Judge off Jordan case, denies calling legend 'hog'

A federal judge in Chicago has removed himself from a civil case involving Michael Jordan, but denies his use of the term "hog" was aimed directly at the former Bulls star.

Jordan's lawyers this week succeeded in getting Judge Milton Shadur to remove himself from the four-year-old case in Chicago.

Jordan is suing grocery chain Dominick's for using his name without permission in an advertisement.

His attorneys accused Shadur of bias, saying he's described Jordan as "greedy," as a "hog" and as "Dr. Frankenstein."

In announcing his decision to withdraw, the judge criticized Jordan's attorneys for launching what he called "a groundless ... personal attack" on him.

And earlier, Shadur denied calling Jordan a "hog" or "Dr. Frankenstein." He insisted those were references to Jordan's high damages claims, not to Jordan himself.