Posted on 04/09/2012 8:41:12 AM PDT by MinorityRepublican
Charlotte — At tip-off of a recent Charlotte Bobcats game, it was easier to take note of who wasn’t in attendance than who was. The arena was maybe one-third full and the owner’s box was empty.
As play began, few more fans found their seats, but there would be no owner sighting. Michael Jordan likes watching on television, but on this night, he wasn’t even in town. Instead, Jordan was in Las Vegas, at the Aria Resort and Casino, hosting a celebrity golf tournament with Ashton Kutcher serving as his caddie.
The game’s greatest player has become one of its most curious owners, a fanatical competitor who can’t field a competitive team. At 49, he is the most recognizable part of the franchise, but the basketball world questions how active he wants to be as an executive, much as it did during his time with the Wizards in Washington.
“The work he put in to be a great player and the work you put in to be a great executive, those are different things,” said Sam Vincent, whom Jordan hired as his head coach in 2007 less than a year after he became minority owner. “That additional time you spend on jump shots, running, dunking, I don’t know if he puts in that same amount of time as an executive or if he even cares to.”
The New York Daily News cited an unnamed source last week in reporting that Jordan might be preparing to walk away from the franchise if it can’t win soon. He became majority owner just two years ago. Jordan hasn’t granted an interview this year, but the team immediately issued a denial from its owner: “I am 100 percent committed to building the Bobcats into a contender and have no plans to sell the team.”
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Yeah, sure. Michael Jordan having to answer to the likes and ilk of a Washington Post writer? I don’t think so.
The Bobcats and their spiffy new “Uptown” arena were slated for failure the moment the city leaders ignored the people’s will. Voters voted down the arena in a non-binding referendum...so the city built it anyway.
I’ve been there once...for my kid’s graduation ceremony.
Mister Obama, Please resign your current job and head to Charlotte in order to pursue your heart’s true desire.
With his gambling habits, I’m surprised that Charles Oakley hasn’t won the team in a hand of poker yet.
Not sure if Jordan is a worse owner or worse dresser: http://wtfismikewearing.tumblr.com/
Jordan as a player might deserve to replace Jerry West in the NBA logo, but he obviously doesn’t have West’s acumen or dedication as an exec. He should have left the NBA with that iconic last shot in Game 6 against the Jazz.
One of the greatest games ever. Karl Malone and John Stockton were probably best players ever never to win a championship.
Michael Jordan should be hired as an ambassador to represent NBA in emerging markets. It'll be a perfect fit for him. He still makes 60 million dollars a year as a salesman.
Michael Jordan’s degree is in Geography, and he spent most of his formative years playing basketball.
Obviously the man has some business savvy, as he managed and marketed his brand very well, success on the court does not always translate to the kind of enterprise that Jordan created.
However, being a business leader is a different set of skills and to be at the top, requires dedication, just like any endeavor. I won’t try to get into Jordan’s head, but his track record is dubious at best when it comes to owning a team. I don’t know who he puts around him, but if he isn’t personally willing to put in the work, he needs to improve those he is delegating to. I think that’s pretty obvious.
The NBA sucks. I never watch them.
Bingo! And all the NBA owners voted to let George "Short-Shanks" Shinn take his team, including the name "Hornets", and skip town. The NBA picked Shinn over Charlotte and now they are getting what they deserve.
That’s the difference between being a player and an owner. As an owner he has to answer to the likes of lots of boring “little” people, namely the fans that aren’t buying tickets because his teams sucks and shows no sign of not sucking anytime soon.
George was about to be asked to leave town anyway...tar & feathered, on a rail...
Plus...now there’s a HUGE vacant lot on West Tyvola where the not so “old” New Coliseum used to be...before it was bulldozed! Not enough sky boxes, you know.
Basketball sucks was it Nick the Greek that said they look like monkeys on a hoop?.
As a Kentucky fan, I sure hope they don’t get to draft Anthony Davis.
Funny how Coliseum #1 outlived Coliseum #2.
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