Michael Jordan is not a hands-on exec with Bobcats

Roman, you're really ripping a man for spending time with his kids? Tsk, tsk.

Roman responds: That's what you got out of that? Tsk, tsk. If he wants to run the Bobcats, he should run the Bobcats. And judging from what I see from guys like John Paxson, that requires some presence.

At this point, does MJ have any other interest beyond his kids, gambling, cigars and chasing women?

He never came to any games when I coached his kids. Lets not dub him father of the year just yet JB.

Here is what SamSmith at Bulls.com is reporting

"Have you seen MJ...
Not Bobcats coach Larry Brown much lately, though Brown remains one of the NBA's best interviews and most approachable coaches and talked at length about Jordan before the game.

"I don't see him much on a daily basis," said Brown. "He's very much involved. I talk to him a lot and value his opinions. He's always throwing things at me without making me feel like he's trying to coach. He evaluates players on our team and in the league. When he's around here, it's great. The guys have so much respect for him. I wish he were around all the time. But obviously he has other things to do."

Jordan has been at about four games here, though Brown says Jordan "watches every game" and they talk daily.

"I'm in constant touch with him," Brown said. "He's always sharing his thoughts with me without me feeling like he's telling me to do things. The coach and GM have to be connected. It's the only way you can be successful. His values are the same as mine. We come from the same background. If you'd ask him who influences him the most, other than his dad he'd tell you coach (Dean) Smith. He wants the kids to play hard, play unselfishly, play smart, try to defend and rebound.

"Do we have a perfect situation with this group? No," acknowledged Brown. "I think we all realize that. It's what we're working toward. I call him and apologize when I think (we played poorly) and tell him I feel bad. He never says anything to me. He just keeps saying, 'We're going to get better.' He wants me to coach the guys and have them show progress and hopefully we can figure out a way to turn things around. I don't think it's going to happen overnight.

"I came here because of Michael," Brown said. "No other reason. I'm not disappointed in what has happened thus far. I know we'll get this thing done. I admire the guy. If he wasn't involved, I'd probably be at some college on the west coast. I've always admired him and his personality and I thought what a wonderful thing it would be to work with someone like that and (that thought) hasn't changed."

Jordan has expressed interest in purchasing the team, though nothing seems imminent."

$230 dollar gym shoes!!! And we wonder why other countries don't like Americans!

Please don't anyone try and explain I don't get it! First and foremost I am not trying to GET IT, secondly never would I pay that much for a gym shoe! If I had the money, it would be for a dress shoe, but never for a gym shoe! NEVER!

Roman, I don't believe you're ripping the guy, but come very close to the line! But I understand your point of view because Micheal Jordan is a business man, and it seems the only thing that sells well is his clothing not his managerial skills as a owner of a team.

Roman, it must be easier to make money selling clothes than selling the finer points of basketball to the players on any team he has a hand in.

Roman responds: Ok, so maybe it's a strong relationship from a distance. We'll see.

Mike can be ripped for a lot of things, but not this, although he should be there for Larry Brown. Be there for Larry, not be used as a draw for the team like an animal at the zoo.

But you only get one chance with your children. Once they are grown they are shapen and the die is cast. Mike is doing the right thing. Culzie what year was that???

And anonymous I agree two-fitty for a gym shoe! As Don King would say, ONLY IN AMERICA. I refuse to pay more than 50 for a pair of gymies.

MICHAEL JORDAN YOU ARE THE BEST

Roman, you said it exactly with your last statement above: Who knows exactly what MJ does in a typical day? You can’t assume that because he goes to a typical 2 ½ hour high school basketball game once a week or maybe once a month, then he’s not enough of a hands-on executive with his team. All this does is fuel the speculation about his gambling and personal life that has been slowly tarnishing some of his image post-Bulls. I can make a list of ex-NBA players and legends who have also failed to make the transition to an Executive/GM job for an NBA team. Look at Kevin McHale, Kiki Vandeweghe, Isaiah Thomas, Larry Bird, etc.. heck, John Paxson is getting close on that list if the Bulls fail again with developing Ty Thomas and J. Noah this season. Even Steve Kerr’s Phoenix team isn’t scaring the opposition in the Western Conference. It’s obvious that it takes more than an NBA basketball-playing resume to succeed at that position.

