

Bobcats owner Michael Jordan has purchased a 12,310-square-foot lakefront home in Cornelius, N.C., for $2.8 million. The home is about 22 miles north of uptown Charlotte where the Bobcats play their home games and where Jordan owns a spacious condo. Public records show the home, which had been foreclosed, was purchased Feb. 19 by the Jordan Family Gift Trust from First Community Bank. CBSSports.com

Charlotte Bobcats, Michael Jordan