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Thursday, February 10
Mr. Jordan goes to Washington

Associated Press

WASHINGTON -- The struggling Washington Wizards aren't just getting a part-owner in Michael Jordan. He'll slip on a practice jersey and show them the moves that helped him win six NBA championships.


	Washington Mayor Anthony Williams, left, said Michael Jordan owning part of the Wizards will "electrify our city."

Jordan, who became part-owner and president of basketball operations of the Wizards on Wednesday, won't be able to play for Washington.

NBA rules prohibit owners from playing and players from becoming owners, but that won't stop him from embarrassing a slouching rookie with management's best jump shot.

"The best way to evaluate a player is to look in his eyes and see how scared he is, and I've seen that," Jordan said.

He'll have a lot of work to do. After leaving his packed news conference, matched in size and scale only by his own retirement announcements in 1993 and last year, Jordan went to the owner's box at the two-thirds empty MCI Center -- and he promptly was joined by President Clinton.

Jordan heard fans boo his new investment as the Wizards fell behind early to the Dallas Mavericks.

But he is determined to turned things around, using the same audacious confidence that led the Chicago Bulls to glory.

"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."

MJ's cap trap

Part of the problem Jordan will have with the Wizards is the team's situation with the salary cap. Juwan Howard, Mitch Richmond and Rod Strickland are each making in excess of $10 million and would be very difficult to trade. The Wizards' cap figure is at $52 million this season, while the NBA cap limit is at $34 million.

Next year the Wizards have $53 million tied up in only 10 players. In 2000-01, Howard will make $16.9 million, Richmond and Strickland will each earn $10 million and backup center Isaac Austin is at $5.5 million. The following season Howard will earn $18.7 million while Richmond, Strickland and Austin's salaries do not change. It isn't until 2002-03 that the Wizards will actually have cap flexibility.
-- Eric Karabell

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.

"It's going to show our children what it means to be an executive, a role model," Washington mayor Anthony Williams said. "It really is simply going to electrify our city."

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 heard from the obvious one -- the Bulls.

"They're going in a different direction," Jordan said.

Jordan said the Wizards deal requires an out-of-pocket investment, but would not elaborate what percentage he will own. One of his new partners, Wizards minority owner Ted Leonsis said: "It's obviously sizable enough that he's here."

ESPN's David Aldridge clarified Jordan's ownership role with the Wizards, reporting that he has acquired equity in the holding company which has a minority interest in the Wizards. That holding company, Lincoln Holdings, will have the right of first refusal to buy the remaining 56 percent of the team upon the death of Abe Pollin or Pollin's decision to sell what he currently owns. At that time, Jordan can buy additional shares in the company, but at no time will he have controlling interest in the Wizards.

Aldridge reported that Jordan is simply a minority owner of a minority share of the company. The holding company is Leonsis' company. Leonsis is the owner of 44 percent of the Wizards.

Jordan also will have an ownership stake in the NHL's Washington Capitals, which are owned by Lincoln Holdings.

Jordan was wearing a black suit, but he was feted as if he were wearing a cape and had an "S" on his chest. The Wizards, a moribund franchise suffering on the court and at the gate, are in desperate need of a Superman.

"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."

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.

That same competitiveness was evident to Leonsis, who initiated the negotiations to bring Jordan to the nation's capital.

"I'd like to see a player disregard Michael Jordan," Leonsis said. "Every part of your DNA, when you're with this man, says this guy knows what it takes to win."

Wizards players immediately welcomed Jordan's arrival. Point guard Rod 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."

Jordan said he will continue to live in Chicago, where he won 10 scoring titles and five MVP awards 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.

Wednesday, Jan. 19
I think Michael Jordan's return is great for the Wizards and the league. Jordan has a great aura about him, and I think he will shake that franchise up.

Michael is always a hard worker and on time. He would work out with his personal trainer before he went to practice. But he has some guys on this team who don't put a value on practice. I think he will change that attitude. The Washington management has been kind of tolerant of apathy, a lack of punctuality, and a lack of intensity. Those aren't characteristics you associate with Michael Jordan.

He loves working out, so I am almost certain he will show up at some practices and challenge the players. He will get in his practice gear and work them over. He still likes to play, but he just doesn't want to do it on an everyday basis and have to go through the rigors of training and traveling and dealing with the media.

I think his first step will be to get them all to play up to their potential. The major players are playing at or near career lows. Richmond is averaging 17 points a game, six below his career average. Strickland is averaging 12, and that's his lowest in the last 10 years. His assist-turnover ratio is down. Howard is averaging 15 points and five rebounds, and Austin hasn't approached the numbers that he had when he filled in for Alonzo Mourning in Miami.
Jordan will want the players to be on time, play together and play with intensity. If he does that, the Wizards are a different team.

Following Wednesday night's loss to Dallas, the Wizards were 12-28, with the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference. The franchise hasn't won a playoff game in 12 years and has several high-priced, underachieving players -- Strickland, Mitch Richmond and Juwan Howard -- who would be difficult to unload because of the league's salary cap rules.

One area where Jordan could help right away is attendance. The Wizards have not sold out a game this year at the 2-year-old MCI Center. Wizards president Susan O'Malley did not miss the opportunity to peddle tickets and shouted out the toll-free ticket number during the televised news conference.

Several complex issues in three-way negotiations had to be resolved before Jordan could join the Wizards. Leonsis, who started the ball rolling, and his partners bought the Capitals from 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."

Another potentially difficult issue involves Jordan's agent, David Falk. Pollin and Falk have feuded in recent years over contract negotiations involving Howard, Strickland and Rex Chapman, so Pollin and Falk weren't brought together when it came time for the Jordan negotiations.

Falk will not be allowed to represent Jordan the owner because of the potential for conflict of interest, but Falk can still handle Jordan's endorsements.

"He certainly can be a pain, the good thing about it is he's a great pain to have on your side," Jordan said. "I look forward to utilizing his advice. ... I will confer with the league, with the union, see what's allowed, what's not allowed."

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Audio chat wrap: David Aldridge

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Michael Jordan thinks he will make an easy transition.
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Michael Jordan gives details of his new position.
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Michael Jordan tells us how David Falk fits into the equation.
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Did Phil Jackson advise Jordan in his decision?
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Wizards coach Gar Heard thinks it will be good to have MJ around.
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Wizards Rod Strickland and Michael Smith await the impact of Jordan.
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