There aren’t too many similarities between Mr. I’ve-Got-801-Wins-AND-I Can-Throw-Chairs-Farther-Than-You and Michael Jordan.

One will be collecting Social Security soon, while the other is still one of the best in the game.

One has hair, the other one is as bald as a bowling ball — except for the occasional mustache or goatee.

Nope, Texas Tech coach Bobby Knight and Michael (insert praise here) Jordan are just plain different. But I found one striking similarity.

Jordan has been singing his swan song the last two seasons in the NBA, helping teams like the Cavaliers, Heat and the Raptors sell out despite all three teams combining for 41 wins in half a season. Cleveland, despite the performances of former Iowa dropout Ricky Davis, has been averaging around 10,000 fans without Jordan.

On Nov. 9, when His Airness was in the house, he drew a sellout crowd of 20,562. Notice I wrote ‘he,’ not ‘the Cavs.’

Last month, when Jordan made his last visit to Chicago — which has been as bad as a Michael Jackson daycare service since he left — they crammed 23,215 in the United Center.

The money rolls in wherever Jordan goes, for one last season. And the Wizards, well, lets just say they’ve never seen the attendance they’re getting these days. Enjoy it while it lasts.

MJ will retire at the season’s end, but Bobby Knight, who is inducing a similar trend on the college scene, will probably be around forever — at least in spirit.

The General, as he’s known on and off the basketball court/base is famous for his practices/hell. But that hasn’t received nearly as much attention as his antics during games.

During a timeout in 1985, Knight was so angry he threw a chair on the court — an event that has been replayed on ESPN roughly one gazillion times so even I can enjoy it, since I was 3 years old at the time.

He’s been caught on tape ‘choking’ a player during practice. He even shoved his own son during a game in 1993.

At the same time, he’s used those tactics, along with one hell of a temper, to produce the fourth-most wins in NCAA men’s basketball history in his 38 years as a head coach.

He started at Army, became a celebrity at Indiana and changed his wardrobe from crimson and cream to scarlet and black when he signed a deal with Tech prior to last season.

As Jordan has done since his (second) return to the NBA, Knight has been helping conference cupcakes sell tickets.

Knight’s visit to Texas A&M earlier this season was spoiled when the Aggies knocked off his team. He missed his first chance to join the 800-win club that night.

The sellout crowd of 12,611 was the most basketball fans College Station has had at one game since the pregame giveaway was belt buckles for the first 1,000 fans.

The Aggies average 6,463 fans for all games and 9,841 fans for Big 12 contests.

Despite the increase in attendance, associate media relations director Colin Killian said he wouldn’t say it is all directly due to Knight’s appearance. He cited the fact that the next home game against Texas was also a sellout.

“I’d hesitate to give that jerk all the credit,” Killian said.

Iowa State’s record indicates it’s no cupcake, but even Iowa State has joined in making Knight one of its selling points.

The press release that came across my desk the other day included this:

“Some $14 obstructed view seats are available for the Feb. 12 Iowa State men’s basketball game against Texas Tech and Red Raider head coach Bobby Knight in Hilton Coliseum … “

A similar release for Baylor wouldn’t include the name Dave Bliss, the Bears’ head coach. Ever.

And it’s funny nothing was mentioned about Iowa State’s attempt to make the postseason or the chance to experience what’s left of Hilton Magic. It’s the Bobby Knight factor, and it has caught on here.

ISU media relations director Tom Kroeschell said he’s sure some people came to the game last evening just to see Knight.

“His appearance is definitely a draw,” Kroeschell said. “No doubt about it.”

Wednesday night, Iowa State continued a steady decline in attendance with 11,039 fans, but maybe that’s a better draw than Iowa State could have got without Knight coming to town.

Whether or not Iowa State benefited by Knight’s attendance and by how much still remains unknown, and will stay that way because there’s no way to track who bought tickets just to see him.

One thing is for sure though. After sitting just across the court from Knight, I’m beginning to agree with the A&M media relations director.

Jeff Raasch is a senior in journalism and mass communication from Odebolt. He is the assignment sports editor and senior sports writer for the Daily.