Here\u2019s a look back at what happened in the Chicago area on Jan. 13, according to the Tribune\u2019s archives.<\/p>\n
Is an important event missing from this date? Email us<\/a>.<\/p>\n Front page flashback: Jan. 14, 1999<\/p>\n Weather records (from the National Weather Service, Chicago<\/a>)<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n High temperature: 58 degrees (1932)<\/p>\n Low temperature: Minus 9 degrees (1929)<\/p>\n Precipitation: 1.37 inches (1950)<\/p>\n Snowfall: 16.5 inches (1979)<\/p>\n 1999: \u201cIt\u2019s not really 100 percent,\u201d Michael Jordan said, \u201cbut it\u2019s close. That\u2019s where I stand. I\u2019m not going to say never. But I will say 99.9<\/a>.\u201d Jordan retired from the Chicago Bulls for the second time.<\/p>\n Jordan, who first retired in 1993 after the Bulls won the third of their six championships, said this was as good a time as any to hang up the Air Jordans. Over a storybook career he won six championship rings and 10 scoring titles while earning five Most Valuable Player awards and six NBA Finals MVP trophies.<\/p>\n In addition to being remembered as perhaps the greatest player in the history of the game, Jordan sealed his reputation as the pre-eminent clutch performer by hitting the game-winning basket<\/a> with 5.2 seconds remaining to give the Bulls their sixth title with an 87-86 victory over the Utah Jazz in Game 6 of the previous season\u2019s NBA Finals.<\/p>\n Vintage Chicago Tribune: Michael Jordan \u2014 23 stories about No. 23<\/a><\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n As he did when Jordan retired Oct. 6, 1993, NBA Commissioner David Stern flew to Chicago to honor Jordan, calling him one of the greatest ambassadors the game had even seen. Stern, who all but begged Jordan to play at least one more season to help repair the public relations damage caused by the labor dispute<\/a> that shortened the season, thanked Jordan for a spectacular career that boosted the popularity of the league worldwide.<\/p>\n Bulls Chairman\u00a0Jerry Reinsdorf, who presented Jordan with his 1998 championship ring and re-hoisted Jordan\u2019s retired No. 23 jersey to the United Center rafters, said it was a sad day for the Bulls and for basketball.<\/p>\n \u2018The Last Dance\u2019: Recaps from the 10-part documentary on the Chicago Bulls<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThis is a day that I hoped would never come,\u201d Reinsdorf said. \u201cIt has to be the toughest day in the history of the Chicago Bulls. It\u2019s a tough day for Chicago; it\u2019s a tough day for the NBA.\u201d<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Jordan acknowledged the decision was difficult.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m doing a good job of trying to hold back the emotions because it\u2019s like taking back something I truly have loved. I started when I was 12 years old and I\u2019m 36 next month, so 24 years I\u2019ve been playing the game,\u201d he said. \u201cIt\u2019s sad that I\u2019m leaving the game but it\u2019s happy that my life is starting to go into a whole new stage.<\/p>\n Jordan said he reached his decision over the summer, when he knew Phil Jackson wouldn\u2019t return as Bulls coach.<\/p>\n \u2018Holy (expletive)! That\u2019s Michael Jordan.\u2019 A behind-the-scenes look at \u2018The Last Dance\u2019<\/a><\/p>\n Want more vintage Chicago?<\/p>\n Subscribe to the free\u00a0Vintage Chicago Tribune<\/a>\u00a0newsletter, join our\u00a0Chicagoland history Facebook group,<\/a>\u00a0stay current with\u00a0Today in Chicago History<\/a>\u00a0and follow us on\u00a0Instagram<\/a>\u00a0for more from Chicago\u2019s past.<\/p>\n Advertisement<\/p>\n Have an idea for Vintage Chicago Tribune? Share it with Kori Rumore and Marianne Mather at krumore@chicagotribune.com<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0mmather@chicagotribune.com<\/a><\/p>\n