Ever since I was eight years old I have had an addiction that I haven’t been able to shake.

This addiction is so dominating in my life that I find most of my conversations and actions revolve around it.

My addiction is not a normal one for most to have, yet I hold it dear to me.

The addiction I am referring to is football.

Throughout my life, I lived, breathed and dreamed about the chance to play at a higher level.

I cannot get enough football on a regular basis to make up for all the time and energy that I devoted to football.

From playing on the peewee football team until the last game of my senior year in high school, my memories run greater than any other memories of my life.

Memories from my first sack, to the time that I missed my block, dart in and out of my head like a child awaiting Christmas morning

All of the practices and training that I endured to strap on the pads and walk under the Friday-night lights seemed to mean nothing now that I am away from playing the game that I love.

Not being able to be on the actual team really didn’t matter to me because I’m there now, playing where the big boys play.

This reality came to light as my intramural flag football team stepped onto the field at Huskie Stadium last night.

We received the chance to play there by winning our first round tournament game.

As I awaited the first snap, the anticipation grew greater and greater.

This finally was my chance to play after a drought of four years.

Much the same could be said about Michael Jordan’s return to the game that he loves.

He is getting a chance to play ball again after a three-year break from the game. At the same time I can’t help but think that his motives aren’t the same as mine were.

Michael Jordan is a businessman. He has multimillion-dollar endorsements thrown at him on a daily basis.

Just by being Jordan, he could make money for guest appearances. He knows what sells and he is exploiting his greatness. I truly am happy that he is returning to the game for the love of it, but only if that is his only intention. If that itch that he says just won’t leave him, then it’s great that he is there to play. Sad to say, but that isn’t why he’s back.

Call me optimistic, but in my opinion, if Jordan loved the game, he would be playing for the team that made him great — the Chicago Bulls. Jordan returning to basketball to play for the Wizards is a slap in the face to all of the people of Chicago. He was adorned and loved as a Bull, but I don’t think he will get as much attention being a Wizard.

He bought that team in hopes of making some money. He thought that he would be able to take a sub-par team to the next level just by being there.

That was so wrong.

As his critics got on him and as his dream to make money as an owner slowly dwindled down, he decided to do what he knew would sell, dress in a Wizards uniform.

Jordan is always going to be Jordan. He will dominate his opponents and he will score 20 to 30 points a night. But he will be a new Jordan. He will not be the one that the world has grown to love. As he plays each game, the memories that he created in his Bulls uniform will die a slow death.

The new memories will not be as great. I hope that most of you fellow Chicagoans as well as I will not support him. In fact, I will go as far as saying that I hope that he fails. Miserably.

Michael Jordan left the game at the top. I think that he took two steps backward by reentering the game.

Kudos to you Jordan. Boy, do you know how to make a buck.