 |
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Air Wizard Jordan tries to bring winning ways to Washington
Posted: Thursday January 20, 2000 12:28 AM
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Maybe the Washington Wizards should start selling tickets to practice. Watching Michael Jordan use his fierce competitive nature to embarrass a slouching rookie is bound to be more entertaining than watching his new team play a game. The biggest name in basketball history is now part-owner and president of basketball operations of the Wizards, a bad team that doesn't draw and can now expect some firsthand lessons from the former five-time MVP with the Chicago Bulls. "The best way to evaluate a player is to look in his eyes and see how scared he is," Jordan said. "And I've seen that." Exhibit A of the lofty task ahead came Wednesday night, hours after Jordan was introduced before a packed, enthusiastic, nationally televised news conference in the basement of the MCI Center. When it came time for the game, the arena was not packed -- not even close to half-full -- and fans were booing a Wizards team that fell behind early and got embarrassed 104-86 by the Dallas Mavericks. Jordan, who was joined by President Clinton in the owners' box in the fourth quarter, didn't comment after the game. But his new partner, fellow minority owner Ted Leonsis, had lost some of the glow he had earlier in the day. "After tonight's performance, I'd say our guys have no place to go but up," Leonsis said. Jordan will own as much as 20 percent of the team, a source close to the negotiations, speaking on condition of anonymity, told The Associated Press. The exact amount could vary because of complexities involved in the way the deal was negotiated, the source said. Jordan becomes only the third minority black owner in the NBA, with Magic Johnson of the Los Angeles Lakers and Edward and Bettiann Gardner of the Bulls. Jordan tried to become the league's first black majority owner last year when he negotiated with the Charlotte Hornets, but the deal fell through. Jordan spoke to other teams, but he never head from the obvious one -- the Bulls. "They're going in a different direction," said Jordan, whose relationship with Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf deteriorated in recent years. NBA rules prohibit owners from playing and players from becoming owners, so Jordan wouldn't be able to suit up for a game even if he felt like it. "I don't get to play. I don't get to wear a Wizards' uniform," Jordan said. "But I will have influence with the players who wear the uniform. ... I'm going to try to have my imprint and footprints all over this place." Anyone who has spent time with Jordan knows that he's always competing at something -- whether it's basketball, golf, baseball or a game of cards in the clubhouse -- and he always wants to win. "I have an attitude about the way I play," Jordan said. "I have an attitude about the way I win. ... It's going to take some time for me to come in and evaluate what's here, what's going to stay here and what's going to leave." For now, Jordan said he will retain general manager Wes Unseld and coach Gar Heard, but he gave no guarantees.
"Until we get everyone on track, everybody's disposable to some degree," Jordan said. Jordan also will have an ownership stake in the NHL's Washington Capitals, which are owned by Leonsis' Lincoln Holdings group, but he will have no say in the hockey operations. With Wednesday night's loss, the Wizards fell to 12-28, the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference. The franchise hasn't won a playoff game in 12 years, hasn't had a sellout at the 2-year-old MCI Center this season and has several high-priced, underachieving players -- Rod Strickland, Mitch Richmond and Juwan Howard -- who are difficult to unload because of the league's salary-cap rules. The players immediately welcomed Jordan's arrival. Strickland, who earlier this season said he wanted out of Washington, said he now wants to stay. "That's very, very fair to say," Strickland said. "This changes everything." Strickland, however, may be in the outbox as the trading deadline approaches. He missed 10 of 12 shots and had five turnovers in front of his new boss. Jordan said he will continue to live in Chicago, where he won 10 scoring titles and six NBA titles during his 13-year career. His family lives there, and he said he will commute to Washington. "I will be here for as much time as it takes to turn this team around," Jordan said. Several complex issues in three-way negotiations had to be resolved before Jordan could join the Wizards. Leonsis, who initiated contact with Jordan, and his partners bought the Capitals from Abe Pollin last year and own 44 percent of the Wizards and the MCI Center. Leonsis' group also has right of first refusal to buy them both when Pollin retires. After Leonsis and Jordan clicked, Pollin had to be convinced. Pollin and Jordan had a shouting match during last year's owners' lockout of NBA players, for whom Jordan was a key negotiator. Both, however, said that confrontation is behind them. "He is one of the greatest athletes that ever put on a suit," Pollin said. "He is a straight, honest, decent, wonderful human being." Although the Wizards' performance was bleak Wednesday night, a loud cheer came with 2:06 to go and the Wizards trailing by 23. Jordan, Clinton and Pollin were shown together on the scoreboard's video screen, prompting a standing ovation. "I know some people are saying that just by Michael Jordan being in charge and making decisions, he's never had the opportunity to do that. Maybe that's not the ingredient that will turn this team around," Jordan said. He then paused half a beat.
"Then again, it may be."
| ||||||||||||||||||||||
