DETROIT – Air Jordan has a new name: Hall of Famer.
Michael Jordan was elected to the class of 2009 on Monday, set for induction in September with his Dream Team teammates David Robinson and John Stockton.
Utah Jazz coach Jerry Sloan and Rutgers women’s coach C. Vivian Stringer are also part of a class announced in Detroit, site of the men’s Final Four.
Induction is Sept. 10-12 in Springfield, Mass., home of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
“I don’t like being up here for the Hall of Fame because at that time your basketball career is completely over,” Jordan said. “I was hoping this day would be 20 more years, or actually go in when I’m dead and gone.”
Jordan’s Hall of Fame selection was a slam dunk after he retired as perhaps the greatest player in history. And he gave much of the credit Monday to his college coach.
“There’s no way you guys would have got a chance to see Michael Jordan play without Dean Smith,” he said.
His soaring dunks, Nike commercials and “Air Jordan” nickname helped stamp him as one the most recognizable athletes around the world.
He finished a 15-year career with the Chicago Bulls and Washington Wizards with 32,292 points – the third-highest total in league history, behind Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Karl Malone. His final career average of 30.12 goes down as the best, just ahead of Wilt Chamberlain’s 30.07.
“Simply the greatest to ever play the game of basketball. He is the one player that each young person in this league should emulate and aspire to become. His work ethic, drive, skill level and competitive spirit were unmatched,” Jordan’s former Bulls teammate and now team GM, John Paxson said.
Jordan was a five-time NBA MVP, won six championships with the Bulls and another in college with North Carolina.
Oakland signs Garcia
OAKLAND, Calif. – After a four-team, five-season odyssey since leaving the 49ers, Jeff Garcia finally found his way back home to the Bay Area – albeit on the other side from where he started.
The four-time Pro Bowl quarterback joined the Oakland Raiders on Monday, with the 39-year-old passer agreeing to a one-year deal to be JaMarcus Russell’s backup.
Raiders senior executive John Herrera told The Associated Press that Garcia will join the club’s offseason workout program immediately in the next stage of a remarkable NFL career that didn’t begin until 1999 after a long detour to the Canadian Football League.
Garcia spent the past two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, starting 24 games.
Bucs sign TE Winslow
TAMPA, Fla. – Former Pro Bowl tight end Kellen Winslow has agreed to a six-year contract extension with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
The Bucs acquired Winslow from the Cleveland Browns on Feb. 27 in exchange for a second-round pick in this year’s draft and a fifth-rounder in 2010.
The 25-year-old Winslow was sixth overall pick in the 2004 draft. He had 219 receptions for 2,459 yards and 11 touchdowns in five seasons with Cleveland, and the Bucs are counting on him to have a major impact in their offense.
Winslow had 89 catches for 875 yards and three touchdowns in 2006 and followed with 82 receptions for 1,106 yards in 2007. He survived a serious motorcycle accident and battled injuries throughout his stay in Cleveland, and last season squabbled with the Browns’ front office.
NHL: Red Wings win
BUFFALO, N.Y. – Marian Hossa scored twice and Chris Osgood tied Dominik Hasek for 10th on the NHL career wins list (389) in helping the Detroit Red Wings to a 4-1 victory over Buffalo on Monday night.