sa_butta
06-16-2006, 11:02 AM
Accepts offer to join Bobcats, run team
By Sam Smith
Tribune pro basletball reporter
June 16, 2006
MIAMI -- No, Michael Jordan is not going to play for the Charlotte Bobcats, who announced Thursday he has become a part-owner and, effectively, team president.
"There is no chance of Michael playing for the Bobcats," majority owner Bob Johnson said.
Hey, Jordan's just 43 and isn't Roger Clemens still pitching? Why not just a few minutes as a backup shooting guard?
Yes, he's back. Again.
His presence raises the stakes for the Bobcats, and in some ways the Bulls because Charlotte holds the No. 3 pick in this month's NBA draft.
Now the Bobcats, previously a reluctant spender, could become the Bulls' biggest rival in the free-agent market because they have more than $20 million available in salary-cap room.
"I am excited to join Bob and invest alongside one of the most astute businessmen I know," Jordan said in a statement released by the Bobcats. "I am also looking forward to providing my advice, where needed, to Bobcats' management in order to put the best possible team on the court."
Jordan has been anxious to return to the NBA in an ownership position since Washington let him go in 2003 as a player and team president, even though Jordan had expected to return to his role of running the team.
Commissioner David Stern had said it has been a priority to get Jordan involved with the NBA again and Jordan attempted to purchase the Milwaukee Bucks the following year.
Jordan has said he wouldn't put himself in position to be dismissed again like he was in Washington and was said to be seeking a primary ownership role. Johnson said he will remain majority owner but emphasized he and Jordan are longtime friends.
Jordan also will be an investment partner in Johnson's other interests, such as his Black Entertainment Television.
"It's great for the league," said Heat coach Pat Riley, who retired Jordan's Bulls' jersey in Miami, where it hangs at the top of the AmericanAirlines Arena. "It's great for Charlotte."
The Bobcats, hemorrhaging money in a losing operation in two years in Charlotte, have been in the midst of a management shakeup with three of their top executives, team President Ed Tapscott, chief operating officer Peter Smul and chief marketing officer Chris Weiller all resigning in the last month.
The resignations clearly open the way for Jordan to take a major role in running the organization, and Johnson said general manager/coach Bernie Bickerstaff will answer to Jordan.
"Michael is an owner, Bernie is general manager and coach," said Johnson, who tried unsuccessfully to bring Jordan in as a manager or investor when he was awarded the franchise. "Coaches report to owners. Michael has the decision-making authority [for the ownership group]."
The Bobcats were 22nd in league attendance last season despite a new arena. Included in their mountain of losses is a failed TV network.
On the court they have said they were building slowly and mostly have been stockpiling young players such as high-draft picks Emeka Okafor, Ray Felton and Sean May. On a thin roster their other regulars are Gerald Wallace and Primoz Brezec.
Can Jordan, now the second-largest individual stockholder in the franchise, according to Johnson, push the spending of the conservative Johnson to try to make a splash in the draft and in free agency?
If he can, is there another big player in the trade market? At one time the theory around Jordan backers was that players would push to play for a Jordan organization. It didn't occur with the Wizards, with whom Jordan apparently is still so bitter that Johnson referred to Washington in comments as the "other" organization.
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-060616jordanowner,1,6568901.story?coll=cs-bulls-headlines
By Sam Smith
Tribune pro basletball reporter
June 16, 2006
MIAMI -- No, Michael Jordan is not going to play for the Charlotte Bobcats, who announced Thursday he has become a part-owner and, effectively, team president.
"There is no chance of Michael playing for the Bobcats," majority owner Bob Johnson said.
Hey, Jordan's just 43 and isn't Roger Clemens still pitching? Why not just a few minutes as a backup shooting guard?
Yes, he's back. Again.
His presence raises the stakes for the Bobcats, and in some ways the Bulls because Charlotte holds the No. 3 pick in this month's NBA draft.
Now the Bobcats, previously a reluctant spender, could become the Bulls' biggest rival in the free-agent market because they have more than $20 million available in salary-cap room.
"I am excited to join Bob and invest alongside one of the most astute businessmen I know," Jordan said in a statement released by the Bobcats. "I am also looking forward to providing my advice, where needed, to Bobcats' management in order to put the best possible team on the court."
Jordan has been anxious to return to the NBA in an ownership position since Washington let him go in 2003 as a player and team president, even though Jordan had expected to return to his role of running the team.
Commissioner David Stern had said it has been a priority to get Jordan involved with the NBA again and Jordan attempted to purchase the Milwaukee Bucks the following year.
Jordan has said he wouldn't put himself in position to be dismissed again like he was in Washington and was said to be seeking a primary ownership role. Johnson said he will remain majority owner but emphasized he and Jordan are longtime friends.
Jordan also will be an investment partner in Johnson's other interests, such as his Black Entertainment Television.
"It's great for the league," said Heat coach Pat Riley, who retired Jordan's Bulls' jersey in Miami, where it hangs at the top of the AmericanAirlines Arena. "It's great for Charlotte."
The Bobcats, hemorrhaging money in a losing operation in two years in Charlotte, have been in the midst of a management shakeup with three of their top executives, team President Ed Tapscott, chief operating officer Peter Smul and chief marketing officer Chris Weiller all resigning in the last month.
The resignations clearly open the way for Jordan to take a major role in running the organization, and Johnson said general manager/coach Bernie Bickerstaff will answer to Jordan.
"Michael is an owner, Bernie is general manager and coach," said Johnson, who tried unsuccessfully to bring Jordan in as a manager or investor when he was awarded the franchise. "Coaches report to owners. Michael has the decision-making authority [for the ownership group]."
The Bobcats were 22nd in league attendance last season despite a new arena. Included in their mountain of losses is a failed TV network.
On the court they have said they were building slowly and mostly have been stockpiling young players such as high-draft picks Emeka Okafor, Ray Felton and Sean May. On a thin roster their other regulars are Gerald Wallace and Primoz Brezec.
Can Jordan, now the second-largest individual stockholder in the franchise, according to Johnson, push the spending of the conservative Johnson to try to make a splash in the draft and in free agency?
If he can, is there another big player in the trade market? At one time the theory around Jordan backers was that players would push to play for a Jordan organization. It didn't occur with the Wizards, with whom Jordan apparently is still so bitter that Johnson referred to Washington in comments as the "other" organization.
http://chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/cs-060616jordanowner,1,6568901.story?coll=cs-bulls-headlines