AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Now that he's officially back, I understand completely why Michael Jordan's third coming is the talk of the sports world.

Jordan's final return to the NBA is being met with reverence and awe from admiring fans, along with a large media contingent salivating to document his return for posterity.

When the league heard that Jordan planned to miss the Washington Wizards' first two preseason games, Jordan was reminded that he was responsible for last night's announced sellout against the Detroit Pistons at The Palace and tomorrow's near-sellout in Miami.

Jordan said he played last night because he didn't want to disappoint his fans - yes, there are even Jordanaires in Detroit, despite Jordan's intense dislike for the hometown Pistons when the Pistons and Jordan's Chicago Bulls were heated rivals

Jordan was serenaded with loud cheers and the theme song from Welcome Back Kotter last night when the Wizards took the court for warm-ups. I watched proud fathers point out Jordan to their young sons, as though describing a rare artifact in a museum. Cameras followed Jordan's every move, flashbulbs creating a flood of light across the arena.

“It was great, the respect they gave me,” Jordan said following Detroit's 95-85 victory. “It inspires me to do my job as a basketball player.”

Jordan said he returned because he missed the pure joy of playing basketball at its highest level.

“I'm doing this for the game of basketball, not for media attention.”

He left three years ago when he was still of sound body and mind. He retired because, after sinking the winning shot to cinch his sixth NBA title, everyone agreed he should leave since he had nothing left to prove.

Jordan left too soon. His surprising return at 38 proves that you're never too old if you're still young at heart.

In 17 first-half minutes against the Pistons, Jordan shot 4 for 8 from the field for eight points. He added three rebounds, one steal and one block. He made a couple of classic MJ plays, blocking a Ben Wallace layup in the opening minutes and rising above the defense effortlessly to drop in an alley-oop layup.

Jordan clearly is not in tip-top game shape. On a scale of 1 to 10, his performance last night rated a 7.

“I kind of surprised myself, playing my first game in three years. My energy level was pretty good,” Jordan said. “My legs are coming back.”

Jordan's return is a godsend to commissioner David Stern. The experts say the league needs Jordan. Television ratings and the quality of play lagged in his absence.

Perhaps the only people not overjoyed about Jordan's comeback are the players. The NBA's new stars who emerged during Jordan's absence don't resent Jordan. Many of them grew up admiring him and patterning their games after him.

What they resent is people saying the NBA needs Jordan to because the league is in trouble.

“That might have been true three or four years ago, but not anymore,” said Pistons star guard Jerry Stackhouse.

“The league is stronger now with some of the new players filling that void (left by Jordan). If anything (Jordan coming back) will be testing his old wits against some of the young wits.”

Jordan casts a giant shadow. It's up to Stackhouse and others to emerge from Jordan's shadow and stake their claim to greatness.

John Harris is The Blade's sports columnist. Contact him by e-mail at jharris@theblade.com

AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Michael Jordan began his comeback by blocking the first shot of the game.

Jordan appeared in a Washington Wizards uniform for the first time last night, playing 17 minutes in the first half of a 95-85 preseason loss to the Detroit Pistons.

Welcomed with a huge, warm ovation in the first game of his comeback, Jordan had a sellout crowd gasping with excitement just 18 seconds into the game when he swooped into the lane from the foul line and swatted away a shot by Pistons forward Ben Wallace.

Jordan went on to miss his first shot, a 3-pointer, and make his second - a 20-foot jumper over Corliss Williamson - for the first points of the game.

He played the opening 8:08 of the first quarter and the first 8:25 of the second. He did not play in the second half.

“I thought it lived up to its billing,” Pistons coach Rick Carlisle said. “He's not one to make timid entrances, never has been.”

Jerry Stackhouse of Detroit led all scorers with 30 points. Richard Hamilton had a team-high 24 for Washington.

“Michael was fine. I said I was going to play him eight minutes, but after he came out he said `Let me play a little bit more,'” Wizards coach Doug Collins said. “Let's give him four or five more weeks to let him get where he wants to be. He's three or four weeks away from being where he wants to get.”

First Published October 12, 2001, 10:22 a.m.