Dec 29, 2006 4:58 pm US/Central
Michael Jordan And Wife Divorce
After 17 Years, Jordans 'Amicably' End Marriage
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
Basketball star Michael Jordan and his wife Juanita are divorced as of Friday.
CBS 2's Dana Kozlov has more on how the power couple quietly announced their split.
There's no missing the number 23 on the gates of the Jordan's Highland Park home. But no one inside is talking. After 17 years of marriage, the Jordan's entered a Lake County courtroom Friday and a short time later, were officially divorced. Family law attorney Jonathan Nye says the high profile couple likely came before a judge with an agreement in hand.
"Chances are what happened was a marital settlement agreement contract or agreement of divorce was entered, it's ususally negotiated," he said.
The couple's attorneys said in a joint statement that: "Michael and Juanita Jordan mutually and amicably decided to end their 17 year marriage," the couple said in a statement issued through their lawyers. "A judgment for dissolution of their marriage was entered today. There will be no further statements."
This isn't the first time divorce has come up for the Bulls superstar and his wife Juanita. She filed for divorce back in 2002, but the couple reconciled about the same time Jordan was involved in a legal battle with Karla Knafel, a woman who claimed to be his mistress.
According to the Associated Press, legal papers filed Friday state the couple cited "irreconcilable differences have caused an irretrievable breakdown of the marriage."
The couple said attempts to reconcile their marriage had failed and future ones "would be impractical and not in the best interests of the family."
"The co-petitioners acknowledge that although their marriage is ending, they desire to resolve all of the issues surrounding the dissolution of marriage in the most amicable, expeditious and private fashion possible, for the benefit of themselves and their children," court documents read.
The documents state the couple will also share custody of their three children.
"The reality is to protect the children, the family, their assets. It would always be better to make an agreement," Nye said.
Michael and Juanita Jordan met at a Chicago restaurant during his second season with the Chicago Bulls. The two were married Sept. 2, 1989, in Las Vegas and have three children, Jeffrey, 18, Marcus, 16, and Jasmine, 14.
Michael Jordan, 43, lives in Chicago; Juanita Jordan, 47, lives in Highland Park, Ill.
The Jordans have lived separately since February.
Jordan led the Bulls to six championships during his 13 seasons with the team, and was a five-time NBA Most Valuable Player who shattered league records. He retired from the game three times and is a former executive of the Washington Wizards.
He is part-owner of the Charlotte Bobcats basketball team.
In July, a Cook County judge ruled in Jordan's favor in a lawsuit between Jordan and ex-lover, Knafel, who claimed he reneged on a promise to pay her $5 million in hush money when she claimed she was pregnant with his child.
Medical tests showed Jordan, whose net worth is estimated at more than $400 million, was not the child's father. He denied agreeing to pay Knafel $5 million.
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