Will MJ be able to succeed as well in the front office as he did on the court?

My comment is regarding David Aldridge's article about Michael Jordan. I have two main problems with his article. First, there is no need to insult Mike Jarvis (a class act) while defending Jordan. In the end he said no thank you to the existing offer and thanked the Wizards, especially Jordan, for their interest. He has every right to ask for whatever he wants. This is America, and besides, they approached him in the first place.

Just writing to say that the David Aldridge article defending Michael Jordan was well articulated, an excellent rebuttal to the anti-Jordan hounds, and reflective of someone who actually understands that paying through the nose for anyone who does not at least have championship experience is ridiculous.

Mark Mallon
New York City

I am in total agreement with Jeffrey Denberg's column regarding Michael Jordan and his handling of the Wizards. As a Washingtonian, I have had to suffer through season after bad season and was totally psyched when I heard that we might be getting a coach as great as Mike Jarvis! NOT. I think Jordan insulted him with what he offered and I don't blame Jarvis and his agent for walking away from the table. If Jordan is going to pay basketball coaches that kind of money he ought to coach himself or suit up. Now all I have to do is sit back and watch Daniel Snyder systematically ruin the Redskins, too!

Melissa Worrell
Laurel, Md.

David Aldridge is right on the mark. The Wizards have many issues and getting a coach is one of them. Jarvis could be a great NBA coach, but who knows. Hiring him for $4 million would be a bigger mistake than breaking the communication as they did. You have to prove yourself to get the rewards. It seems like this is the case everywhere in the workforce except for pro sports. Jordan needs no defense on this, he'll make the right call.

Tony Perri
Libertyville, Ill.

Right on, David Aldridge. Let's give the guy some time and see what he can do. It's the standard "American Way" of building one up to deity status, only to tear him down from the perch that they created. Let's judge MJ by the standards for any other front office guy, not by the superhuman standards which have followed the man (and which he has nearly lived up to) for the last decade. And please don't forget that the same cynical media sharks that attacked MJ in the late-80s as a selfish player who could never win it all are the same louts who are poking around and trying to muck things up for him now. I would love to see MJ turn them on their heads once again. Time will tell.

Monte Macias
San Diego, Calif.

I'm a Jordan fan, but I agree with Jeffrey that the Jordan Era has not gotten off smoothly. I think Mike Jarvis would have been a great fit for the underachieving Wizards. The fact that he tried to low-ball an obvious blue-chip NBA coaching prospect has made Jordan a laughingstock in a lot of the front offices in the league. It's also obvious that he's operating as a one-man gang. There doesn't seem to be any mention of Wes Unseld's or David Falk's involvement in negotiations. When you're a rookie at something like this, you have an old vet sit next to you and teach you some of the ropes. If he had, the Wizards would have the new coach he promised he'd have by his self-imposed deadline. If he is the "low-baller" he is being portrayed as, salary-cap restraints or no salary cap restraints, he'll have an extremely difficult time attracting top-name players and coaches to join the woeful Wizards. He needs to circle the wagons and start getting some feedback from his new front office team if he's going to save this sinking ship called the Washington Wizards.

Artis Carrol
Chicago

Thanks, David, for that wonderful piece in defense of Jordan. Its a shame that in a day and age where players control teams destinies that coaches are often to blame for the team's incompetence -- or at least as a tool for making the public think that a bad team is on the verge of success. You are right. Mike Jarvis may be a good college coach, but not necessarily a good NBA coach. From the examples set by Calipari, Pitino and Tarkanian, it's easier to see the other side of that coin. Jordan did a credit to executives by offering Jarvis what he rated and not what he demanded. Lets see Jarvis go back down to St. John's and coach a team without his point guard or star forward. Then we'll see if he is a worthy coach of $6 million or $4 million or even the $2 million that Jordan and the Wiz offered. Just like players, coaches should have to prove their merits before getting the big bucks and that means winning!!

Trevor Gray
Arlington, Va.

I just read both of the articles on MJ. While I agree that it seems MJ might be "bumbling" right now, I could not agree more with my man DA. Rarely, if ever, has there been a time when I have not agreed with David's opinion on any basketball matter. I thought his piece today hit the nail right on the head. Give MJ some time to clean up the MESS in D.C. before you label him anything other than the greatest. What exactly has Mike Jarvis proved anyhow? I think he has done an excellent job with the Johnnies, but that doesn't mean he deserves Phil Jackson type $$$ to be an NBA coach. Thanks for the time, and keep up the brilliant journalism DA.

Marvin Harbaugh
Kirtland, Ohio

I have to agree with Mr. Aldridge. C'mon folks, the Wizards have been one of the poorest run teams in the NBA for years. Jordan has no money to work with because the Wizards paid underachievers like Howard and Strickland tons of cash to grace their court. These two have worlds of talent, I don't think too many people will disagree with that. But heart and desire win championships and this team, most notably these two, have none. Without numbers to match their gaudy salaries, they are untradable. Even with great numbers Strickland is a cancer. Jordan's hands are tied with the cords of ineptitude left behind by the previous administration. You expect miracles from Michael Jordan because he delivered so many as a player. But miracles are hard to come by in the form of front office people. These miracles take some time to develop. So give him some.

