Basketball star Michael Jordan's wife files for divorce, cites 'irreconcilable differences'

CHICAGO - Michael Jordan&#39;s wife has filed for divorce, citing &#34;irreconcilable differences&#34; with the basketball superstar after 12 years of marriage. They have three children. <br> <br> Juanita Jordan is seeking permanent custody of the couple&#39;s three children, their 25,000-square-foot house in Highland Park, north of the city, and half the couple&#39;s property. Michael Jordan, who is playing this year for the Washington Wizards, was paid more than $30 million in his final season with the Bulls and is one of the world&#39;s richest athletes. <br> <br> Juanita Jordan filed the petition Friday in suburban Waukegan, the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune reported Tuesday. <br> <br> There was no immediate comment from Jordan. He was to play in Washington on Tuesday against the Los Angeles Clippers. <br> <br> &#34;The parties consider this a very private and personal matter and hope that people try to respect their privacy at this time,&#34; said Donald Schiller, an attorney for Juanita Jordan. <br> <br> The six-page petition said attempts at reconciliation &#34;would be impractical and not in the best interests of the family.&#34; <br> <br> The couple met at a Chicago restaurant during his second season with the Bulls, and they were married Sept. 2, 1989, in Las Vegas. Their children are Jeffrey, 13, Marques, 11, and Jasmine, 9. <br> <br> Michael Jordan cited a desire to spend more time with his family when he retired from the Bulls the first time in October 1994 and again in January 1999. <br> <br> He maintained his home in the Chicago area when he returned to basketball as a front-office executive with the Wizards last season, but his decision to resume his playing career has kept him in Washington full-time. <br> <br>