For me, I don’t really care if he bombs at Charlotte or if he manages to turn things around for that franchise. I'll just wish MJ the best of luck. As for the shoes, people can brag all they want about not spending over $50 for gym shoes, but you see plenty of people spending over $200 on authentic football and hockey jerseys. The shoes will sell. That’s business. That’s America for you. MJ will forever be the best NBA player that I have ever seen in my lifetime and he gave our Bulls team 6 Championships in 1 decade where I was old enough to witness and enjoy all those basketball games live at the time. Just don’t flip out like OJ Simpson and I’m fine with whatever MJ does for the rest of his life.

Roman responds: I can't believe McHale still has a job. He's maybe the worst GM in history, although he's no longer GM. And I'm not talking about who's good or bad, I'm just saying I found it interesting that Brown said he's not around much. People make bad picks and personnel decisions, but show up. What do you think?

French cuffs with jeans and a leather jacket. The man is styling.

It's a new era in the NBA... management from afar.

ok - who photo-shopped the girl behind MJ to give her elf ears?

Gotcha, I see what you're saying, Roman. But we all knew that MJ has always tried to keep as low a profile as possible away from the public scene for many years now. This has always been that way for him even during his playing days. I don't think it's too surprising that he's not around much physically, but Larry did say that he stays in contact with him whether by phone or by video conference. Is that enough? I guess not since you brought it up and some people use it to make fun of MJ's poor track record as an NBA Exec. However, how do we really know if MJ is the only one who acts this way with his team? How do we know Paxson is not the same way as well? Ever since the season started, it's not like I've seen Paxson in the public eye that much either or has been at all the Bulls games at the UC. Has Vinny ever confirmed that he has stayed in physical contact with Paxson every day, 5 days a week? I don't know if that question has ever been asked. I really don't think it's all too uncommon for NBA Execs to stay away from the real action often and just set up their weekly meetings or such to keep tabs on their coaches/personnel. Delegation can sure be a wonderful thing when many people are their own bosses. ;-)
Bottom line, as long as the team starts to win consistently again, then this becomes a non-issue. Who knows, with DJ Augustin playing well now (totally schooled Derrick Rose last night) and the acquisitions of Boris Diaw and Raja Bell might actually get that team to gel as a team quickly under Larry Brown who always preaches "smart basketball", then they might end up having the last laugh over our rebuilding Bulls team. The season's still early. Luol Deng is sure enjoying his $80 million contract so far, huh?

It was when they were young, like early 90's.

I love Mike...Dad of the year? probably not.

Yes Roman, that is what I got from your article. Three times you said he was watching his kid play rather than do his job. How about the golf? You didn't mention that. That would be a legitimate thing to say he should cut back on and focus on his job. Or the gambling or the hawking of shoes (which you gave him credit for) - those things would potentially take his attention away from doing his job. You said he was at his kid's game the other night like it was some big scoop. That's called being a parent and it's not newsworthy. Furthermore, I can't really figure out why anyone even cares what Michael Jordan does with his time anymore. Other than visiting his kids, he really has nothing to do with Chicago at all.

Maybe your next blog topic should be about John Paxson and what he does in his spare time. Gosh, I hope it's not spending time with his kids because that would really blow your impression of him right out of the water.

And no BC, I don't think MJ is father of the year. Juanita used an attorney at my brother's firm for the divorce. We all know he's not a saint by any stretch.

And lastly, he is NOT styling Seedy. I saw him at Japonais a couple of months ago..... in pleated jeans. Need I say more?

