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MJ to D.C.? Report: Jordan, Wizards reach agreement in principle
Posted: Friday January 14, 2000 12:57 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Rod Strickland had the consummate quote when it came to describing life with Michael Jordan in charge of the Washington Wizards. "Automatically," the Wizards point guard told The Washington Post, "people will look at the organization differently." Would they ever. A losing franchise suffering from a decade-long malaise would gain instant respect should His Airness, whose distaste of losing is legendary, complete a deal that would give him a share of the team as well as the title of head of basketball operations. "He's a winner," forward Tracy Murray said. "Look at his track record. It's a positive." The deal is apparently close to reality. The Post, citing unnamed sources, reported that Jordan and Wizards majority owner Abe Pollin have reached an agreement in principle. The report said that one major plank of the deal yet to be resolved is the amount of equity in the franchise Jordan would assume from the minority ownership group headed by Ted Leonsis. A source close to the Leonsis group, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed to The Associated Press on Thursday that Jordan was involved in discussions with Leonsis. Andrew McGowan, a spokesman for Leonsis, neither confirmed nor denied the reports. "This story is rumor and speculation," McGowan said. "Our policy is we don't speculate on rumors." Jordan's Washington-based agent, David Falk, was on vacation and could not be reached for comment. Pollin was also not available for comment. Leonsis, an executive at America Online, and two partners bought 100 percent of the Capitals and part of Washington Sports and Entertainment, which includes the Wizards, the WNBA's Mystics and the MCI Center, from longtime owner Pollin last year. Leonsis' group also has the right of first refusal to buy the rest of WSE when the 76-year-old Pollin decides to sell. Leonsis' group, called Lincoln Holdings, has been active in recent days. On Tuesday it bought out Arnold Heft's eight percent share of WSE. Lincoln Holdings now owns 44 percent of WSE. On Thursday, Leonsis added another partner to his group. Raul Fernandez, president and CEO of the high technology firm Proxicom, will join Lincoln Holdings, subject to NHL approval. Whether any of these moves is related to the Jordan negotiations was unclear Thursday. Certainly no name in basketball commands attention like that of Jordan, whose mere presence would bring instant excitement to a moribund franchise. The Wizards, 12-24 this season, haven't won a playoff game in 12 years and haven't had a sellout this season at the 2-year-old downtown MCI Center.
As head of basketball operations, Jordan would oversee the trading, signing and drafting of players and the hiring and firing of front-office personnel.
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