Michael Jordan returns to the United Center for the second last time in his NBA career tonight, and it will mark only the second time that he has played in the United Center in a visitors uniform.

You may recall that last time Jordan was so emotional about his return that he actually shed a tear during the player introductions, but this time the greatest player the NBA has ever seen promises that there will be no such encore.  John Mitchell of the Washington Times writes that if you listen to Jordan tell it, there are no permanent ties to be cut between him and the franchise he took to its highest heights.

"They've taken different turns," Jordan said. "I'm here; I've gotten a year removed from that. [Chicago is] still always going to be home for me, and the fans there are people I'm always going to have high regard for. They built my career basically with their support."

"But I'm going back now as someone who is trying to beat their team," Jordan continued. "So I imagine that they are going to have the same respect, but they are going to be very loyal [to the Bulls]. But personally, I think we have a very good chance of moving in the right direction."

The Jordanless Bulls trail Jordan's Wizards by only 3 1/2 games for the eighth seed heading into tonight's game despite going on a major losing streak out West earlier this season.  The Bulls currently own a solid 10-6 home record despite last week's United Center losses to Minnesota and San Antonio, this in itself a major feat for a team which has been stuck in the NBA cellar since Jordan left five years ago.

Jordan said that the Bulls are not a team you can take for granted.  That team plays hard. If you go in there thinking that they're bottom dwellers, then you're going to end up getting beat," Jordan said.

"I think M.J. has played well," Bulls coach and former teammate Bill Cartwright said. "I don't view his play as being poor by any stretch of the imagination. The guy is still pretty good. He can still make a shot, make a play. He still guards. He looks pretty good to me."

"I think Michael should do whatever he wants to do," Cartwright said. "If he wants to continue playing basketball for another 10 years, I think it's great."

Jalen Rose, however, offered a different perspective.

"He's not winning 72 games, and he's not winning championships," Rose said. "He's not the Michael Jordan I grew up watching."