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Air Jordan Walks Away In Philadelphia
A 107-87 defeat to 76ers puts an end to superstar's glittering 15-year career.Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Michael Jordan finally found the strength to walk off the basketball court, leaving behind the sport he describes as a lover and best friend after playing his final game.
The 40 -year-old superstar concluded his fabled1 15-year National Basketball Association2 career in defeat ( April 16 , 2003) when Philadelphia 76ers beat his Washington Wizards 107-87. But the game was secondary to Jordan's third and final retirement from the game he loved like no player before him, a sport that rewarded his devotion with NBA titles, two Olympic gold medals and a legendary global legacy.
Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles. He was named the season MVP five times and won the NBA scoring title a record 10 times. Jordan has retired twice before only to return, but at age 40 and on longer be able to dominate games single -handedly,
He has said he is"100 percent sure "this was his farewell performance in the game he will forever love."Love is a very delicate thing, "Jordan said. "Once you love it, you will never lose the love for the game. You never know when you can walk away from it. I tried a couple of times. "Jordan's first retirement was in 1993. It ended in 1995 after an ill-fated fling with baseball. After three more titles, he departed again in 1999, only to return a year later as the Wizard's top executive. He was back on the court 18 months later.
"Each time I tried to put a time frame on when this love affair was going to be over between basketball and me. And I don't think it ever will. It's just that I got strong enough to say I need to move away from it. "
Jordan left no doubt that he will not make yet another comeback. In his final game, Jordan scored 15 point, the last of them on a free throw with 1∶45 to play. He was pulled from the game a moment later, taking a seat on the bench while a sell-out crowd of 21 , 257 gave a three -minute standing ovation3.
Jordan scored Washington's first four points in the third quarter but spend most of the fourth quarter on the bench, prompting fans to chant"We Want Mike "as they hungered for one final glance at Jordan on the court. 4 Their persistence was rewarded when Jordan return to the court with 2∶35 remaining to a standing ovation, the crowd ignoring the re mainder of the blowout to thrill at his final touches.
Thank for Jordan, for all the magic moments and memories.
练习题：
Ⅰ. Matching:
1. put an end A. have control of
2. leave behind B. by one person
3. single-handedly C. great applause or cheering
4. ovation D. end
5. dominate E. take leave of
Ⅱ. True or False:
1. Jordan concluded his career as a basketball player in victory.
2. Probably Jordan will come back again after retirement for the third time.
3. Jordan was named the season MVP five times and won NBA scoring title a record 10 times.