Roman responds: Julie, save the indignation for something important. The reason I brought up watching his kids is because it came up in conversation with my high school reporter. Not as a bad thing, but as a subject of conversation. Then I saw the story on how he's never around the Bobcats. So I wrote the blog entry. I'm glad he's spending time with his kids, and I'm thrilled Oak and Dickey are there to lend support, too. It's good, quality time. I covered Oak and Dickey, and they're great guys. I'm sorry if it offended your parental sensibilities. And I love how you say it's not newsworthy and then share with us where you saw MJ dine and what he was wearing. Consistency.

Roman I disagree. MJ is to the Bobcat's what Weis is to ND: recruiting magnet's. In today's NBA magnet's. In today's NBA recruitment means more than ability to pay.

So while MJ is watching his kids play ball, he can hook up with the local talent including much of the Big 10 schools & ND. I'm not saying he does that, but it's certainly possible.

I suggest you check it out. See if any one representing that local talent is buzzing around MJ.

Lastly, it's no secret that many Bulls fans including myself want MJ back with the Bulls. It's easy to create jobs for such icons. Look at the Blackhawks: Talon the GM & the ex-Cub guy in charge of anything related to selling the Hawks. MJ could easily do that job for the Bulls & Chicago would finally have a recruiting magnet. You put MJ in that position & I think we land Lebron.

Julie B:

Let's see... skating legend, yoga master, Rex fan and... fashionista???

You are a "4-tool" person. Congrats.

PS. Are pleated jeans really out?

First of all Mike's gonna do what ever Mike's gonna do and who's gonna stop him as long as he's not doing anything illegal. Would Larry Brown prefer Mike to be a Jerry Krause type GM and ride the team bus? I doubt it. If MJ was expected to help fill the stands in Charlotte just by being GM and being present at home games for people to see his airness in person from a short distance someone's thinking was way off. In the first place for all the mania that there is here in NC about college basketball, especially the rivalry between UNC and Duke, the NBA never has been a big draw here or the Hornets wouldn't have left. About the only time the Hornets sold out was when MJ, Magic or Reggie came to town to play. It's a different story buying tickets to see someone like MJ play and another to maybe see him sitting in a skybox watching the game. Face it, as big a celeb as MJ is the fact that he no longer has to travel with an army of bodyguards speaks volumes about active and retired clebrity status. There are already kids at an age now watch LaBron and KG that never saw MJ play and think of him much like I thought of Babe Ruth when I was a kid. He was the man, the legend, the standard but I never got to see him play and even argued that his HR record was acheived in a shorter season than Maris'. As for McQuire, Sosa and Bonds their numbers are tainted and as far as I'm concerned don't matter. The only thing the Babe was juiced up on was beer and hot dogs. Anyway I seemed to have gotten off point to some degree here. Bottom line is if MJ is watching every game and also looking at personnel around the league and in the college ranks and evaluating things from some place other than a sky box in Charlotte and he's in constant contact with Larry Brown what business does anyone other than the Bobcats owner have to complain or judge?

Roman responds: Tim, you were making a good point until you started saying what MJ is doing. How exactly do you know? Brown said he's in constant contact, so ok, I'll give you that. But that stuff about watching every game and personnel in the NBA and college ranks? How do you know?

Nah, I believe in equal-opportunity indignation!

Yes, Seedy, pleated jeans are over.

Some good quality laughs in this blog!

Culzie, the man was busy. I give him a pass.

Mike has always dressed nicely. If you don't like his threads the rest of us dont stand a chance.

Good stuff Edgar and Tim. Mike forever has my respect. Larry should just quit. He going to anyway.

Roman responds: I like his bracelet the best.

My uncle was actually the judge on the Black Mail case, he tells the story, that he wanted to get a basketball signed, but he didnt want to be looking like he was playing favorites...so his idea (which he didnt do) was to just bring out basketballs for both the Plantiffs and the Defense sides and have them all sign balls.

He ruled in favor of Jordan, and threw out that lady's case anyways. Sans Ball

Dude...how did Mike slip that bracelet past Customs?

WASHINGTON — The federal tribe has spoken: A contaminated monkey skull, termite-infested statues and other African artifacts of the TV show "Survivor" will not be allowed into the U.S.

