More than half surveyed in favor of Jordan's NBA return

<br>Results from a Time-CNN poll, released Saturday, about Michael Jordan's possible return to professional basketball. The 38-year-old Jordan retired after the 1998 season after leading the Chicago

Saturday, July 21st 2001, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Results from a Time-CNN poll, released Saturday, about Michael Jordan's possible return to professional basketball. The 38-year-old Jordan retired after the 1998 season after leading the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships in eight years. He is now part owner and president of basketball operations of the Washington Wizards:

Would you like to see Michael Jordan return to basketball as a player in the NBA or not?

_Yes, 53 percent.

_No, 27 percent.

_Not sure, 20 percent.

If Michael Jordan returns to the NBA and does not play as well as he did at his peak, do you think this would make him less of a sports legend or don't you think so?

_Yes, less of a sports legend, 21 percent.

_No, not less of a sports legend, 70 percent.

_Not sure, 9 percent.

Do you think it is better for professional athletes to retire when they are playing their best, or do you think they should play as long as they can even if this means they retire when they aren't playing as well?

_Retire when they are playing their best, 28 percent.

_Play as long as they can, 60 percent.

_Not sure, 12 percent.

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The poll of 1,015 adults was taken Tuesday and Wednesday. It has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.