Duane L. Sanderson
Washington Court House, Ohio

Strongly agree with David's comments. Jordan may not corner the market on executive brilliance ... yet. Wait and see how many choose crow as their main course. I hope those critics will have the spine to swallow their words and admit the ignorance and haste in their written words. Jordan is not a loser, never has been, never will be. Look to see a marked improvement with so little to work with. Rolling heads is the other alternative. He will take no prisoners and be a shrewd businessman.

George Watlack
Dallas, Texas

I am responding to the recent David Aldridge column about giving Michael Jordan a break in running the Wizards. Even though I am not an MJ fan (I am an admirer ... how could an NBA fan not admire MJ?), I think it is ludicrous for people to begin "piling on" at any opportunity. The Wizards have been mismanaged for several years, and as David pointed out, it is going to take a nearly complete gutting of the roster before serious change can take place. As usual, David's objectivity makes quite a contrast to many of the other writers covering the NBA. Well done, David. As always, your articles and your on-air reports provide excellence in reporting!

Ed Fernandez
Youngstown, Ohio

I agree in part to Aldridge's latest column about Jordan. I mostly agree with his characterization of Mike Jarvis. As a GW alum, I have seen first-hand the reality of Mike Jarvis. He is all of what David Aldridge says and more. He resurrected our program, true, but he is not recognized as a first-rate bench coach. In fact he is downright miserable. He is a decent college coach with very good media savvy, not someone who should command $4 mil in the NBA. Jordan is an unproven NBA exec, no question. I also think there can be a question of commitment so far as well. But Jordan is in a very tough situation and he deserves more time to right the ship. Blasting him for this Jarvis fiasco is not only unfair, it is wrong-headed. Jarvis simply was not worth it. Good job, David, now please persuade the Sixers to dump Kukoc and to land Grant Hill!

Brandon
Princeton, N.J.

Denberg was right on with the Jordan article. Jordan had the Midas touch on the court, but that does not always translate to success in other areas (baseball). Magic Johnson's talk show is another good example of this false assumption. These guys were great basketball players, why should anyone assume that they are "opiate for the masses?" Perhaps Jordan would be better suited as a recreational golfer/gambler.

Clay Leverett
Fort Worth, Texas

Kudos to David Aldridge. When I logged onto ESPN.com, and saw the lead story of the NBA page, I nearly fell out of my chair. The Wizards/Bullets are a disaster, and have been one for a decade. You point this out very clearly, and most important point out the fact that guys are lining up taking cheap shots at Michael when he is facing an almost impossible situation. Shoot, I remember people being critical of Michael before (I was one). He was playing on a poor Chicago team in the late-80's, and I thought he would never win the big one.

Amen to Aldridge and thank you for setting things straight with the Wizards, MJ, and the whole Jarvis thing. I've been saying for months that people were expecting Jordan to be some sort of instant messiah here in D.C., when anyone who has seen the team play, and looked at all their assorted problems, knows that those of us in D.C. are looking at a long rebuilding project. Who wants to break the bank for a coach who has proven exactly nothing?

David seems a little angry. Jordan has done nothing right thus far, and quite frankly, I read the paper, listen to sports talk, and go to ESPN.com daily and I have not heard much criticism of him. I know he is Aldridge's hero, but he is what he is, the greatest basketball "player" of all time, this does not mean he can run a team. I guarantee they sign an incompetent coach, and the Wizards will continue to be an utter failure of a franchise. I do agree to give him more time, but to this point, he has done nothing!

Garrett
Conshohocken, Pa.

This is a poignant article because it proves once again that being a great athlete does not necessarily mean you have great intelligence, foresight or a well-rounded knowledge base. I'm sick and tired of superstar athletes and "super" models being placed on a pedestal for all of us to revere. The proof is always in the pudding and most of these folks, when removed from their carefully controlled environments, fail miserably. The best thing for Jordan to do is immediately turn management of the team over to someone who knows something of business.

Woody Ligget
Phoenix, Ariz.

I thought that the Aldridge column was extremely fair and well written. I suppose that Jordan's greatness on the court has made the public's expectations as unrealistic as they are. The Wizards are not a team that is one or two players away from contending. This is a team that is rotten to the core. It needs to be completely rebuilt. Rebuilding a franchise takes three things: time, good decisions, and some luck. Hopefully the public will give Michael some time and some benefit of the doubt before crucifying him. I think he has earned it.

Steve Nathan
Dallas, Texas

Bravo, Mr. Aldridge! We spend too much time in America singing the praises of someone, then turning around and tearing them down to make us feel worthy of our pathetic selves. Mr. Jordan has inherited a situation that will be long in fixing. We must give him the chance to make it right. But in a time when all of us want quick fixes, it stands to reason that Mr. Jordan will have a difficult time convincing the Washington fans to wait and be patient. It's surprising to me that other NBA stars who have made the transition to coaching or management have not been given this kind of treatment. Consider Larry Bird, Dr. J, Kevin McHale. We don't hear about them making terrible choices even though in their first two years they all made mistakes. Could it be that Mr. Jordan's status as the 20th century superstar makes him an easy target for those of us who are jealous of his rank in society? Maybe Mr. Jordan will be hailed as a conqueror in two years time. Who knows? I am willing to wait and see.

Terry Johnson
Killeen, Texas

David, you make some pretty good points in demonstrating why Jordan shouldn't simply toss out more than $2 million per for an unproven commodity. That's fine, but the issue isn't the $2 million that was eventually turned down, but the $1 million that was originally offered.