Officials disclosed Monday that customs inspectors in Houston seized a variety of restricted items that were being shipped to the U.S. in a container belonging to the CBS reality show. Among the items: the hide from an African cat suspected of carrying a dangerous disease, a mandrill skull, civet hides, parrot, poultry and ostrich feathers, bones and.................. cowries shells.

What the???????

klss- uh...who dont you give a pass too?

tommy - way tooo funny

Tim - you were making a great point, until you went all Keith on us

Seedy - flirtin with you know who again? what else is new.

jaun - interesting allusion to Weiss...the question is, when will those recruits pay dividends? and will Weiss or MJ be around to enjoy them?

edgar - why so tight lipped lately?

JB - as a new parent....Im with you. I woulda come to a few of my kids first basketball experiances, if not for anything other than to rep for the camp, and give the kids at the camp and the young impressionable coaches a nod. But whatever. Whats another pass for Jordan? He is a god.

This is quite the humorous thread! If I could just add one more nugget, John Paxson's middle name is MacBeth. What the hell is that? Sounds like a guy who wears puffy shirts. And potentially hasn't gotten the memo regarding pleated jeans either.

Here's my question though: Roman said in his first response to me that from what he sees from Pax, this gig takes "presence." Okay, so Pax is here, all the time, all day all night. At every game, involved in everything. Do you guys really think he's doing such a stellar job?

Julie - you're right - Paxson, up until very recently, has been given a pass by the media. He has completely missed nearly every pick he's made (anyone see Brandon Roy last night? Pax missed him too...).
He has played it safe in the draft and even picked guys out of college who were raw to given himself more time from the media.
"Assets" was the word he kept throwing out there to the media with the expectation that over time, he'd make trades to improve the team. Now these assets either can't play (too many to name) or are too soft (Deng). He's left with 1 player that fell into his lap, and Gordon who nobody will trade for since he's a FA at the end of this year.
Paxon is a joke...but hey, he hit that 3-pointer against the Suns right?

Now look people, for all of you who are talking or should I say typing negative about Michael Jordan, you should just let it go. Just deal with what you have accomplished in life. Be proud for you. You don't live the life he lives and he doesn't live yours. Who cares if some one wants to buy some "GYM" shoes for however much money, so be it. Do your part in this world what you feel would make it a better place to live. There are a lot of people from around the world who don't like americans. So! But there are more people who love americans and die for there own countries to breathe the air you breathe here in the states. Whenever any of you can get back to me and let me know how many countries you've been to, then get at me.

Roman it's not often that one of us gets an opportunty to correct you so I don't want to pass up this one. What I said was "IF" he was studying tapes and players I did not say he WAS doing that.
Culzie on the bright side I didn't go all Julie on ya'll and correct your spelling, when I do that just hand me the kool-aid

Bubba's Mom and Julie:

What about painter's pants?
Earth shoes?
Mullet haircuts?
Members Only aviator jackets?
Black Sabbath t-shirts?

Are these things out too?

Tight lipped, Culzie? Me? Nah, I'm just picking and choosing which sports topics to post on to these days. With the Bears, I'm just waiting out until the end of the season before I continue my tirade on Lovie and have at it with more discussions from Darryl M and WRD about how it's NEVER Lovie's fault at all for the Bears. haha Otherwise, Cubs, Sox, Bulls, Blackhawks, heck, even Charlie Weis I guess... I'll chime in whenever I can, but obviously hoops is my #1 sport.

OK, FOR THE RECORD I HAVE COACHED PAX KID TOO, AND HE WAS AT EVERY GAME, EVEN THOSE ANNOYING SUNDAY MORNING HOUSE LEAGUES WHERE WE BARELY KEPT SCORE (YES THOSE SAME LEAGUES WE USED TO 'KEEP UM CLOSE' SO ONE TEAM LOADED WITH LIL PAXONS AND JORDANS DIDNT JUST DESTROY THE OTHER TEAM. IT WAS THE LIBERAL IN ME. SORRY.

