Lacy Banks of the Chicago Sun-Times reported that Day 3 of the MJ Comeback Tour was a disappointing one for Michael Jordan, whose team was swept 10-0 in the mini-games.  The team of Tim Hardaway, Penny Hardaway, Charles Oakley, Michael Finley and Bobby Simmons got hot and never looked back, reported a player who spoke on condition of anonymity.  ''That's the way it is sometimes in scrimmages. A lineup gets hot and gets on a roll and nobody can touch them. So they ran the table today. We play to seven points and in one game they rallied from three down to win."  Jordan took it easy, pacing himself perhaps due to the tendinitis in his knee.

''I thought that Penny was the best player on the floor [Wednesday],'' another player said. Tim and Michael Finley also played great, Bobby is really impressive and Oakley was just awesome. But Penny appears to finally be healthy again and he's getting his confidence back.''

Penny Hardaway is ready to go.  Associated Press is reporting that Hardaway has been impressive in working out with Michael Jordan. "I'm 100 percent ready,'' he said. "I feel like my old self."

As for Jordan, Hardaway has some doubts about his physical conditioning but doesn't doubt how hard Michael is working. "Michael looks good. The only thing that's not there all the time is dunking the ball, and that's only because he's working so hard his legs aren't fresh," Hardaway said.

Stephon Marbury comments in the Bergen Record about his summer tournament, helping kids out and his change of team.  Various stars have come out to help Marbury at the event, most notably the Suns Penny Hardaway.  Hardaway and Marbury are claiming everything is cool between them and they are on the same page.  Stephon's feelings about Byron Scott seem downright frigid, though.

No less than the legendary Pete Newell has proclaimed Jake Tsakalidis to be a "potential star" at his Big Man's Camp in Honolulu.  The Arizona Republic is reporting that Newell sees Big Jake improving practically every hour. No report on whether Newell can pronounce his last name though.  They also point out that the Suns second round pick, Alton Ford, is looking good and that last year's rookie center, Daniel Santiago, is about to sign a contract with the team.