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That sucks to be MJ.
That sucks to be MJ.
Jordan Won't Return As Wizards President
- Thread starter SweetD
- Start date
jbeecham
ASFN Addict
yeah it must really suck to be considered the greatest player to ever play the game and go home to your millions......maybe billions of dollars.
It's not going to be a surprise to anyone when he takes over a large part of the Charlotte franchise.
I never believed him when he said he had no interest in Charlotte and stated repeatedly that he would return to run the Wizards. If this move hadn't happened by the Wizards, I feel MJ still would have bailed and gone to Charlotte.
He's got to keep working. It's part of who he is...and it keeps him from hanging around the house with his wife - who he cheated on.
I never believed him when he said he had no interest in Charlotte and stated repeatedly that he would return to run the Wizards. If this move hadn't happened by the Wizards, I feel MJ still would have bailed and gone to Charlotte.
He's got to keep working. It's part of who he is...and it keeps him from hanging around the house with his wife - who he cheated on.
Michael Jordan made a few decent moves at first, but recently nothing he has done has worked well for the wizards. If I was an NBA fan in Charlotte I wouldn't want him as part of my team's management.
But that's just my $. 02.
Joe Mama
But that's just my $. 02.
Joe Mama
Chaplin
Better off silent
I always thought that the worst thing he ever did was become a player again. It severed ties with the team from an executive standpoint, but yet he obviously still felt like a controlling factor in the day-to-day operation of the team, rather than just an on-the-floor leader. It destroyed his reputation in the basketball operations world.
Maybe he can go to Charlotte, and call the team the Charlotte Michaels......
fordronken
Registered User
Or the Charlotte Flight.
Anyway, that makes 4 GMs who were either fired, or left on their own(Bulls, Wizards, Blazers, Hornets).
fordronken
Registered User
http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0507/1550602.html
Johnson plans on meeting with Jordan 'soon'
Associated Press
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Michael Jordan can have a job with Robert Johnson's NBA expansion franchise if he wants one.
Jordan and Johnson spoke on the telephone Wednesday shortly after the Washington Wizards told Jordan they didn't want him back as president of basketball operations.
"Absolutely I want him to be involved,'' Johnson told The Associated Press. "He can play any role he wants to play, frankly.''
Johnson paid $300 million for his yet-to-be-named team, which will begin play in 2004-05 and replace the Hornets, who left for New Orleans last year.
Johnson has said he's willing to take on investors but remain majority owner. So Jordan will have his pick of roles should he and Johnson work out a deal.
The first meeting they have, Johnson said, will be about figuring out what Jordan wants to do next.
"We'll get together as soon as possible and talk not only about Charlotte, but also about what he wants to do,'' Johnson said. "Whatever we do together, it can't hurt our friendship. So if he decides he wants to go somewhere else, I'll say 'O.K., good luck.' If he wants to come to Charlotte, great.''
Johnson, founder of BET, met Jordan 12 years ago at a Chicago Bulls game. The two have been friends ever since and Johnson was expected to try to bring the NBA's most popular player into his newest venture.
But Jordan had to first settle things in Washington, which was ultimately done for him by Wizards owner Abe Pollin.
Jordan had a 31/2-year tenure with the Wizards, the last two as a player. Now, he's a free agent again. And one of the first calls Jordan made was to Johnson.
"He just called to say 'Hey, I wanted to let you know what decision has been made. When you get a chance, let's talk,''' Johnson said. "We're friends. It won't take us very long to get together.''
Jordan's hasty departure from the Wizards came as somewhat of a surprise.
Disappointed with the team's poor record and embarrassed by infighting on and off the court, Pollin told Jordan of the decision in a short morning meeting at the team's arena.
Jordan was the Wizards' president before coming out of retirement to play for them the past two years. He retired for good last month and was expected to return to the team's front office.
"This was definitely my desire and intention,'' Jordan said in a statement. "However, today, without any prior discussion with me, ownership informed me that it had unilaterally decided to change our mutual long-term understanding.
"I am shocked by this decision, and by the callous refusal to offer me any justification for it.''
Johnson also was surprised with the way the Wizards handled the situation.
"For a guy like Michael, who has contributed so much to the game, so much to the Wizards' organization -- the way it happened lacked diplomatic style and class,'' Johnson said. "I don't begrudge any owner firing anybody.
