So he wasn't a Wiz
 

Mikey's gone read here.

So much for Abe's legendary loyalty. MJ sells out MCI Arena for 82 straight games, draws all of 2 mill in salary all with the understanding that he will get his job back once he finishes lining Abe's pockets.

I guess Abe didn't have a problem with Unseld fucking up the franchise year after year, but suddenly MJ is second coming of ML Carr? Come on...

Curse of Les Boulez, baby...

Was Jordan run out of town by Abe? I got the impression there was a lot of mutual dissatisfaction... besides, Jordan has a chance at a clean slate (and a 100% free salary cap) in Charlotte now... if you ask me, that's a better situation than what he'd have in Washington.

Let's face it: Jesus couldn't turn the Wizards into a winner.

Of course not. But we're not talking about Jesus, dammit, this is Michael Jordan! :D

I didn't think he was forced out either, until I saw this:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv.../050703-6v.htm

(you need real player to view it)

Well, Jesus may not be able to guard Jordan 1-on-1, but you have to admit, he'd probably be better in a management role - his salary cap wizardry is unparalleled... he drafted 12 apostles and didn't pay them a nickel... Aside from losing Iscariot to free agency, I'd say he handled his personnel pretty well. ;)

I abhor Real Player. Care to summarize?

It says there was no actual meeting. The press release was done beforehand and the Wiz decided to force him out. They also say all of Jordan's people will also be canned.

Also, the reporter says that he probably won't go to Charlotte either, but he wasn't totally clear on why.

Well, I can't say I'm a big fan of Les Boulez... although I did grow up there, and I've always enjoyed reading Tony Kornheiser ragging on them... but this is a really disappointing development.

Jordan the exec was, and likely will be, a washout. His work ethic was terrible, and he wasn't all that great when he was actually doing his job, either.

He may have been great on the court, but in the front office, he's no Joe Dumars.

That may be... but he brought a lot of fans to the Wizards home games when he gave up his exec. title and ownership stake in the team, and the deal was he'd get it back when he was done playing.

It's pretty shitty of Pollin to welch on the deal after he's already reaped the benefits of inflated ticket sales the last two years.

Maybe his work ethic sucked... but, at the least, he's done no worse than Wes Unseld and the gang when it comes to putting a winner on the court in D.C., and, in fact, the Wizards salary cap is in much better shape now than it was when he started. Sure, he made some ill-advised trades and draft pics... but name a Wizards/Bullets exec who's done better in the last 20 years...

The basketball gods will continue to frown upon Les Boulez, and the curse will continue indefinately...

For the Wizards or for another team?

I thought he was walking away with $10M or so. That's what I read yesterday, I haven't read the follow-up stories. If so, that's hardly being thrown out on the pavement.

$10 Million isn't going to make or break Michael Jordan. I don't think this is really about money for him.

Good point... the Wizards personnel moves in the last 20 years have been good for lots of other teams. ;)

I think this just caps the end of a failed, sad attempt at a comeback. Yes, Jordan put up 40+ a few times and was remarkable for his age, but it's slightly overshadowed my earlier impression of him. Worst of all, it did perceptably nothing to improve his team other (not counting the finanical sellouts and increase in jersey sales) and likely hurt it - they would probably be in the Lebron lottery without him, and the youger guys would have had more playing time.

Now on top of everything else, he's lost his front office job, and it may tarnish any future opportunities for him in this area.

edited for addition.

Webber
Garnett
Ben Wallace
Rip Hamilton
Michael Jordan

That could have easily been their starting five this year...

Dola

The Wizards organization is viewed as provincial at best around the league. I bet there are a number of owners who would like to have some of the MJ magic rub off on their franchise.

Whether or not the Wizards are in better or worse shape is debatable. MJ did a very good job of clearing salary cap space. His worst moves were probably his coach hiring decisions. Leonard Hamilton was a disaster and Doug Collins is too high strung to be an effective coach...

I actually meant the team was worse off by his playing again, not his front office moves. Although Kwame Brown has yet to pan out.

I also think his future opportunities might be hurt more by the reasons behind his layoff (i.e. the rumors of his poor work ethic) than by his success or lack thereof in the Wizards office.

I doubt that. From a PR standpoint, he didn't do anything to embarass the organization... that'd be about the only thing that would keep another team from taking a shot with him. Just having him in the owner's box would put a few more butts in the seats every night...

Would you really go to a game just because Jordan is sitting in the owners box? I wouldn't.

Maybe it put a few more fans in the seats when it gave the Wizards hopes ... and they were desparate to latch onto some positive sign. But the novelty has worn off. I can't imagine Jordan's presence in the front office having an impact on attendence ... maybe in Chicago, but still.

[edited addition] If this was the case, why didn't Washington keep him around?

Because MJ didn't get along with Susan O'Malley and everyone in DC knows she is practically Abe's adopted daughter. Just ask John Nash - you cross La Sooz and your ass is out on Fun Street in no time...

Big mistake by the Wizards...

I still don't get why this is a big mistake - well, at least not until we see his replacement.

Subby, since you're in DC, do you really know people that were planning on seeing Wizard games just because he was in the front office?

Yes, he unloaded some players which 'helped' with the cap, but what did he get in return? Stackhouse - good, but can't carry a team. Laetner, Lue? I love the 'sure he made some bad trades, coaching decisions, draft picks, etc.. BUT ...". Those are reasons enough to let someone in his job go (unless of course you work for the Knicks).

I'm not saying he's any worse than the guys they've had there before, but I also don't think he was any better.