ALSO, COACHED CARTWRIGHT KIDS, BILL WENNINGTONS KID, AND THEY ALL CAME TO THE GAMES.

IM NOT SAYING, IM JUST SAYING.

Culzie I would never give Mike an all out pass. I told Roman, you could go after Mike for a lot of things, but not this.

I gave Mike a Pass because he was working on winning championships. And he was probably at the height of his popularity at the time. Younger and dumber. But very cautious about going in public, and he certainly did not want to bring his circus to the peewee camp and overshadow his kids experience. Mike is a god as you say. Who else could move some shoes at two fitty at his age?

Barack could, but um talking exhoopers.

Ok keith I'm crackin up here thinkin up commercial hype for thr Barack shoes! Don't get me wrong I'm one of the white males over 50 that that helped him carry NC into the Democratic column.
Coming Jan.20th, the Barack sneaker by Nike....bob and weave your way through local politics and leap over the likes of Hilary Clinton and John McCain in a single bound from Chicago to Washington D.C. ......suggested retail price $250, in stores everywhere Jan 20th LMOA

Seedy,

Thanks for making me feel important on a blog devoted to basketball. Being a foot shorter than Bob Costas kept me from playing hoops.

Painters pants are out, unless you are a painter.
Mullets are out for everyone except the woman who just gave birth to her 19th child. She doesn't have time for a trip to the salon.
And that's a shame.

Keith it would appear that G.W.Bush will have a shoe named after him before Barack does check it out....
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/21/world/middleeast/21shoe.html?no_interstitial

T Little, that was an All Time Classic Post.

If the Romies Awards
were tomorrow, your Air Obamas Commercial...would be best of the year..hands down.

Its one for the ages!

Thanks for the update, Bubba's Mom

Note to Culzie, Villano and Keylan:

You guys need to update your wardrobes and your hair styles.

Tim that was some wonderful work! That link almost killed me! Good to know that Bush has helped somebody's economy!

Good Evening Everyone;

Hey MJ I am a big big Fan of yours and I appreciate everything you have done for the game of basketball. The reason for my dissappointed email is that I just go through watching the Nets vs Bobcats about 5 mins ago.

What I want to know to know that why did Coach Larry Brown leave a little guard in the game against Kieon Douling of the Nets... Kieon was killing him in the latter parts of the fourth quarter and in the overtime as well. Why wasnt Matt Caroll put back in the game. I truly think that Coach Brown made a huge mistake in leaving D.J. Augustin in the game.. Also I am very disappointed with Omeka's game this evening.. It just looked like he was playing a little soft especially when Raymond Felton was giving him great passes underneath the basket which should have hardcore slams and not let little guys take the ball from him so easily. He even at times went to basket soft.. I truly know that this was a winable game for the Bobcats you know..

Sincerly

Clayton J Mills from Roselle Park NJ
BIG MJ and NBA FAN.

P.S. please let me know what your opinions maybe.

Good Evening Everyone;

Hey MJ I am a big big Fan of yours and I appreciate everything you have done for the game of basketball. The reason for my dissappointed email is that I just go through watching the Nets vs Bobcats about 5 mins ago.

What I want to know to know that why did Coach Larry Brown leave a little guard in the game against Kieon Douling of the Nets... Kieon was killing him in the latter parts of the fourth quarter and in the overtime as well. Why wasnt Matt Caroll put back in the game. I truly think that Coach Brown made a huge mistake in leaving D.J. Augustin in the game.. Also I am very disappointed with Omeka's game this evening.. It just looked like he was playing a little soft especially when Raymong Felton was giving him great passes underneath the basket which should have hardcore slams and not let little guys take the ball from him so easily. He even at times went to basket soft.. I turly know that this was a winable game for the Bobcats you know..

Sincerly

Clayton J Mills from Roselle Park NJ
BIG MJ and NBA FAN.

P.S. please let me know what your opinion maybe and please let me know if you think I was a little harsh in the email.

can anyone confirm if mj remarried again?