The Comeback

Look up the word "Money" in a dictionary, and you`ll find trite words about a "medium of exchange." Look up the word in the glossary of Spike Lee`s book, Best Seat in the House, and you`ll find the name Michael Jordan. Not because the Bulls' guard has been scoring mad millions ever since he and Spike hooked up for those "Mars Blackmon" Nike spots, but because he`s the surest thing to ever take an NBA court. And New York`s Madison Square Garden-Spike`s house-has consistently been the site of his greatest performances. A Knicks season ticket holder, the director has personally withnessed several of MJ`s biggest nights. The 42-point showing as a rookie. The 50 he dropped in the '86-87 season opener. And of course the 47 he knocked down in '88 despite suffering from the flu. But perhaps he`s never put on a better show than the one on March 28 of '95, the fifth stop on the Jordan reunion tour. After an 20-month sabbatical from the game-during which the Knicks had advanced to the Finals-Jordan un-retired. Some doubted his skills after he struggled in his first few games back, but those critics were about to be silenced. As if his buzzer-beater against Atlanta, three days earlier, weren`t enough to shut their holes. In the opening quarter, the newly-numbered 45 hit for 20 points. By halftime, he had 35, and in the final box score, his line showed a double nickel. But his most important stat didn`t come on a turn-around jumper over Starks or a baseline slam on Oakley. With 14 seconds remaining, Mike pushed the rock upcourt. As he made his way to the right wing, Patrick Ewing left the paint to double him. The former Hoya wasn`t about to let the former Tar Heel beat him on an easy jumper again. Instead, he`d help MJ beat the Knicks with a pass. Jordan fired a bullet to wide-open center/walking corpse Bill Wennington, who dunked for the win.

Cha-ching.-JERAMIE MCPEKK