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Saturday, January 27, 2001
Jordan leaves coaching to Hamilton
ESPN.com news services
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WASHINGTON -- Wizards president Michael Jordan says he won't bow to critics who say the five-time MVP should abandon his seemingly hands-off approach.
Jordan told Bloomberg News he doesn't plan to step on coach Leonard Hamilton's toes by putting on a practice uniform to show the Wizards what it takes to be a winner.
"There's a strategy to this madness," Jordan is quoted as saying on Bloomberg's Web site. "Once I get around practices I get more vocal, I get more hands on. It's hard for me to keep my hands from dipping into everything that involves basketball."
"I don't want it to seem like the coach can't do his job. I have to let Leonard put his imprint on this team," he added. "I want to put my hands on so much. People don't want to understand that. They see it in a whole different frame of mind in terms of just seeing me around. That's probably what they would want to see more of."
Jordan joined the Wizards a year ago, practicing with the team just once -- the day after taking over the franchise's basketball operations.
Since then, Jordan has been an infrequent figure around the Wizards. According to Bloomberg, Jordan has attended only seven Wizards' home games this season.
He has been criticized for not taking a more active role with the team.
Things might not get any better for the former Chicago Bulls star, who inherited a team with dim prospects in the near future. The Wizards are over the salary cap and their most marketable players are underachieving and virtually impossible to trade.
"I sense the competitive spirit in Michael that's always existed," Hamilton said. "He's always been encouraging. People are more concerned with seeing the greatest basketball player of all time. That gets to be unfair."
Jordan, who signed a five-year contract with the Wizards, said he plans to see it through.
"Unless I get fired," he said.
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