"But if you are going to do something like that ... to someone who may be sitting across the table at a Board of Governor's meeting, class and style dictate you don't handle it that way.''
A Wizards source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that Pollin's decision was based on three factors: player dissension, a franchise faltering after the years of Jordan in charge, and deteriorating relationships throughout the organization.
Johnson would not assess what kind of job he thought Jordan did during his time in Washington.
"I wasn't there,'' he said. "But he knows more about basketball than I can learn in 100 lifetimes.''
Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles in the 1990s but never came close to duplicating that success in Washington.
Now, he could come aboard an expansion team that will have to be built from the ground up. It's a job Larry Bird really wanted, but lost out when the NBA awarded the Charlotte franchise to Johnson instead of Bird's group. Johnson has ruled out hiring Bird.
So far, Johnson has made just one significant hire in Ed Tapscott, who was hired in January as executive vice president.
Tapscott came highly recommended by Jordan, Johnson said.
Like his relationship with Jordan, Johnson has a longtime friendship with Tapscott. The two met nearly two decades ago when Tapscott's wife worked at BET.
Tapscott was expected to be the architect of the franchise, but Jordan could now take over that role if he wants it. Johnson said he was confident Jordan and Tapscott could work together should Jordan want to run basketball operations.
"When I started looking for someone to build this organization, I turned to Michael as a friend and he had Eddie at the top of a very short list,'' Johnson said. "They can work together like a hand and a glove.''
Johnson plans on meeting with Jordan 'soon'
Associated Press
CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Michael Jordan can have a job with Robert Johnson's NBA expansion franchise if he wants one.
Jordan and Johnson spoke on the telephone Wednesday shortly after the Washington Wizards told Jordan they didn't want him back as president of basketball operations.
"Absolutely I want him to be involved,'' Johnson told The Associated Press. "He can play any role he wants to play, frankly.''
Johnson paid $300 million for his yet-to-be-named team, which will begin play in 2004-05 and replace the Hornets, who left for New Orleans last year.
Johnson has said he's willing to take on investors but remain majority owner. So Jordan will have his pick of roles should he and Johnson work out a deal.
The first meeting they have, Johnson said, will be about figuring out what Jordan wants to do next.
"We'll get together as soon as possible and talk not only about Charlotte, but also about what he wants to do,'' Johnson said. "Whatever we do together, it can't hurt our friendship. So if he decides he wants to go somewhere else, I'll say 'O.K., good luck.' If he wants to come to Charlotte, great.''
Johnson, founder of BET, met Jordan 12 years ago at a Chicago Bulls game. The two have been friends ever since and Johnson was expected to try to bring the NBA's most popular player into his newest venture.
But Jordan had to first settle things in Washington, which was ultimately done for him by Wizards owner Abe Pollin.
Jordan had a 31/2-year tenure with the Wizards, the last two as a player. Now, he's a free agent again. And one of the first calls Jordan made was to Johnson.
"He just called to say 'Hey, I wanted to let you know what decision has been made. When you get a chance, let's talk,''' Johnson said. "We're friends. It won't take us very long to get together.''
Jordan's hasty departure from the Wizards came as somewhat of a surprise.
Disappointed with the team's poor record and embarrassed by infighting on and off the court, Pollin told Jordan of the decision in a short morning meeting at the team's arena.
Jordan was the Wizards' president before coming out of retirement to play for them the past two years. He retired for good last month and was expected to return to the team's front office.
"This was definitely my desire and intention,'' Jordan said in a statement. "However, today, without any prior discussion with me, ownership informed me that it had unilaterally decided to change our mutual long-term understanding.
"I am shocked by this decision, and by the callous refusal to offer me any justification for it.''
Johnson also was surprised with the way the Wizards handled the situation.
"For a guy like Michael, who has contributed so much to the game, so much to the Wizards' organization -- the way it happened lacked diplomatic style and class,'' Johnson said. "I don't begrudge any owner firing anybody.
"But if you are going to do something like that ... to someone who may be sitting across the table at a Board of Governor's meeting, class and style dictate you don't handle it that way.''
A Wizards source, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press that Pollin's decision was based on three factors: player dissension, a franchise faltering after the years of Jordan in charge, and deteriorating relationships throughout the organization.
Johnson would not assess what kind of job he thought Jordan did during his time in Washington.
