Originally published in the NY Times on February 10, 2005 [here]
By CLIFTON BROWN
Michael Jordan wants to own an N.B.A. team, but until that happens, he is finding other ways to remain close to basketball.
Jordan was in Manhattan yesterday to talk about the Jordan
Classic, a high school basketball game that will be played at Madison
Square Garden on April 16 and will feature many of the country's top
seniors. Although Jordan looked forward to the event, he said, he also
looked forward to the day when he would run an N.B.A. franchise.
"I'm being patient, waiting for the right situation," said Jordan, who
had a disappointing departure from the league in 2003, when he was
fired from the front office of the Washington Wizards by the team's
owner, Abe Pollin. "Basketball is still my passion. If the right
situation comes up, it will happen."
Robert Johnson, the league's only African-American owner, talked with
Jordan last year about a front-office position with his expansion team,
the Charlotte Bobcats. But Jordan decided against that because he
wanted to be a majority owner of a team, he said, so he could have the
final say on all decisions.
Jordan is believed to have pursued several ownership opportunities, and
Commissioner David Stern has said he will welcome Jordan as an owner.
The league would obviously benefit from having Jordan back. When he was
winning six championships with the Chicago Bulls, Jordan became the
world's biggest sports star and helped elevate the league's popularity
to levels it has not enjoyed since.
"I'm not afraid of an existing situation," Jordan said. "I'm not afraid
of an expansion situation. Financially it has to fit, and economically
it has to be worthwhile. You have to look at how it benefits you, as
well as what you can provide for that team."
Watching how the league has changed since he last played, Jordan said
he was against the trend of players' skipping college to turn pro right
after high school.
"That's not what I would do, but they have their own minds to
make up," said Jordan, who played three seasons at North Carolina
before turning professional. "It's a tough road. Some guys are mentally
ready for it, some guys are not."
When asked about speculation that Phil Jackson, his former coach with
the Bulls, would be the Knicks' next coach, Jordan smiled. "Whatever
Phil does, I support Phil," he said.
Jordan also said he had no idea whether Jackson would return to coach
the Los Angeles Lakers. An acrimonious relationship with the Lakers
star Kobe Bryant was a factor in Jackson's decision to resign as Lakers
coach after last season. Many people doubt that Jackson and Bryant
could work together again, but Jordan preferred not to speculate.
"I had a great relationship with Phil," Jordan said. "I really don't know what went on between them."
Jordan said he hoped that the Jordan Classic would be a showcase for
future talent and that the experience of playing in New York would help
the high school players develop. The event will be a doubleheader, with
a regional game followed by a national game. Among the players who have
previously participated in the Jordan Classic are LeBron James, Carmelo
Anthony and Amare Stoudemire. Jordan had held the game in Washington
for three years, but he decided that the Garden would be a fitting
location; it is an arena where he enjoyed some of his most memorable
games.
"I've always enjoyed coming to New York, and the people have treated me
well," said Jordan, who grew up in North Carolina but was born in
Brooklyn. "It will be a great experience for these kids."