Washington Wizards drop Jordan

[Chazz]

Washington Wizards kick out Jordan

Wed May 7,10:48 PM ET

 

WASHINGTON (AFP) - With his team in disarray, Washington Wizards owner Abe Pollin said farewell to Michael Jordan in a unilateral decision that left the National Basketball Association superstar stunned.

 

Pollin announced Wednesday that Jordan will not be retained as president of basketball operations, paving the way for Jordan to perhaps buy in as a partner of the NBA expansion team in Charlotte.

 

 

"I want to emphasize my sincere thanks to Michael for his time with this franchise," Pollin said. "While the roster of talent he has assembled here in Washington may not have succeeded to his and my expectations, I do believe Michael's desire to win and be successful is unquestioned."

 

 

Jordan, 40, served as the team president from January 2000 to October 2001 before returning as a player for the last two seasons. But Jordan, a six-time champion with the Chicago Bulls, was unable to get the Wizards into the playoffs.

 

 

Jordan met Wednesday with Pollin and Wizards minority owner Ted Leonsis, but was apparently not expecting the decision.

 

 

"It was well understood that when I finished playing, I would return as president of basketball operations, and this was definitely my desire and intention," Jordan said in a statement.

 

 

"However, today, without any prior discussion with me, ownership informed me that it had unilaterally decided to change our mutual long-term understanding. I am shocked by this decision and by the callous refusal to offer me any justification for it."

 

 

This season, Jordan often criticized his teammates as the Wizards stumbled to a 37-45 record. Jordan's hand-picked coach, Doug Collins, also complained about the players' lack of respect.

 

 

However, the criticism caused mounting player resentment against Jordan. Wizards veteran Jerry Stackhouse said his teammates would be better off without the NBA's greatest player.

 

 

The US media has been full of accounts of turmoil in the team, with the New York Times reporting many of Jordan's teammates refused to contribute to a retirement gift.

 

 

With the acrimony boiling to the surface, Pollin and Leonsis realized a change had to be made.

 

 

"In the end, Ted and I felt this franchise should move in a different direction," Pollin said.

 

 

Jordan's return to the court certainly turned into a financial bonanza for Pollin and Leonsis, giving them 82 consecutive home sellouts over the last two seasons and increasing ticket sales by almost 19 million dollars.

 

 

After Jordan named Collins coach, the Wizards nearly doubled their win total to 37 in 2001-02, but the team finished 37-45 again this season, failing to fulfill Jordan's goal of making the playoffs.

 

 

"I firmly believe that Michael's time with us as a player will have a lasting impact on every player on our roster, and there is no question that our fans were treated to a very unique two seasons," Pollin said. "We were extremely fortunate to witness his final season."

 

 

Jordan is thought to be interested in a possible role with the Charlotte expansion team, which is owned by Robert Johnson and scheduled to join the league in 2004-05. Jordan has ties to the area, having grown up in Wilmington, North Carolina, before playing for Dean Smith at the University of North Carolina.

 

 

Jordan tried to purchase the Charlotte Hornets in 1999, but talks with owner George Shinn broke down.

 

 JORDAN:" WHAT THA' F#@$?!?!"

[RoyalZarak]

Oh well no big deal. I'm sure the Bulls will beg him to be their next GM or owner. :lol:

[NightCreeper]

I live in NoVa near DC, but ive never went to any games, cause IMO basketball is boring and isnt fun

 

And i never really cared for jordan

 

So whether he is gone or not, i dont care

[Outsiders]

I don't like how The Wizards figured just cause they had Jordan then they would be winning champion games after games... Jordan is only 1 man and can't carry the whole team...

[angel10]

The Wizards treated Jordan unfairly IMO, but who cares he has so much money he can go home and wipe his tears with $100 bills.

[CLAM]

what I feel bad about is the fact that he was planning on returning to the Wizards when he decided to come back and play.. that was the entire point behind why he decided to play.. to help the young guys get better, and bring in more money so that they team would be better when he went back into the GM postion.

 

now it just seems like he wasted two years playing for them when he could have played on a good team and picked up a few more rings in the process..

 

the Wizards just used him, those dirty bastards. I hope they suck from now on, forever.

[Captain Typho]

DC is about 45 min were i am and it suck that the Wizards let him go. I fought that he would turn this team around but it did happen with the Owner Alle Pollin. It was hard to to get Wizards tickest because Jordan sold out the place and now the Wizards are going downhill. The only thin I will go see at MCI Center is the Washington Captails and when the Lalers come played the Wizards. I hope Pollin sale the team to a another owner because he suck. I hope MJ will be apart of the new NBA team in Charlottle.