"I wasn't there,'' he said. "But he knows more about basketball than I can learn in 100 lifetimes.''
Jordan led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA titles in the 1990s but never came close to duplicating that success in Washington.
Now, he could come aboard an expansion team that will have to be built from the ground up. It's a job Larry Bird really wanted, but lost out when the NBA awarded the Charlotte franchise to Johnson instead of Bird's group. Johnson has ruled out hiring Bird.
So far, Johnson has made just one significant hire in Ed Tapscott, who was hired in January as executive vice president.
Tapscott came highly recommended by Jordan, Johnson said.
Like his relationship with Jordan, Johnson has a longtime friendship with Tapscott. The two met nearly two decades ago when Tapscott's wife worked at BET.
Tapscott was expected to be the architect of the franchise, but Jordan could now take over that role if he wants it. Johnson said he was confident Jordan and Tapscott could work together should Jordan want to run basketball operations.
"When I started looking for someone to build this organization, I turned to Michael as a friend and he had Eddie at the top of a very short list,'' Johnson said. "They can work together like a hand and a glove.''
thegrahamcrackr
Registered User
http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0513/1552916.html
Tuesday, May 13
Brown would like to see Jordan with Sixers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services
Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson together?
Sixers coach Larry Brown doesn't think it's a bad idea.
According to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Brown seriously wants Jordan to come to Philadelphia, and the coach is willing to turn over his title of vice president of player personnel to Jordan.
Jordan was dismissed from the Washington Wizards last week. He was the Wizards' president before coming out of retirement to play for them the past two years. He retired for good last month and expected to return to the team's front office.
But, disappointed with the team's poor record and embarrassed by infighting on and off the court, owner Abe Pollin let Jordan go after a 30-minute meeting last week at the team's arena.
Brown thinks MJ would have a big impact on AI and the rest of the team, and added that Jordan's presence would make him a better coach.
"I know Allen admires Michael," Brown told the newspaper Monday. "The big thing, I think, with Allen is if he knows somebody wants to make him better and cares about him, he'll respond. I think that's all Michael's about."
Brown and Jordan have been friends for a while, and share the North Carolina connection. Brown usually attends Jordan's summer camp.
"I would think I'm not the only one sitting back here thinking how he could be an asset to the franchise," Brown told the Inquirer. "I was just looking back on how this city felt about him that last game here. I think we'd embrace him the same way if he was part of this, if that was what he decided to do … I think it would be great.
"But, hey, this is wishing. We're talking about wishing. My whole thing is I want to do everything I can to help this franchise and make myself a better coach and help my players. Here's the greatest player in the world, who's an unbelievable competitor, and I think if he can share some of his wisdom with Allen and some of our guys, I think they would all welcome it."
Tuesday, May 13
Brown would like to see Jordan with Sixers
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
ESPN.com news services
Michael Jordan and Allen Iverson together?
Sixers coach Larry Brown doesn't think it's a bad idea.
According to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Brown seriously wants Jordan to come to Philadelphia, and the coach is willing to turn over his title of vice president of player personnel to Jordan.
Jordan was dismissed from the Washington Wizards last week. He was the Wizards' president before coming out of retirement to play for them the past two years. He retired for good last month and expected to return to the team's front office.
But, disappointed with the team's poor record and embarrassed by infighting on and off the court, owner Abe Pollin let Jordan go after a 30-minute meeting last week at the team's arena.
Brown thinks MJ would have a big impact on AI and the rest of the team, and added that Jordan's presence would make him a better coach.
"I know Allen admires Michael," Brown told the newspaper Monday. "The big thing, I think, with Allen is if he knows somebody wants to make him better and cares about him, he'll respond. I think that's all Michael's about."
Brown and Jordan have been friends for a while, and share the North Carolina connection. Brown usually attends Jordan's summer camp.
"I would think I'm not the only one sitting back here thinking how he could be an asset to the franchise," Brown told the Inquirer. "I was just looking back on how this city felt about him that last game here. I think we'd embrace him the same way if he was part of this, if that was what he decided to do … I think it would be great.
"But, hey, this is wishing. We're talking about wishing. My whole thing is I want to do everything I can to help this franchise and make myself a better coach and help my players. Here's the greatest player in the world, who's an unbelievable competitor, and I think if he can share some of his wisdom with Allen and some of our guys, I think they would all welcome it."
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