We need to stop this Michael Jordan jersey nonsense before it goes too far.

Last night in his post game interview, LeBron James said that starting in 2010 he was going to change his jersey number from his current 23 to 6.  He is going to do this in honor of Michael Jordan, who made 23 famous and in a way, part of the Air Jordan brand.  James said that Michael did so much and has meant so much to basketball that no one should ever wear his number again.

I love that a super-duper star like LeBron has enough humility and appreciation for those who came before him to make such a sacrifice.  It shows just how much he "gets it."  But as great as Michael was, he did not do anything that makes his jersery worthy of retirement across the league.  When Major League Baseball retired Jackie Robinson's number 42 in perpetuity back in 1997 they did so because Jackie may be the single most important American athlete ever.  He broke the baseball color barrier in 1947 when this country was still heavily racist.  He endured unimaginable hate and humiliation with class and strength that was equally as unbelievable.  And he did it so that those black players who came after him would be able to realize their dreams of playing major league baseball.

Michael Jordan was just a great basketball player.  He may well have been the best who ever played but in the end he was just a great basketball player.  He was not a pioneer (one could argue Jordan was in the business aspect of the game, but not socially).  He was not Jackie Robinson, not even close.  And Michael would agree.

So the notion that the NBA should retire Michael Jordan's jersey number is nice but misguided.  Lets leave the league-wide retired jerseys to those who not only brought their sports to a new level, but our country as well.  Number 23 should be available to anyone in the NBA who wants it.

Except, of course, for those playing in Chicago.

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