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MJ to buy controlling stake in Bobcats
AP via ESPN ^ | 02/28/10 | Staff

Posted on 02/27/2010 9:50:48 AM PST by OldDeckHand

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- He has been called the NBA's greatest player and one of the country's top pitchmen.

Now Michael Jordan is ready for a new title: NBA owner.

With minutes to go until his exclusive negotiating window was to expire, Jordan struck a deal late Friday night to buy controlling interest of the Charlotte Bobcats, putting the six-time NBA champion in charge of the money-losing team in his home state.

Owner Bob Johnson announced in a statement that he's agreed to sell the Bobcats to Jordan, who has been a part-owner of the team since 2006. Jordan has been running the team's basketball operations.

(Excerpt) Read more at sports.espn.go.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Chit/Chat; Sports; TV/Movies
KEYWORDS: charlotte; michaeljordan; nba; nc
Price is undisclosed (so far), but the purchase price that Bob Johnson paid in 2004 was $300 million, and he's accumulated an additional $150 million in debt. Whatever the price, I'm sure it's too much to pay for a team in a league suffering from declining viewers.
1 posted on 02/27/2010 9:50:48 AM PST by OldDeckHand
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To: OldDeckHand

A major meltdown is coming in sports with teams that have taken on so much debt.

It’s already begun in soccer, yesterday Portsmouth, one of the oldest English teams, went into administration because they owe so much in taxes. We are going to start seeing this across the board in all sports. You have to be nuts in this environment to buy a sports franchise.


2 posted on 02/27/2010 9:55:04 AM PST by dfwgator
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To: OldDeckHand

MJ does not have a great record of sitting behind a desk making basketball decisions. Except for Jerry West, Hall of Fame type players usually make bad managers or executives.


3 posted on 02/27/2010 9:57:30 AM PST by C19fan
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To: dfwgator

That is why Stern and Goodall are threatening major work stoppages if the players’ unions do not make major concessions.


4 posted on 02/27/2010 9:58:28 AM PST by C19fan
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To: OldDeckHand
He has been called the NBA's greatest player and one of the country's top pitchmen.

But not the greatest GM. And I don't think this is such a great move either. I often think he's guided more by his love of the game than his business sense.

5 posted on 02/27/2010 10:03:29 AM PST by Zack Attack
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To: C19fan
"Except for Jerry West, Hall of Fame type players usually make bad managers or executives."

You're right. The list is long, in virtually every pro sport, with respect to failed player/administrators. West is clearly the exception, and not the rule.

The only other star player that comes to mind who made the transition to management/owner successfully is Mario Lemieux.

6 posted on 02/27/2010 10:04:27 AM PST by OldDeckHand
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To: OldDeckHand

Since Jordan retired, the NBA has completely took a nosedive. I have discontinued watching it. Too many thugs alienating fans, crooked refs, and a league with an inner-city playground mentality.


7 posted on 02/27/2010 10:11:20 AM PST by Extremely Extreme Extremist (Islam is incompatible with American traditions and values)
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To: C19fan

May he do to the Bobcats what he did to the Wizards. Charlotte fans, beware. He will be an absentee owner. He cares more for Chicago than Charlotte.


8 posted on 02/27/2010 10:38:14 AM PST by GAB-1955 (I write books, love my wife, serve my nation, and believe in the Resurrection.)
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To: OldDeckHand

What is it with all these stars that move on to bigger cities then shun their upbringing? WIlmington NC vs Chicago. No contest. WIlmington hands down.


9 posted on 03/01/2010 5:26:18 AM PST by GUNGAGALUNGA (Democratus Suckus Teatus is the Latin root for Democrat and it means to tax)
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To: GUNGAGALUNGA
What is it with all these stars that move on to bigger cities then shun their upbringing? WIlmington NC vs Chicago. No contest. WIlmington hands down.

Agreed! I love Wilmington.

(by the way, I am in eastern NC)

10 posted on 03/01/2010 5:29:08 AM PST by Constitution Day (Get over it.)
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To: Constitution Day

Fayettenam.......from New Bern and went to ECU and somehow graduated. LOL!


11 posted on 03/01/2010 5:39:29 AM PST by GUNGAGALUNGA (Democratus Suckus Teatus is the Latin root for Democrat and it means to tax)
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To: GUNGAGALUNGA
LOL! I'm in Rocky Mount.

As for ECU, my mom earned her B.A. and M.A.Ed from there in '69 and '89, respectively. The new dental school just got a $4MM gift, you may have heard. I have heard that the Carolina people find that very annoying. That's a good thing. ;)

12 posted on 03/01/2010 5:57:25 AM PST by Constitution Day (Get over it.)
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To: Constitution Day

Oh yeah. I follow ECU. The turds at UNC - Beijing hate ECU. ALways have. IT is a great school. I was on the six year program. Hehe. My blood alcohol level my first two years was higher than my GPA.


13 posted on 03/01/2010 7:23:58 AM PST by GUNGAGALUNGA (Democratus Suckus Teatus is the Latin root for Democrat and it means to tax)
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