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**truebluefan** · 05-07-2003, 02:00 PM

This is not right. I feel bad for MJ. The team almost made the playoffs. You have some good pieces in place. I dont know what to think.

I would like to have seen him be allowed to stay for all five years. Unseld was there forever.

**BCH** · 05-07-2003, 04:07 PM

Jordan quote on his departure:

Quote:

"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. "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.

Jordan thanked his Washington fans for their support and expressed being "disappointed that I wasn't given the opportunity to make this franchise one of proud tradition"

Anyone else feel like taking a break from being a Wizards fan until Pollin sells? I can tell you that right now, it is extrmely unlikely I will offer any money towards Abe Pollin's Wizards, to the point where I want to write Comcast and let them know I am specifically not going to watch any Wizards programming.

jazzy1 · 05-07-2003, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BCH!
Jordan quote on his departure:

Anyone else feel like taking a break from being a Wizards fan until Pollin sells? I can tell you that right now, it is extrmely unlikely I will offer any money towards Abe Pollin's Wizards, to the point where I want to write Comcast and let them know I am specifically not going to watch any Wizards programming.

I am in complete agreement with this BCH. I'm really fed up with this organization. MJ was used and misused by this franchise. I knew for some reason that the MJ celebration was very suspicious and that Pollin looked like he was in no mood to celebrate MJ. I think the thing with O'Malley and MJ soured the whole relationship and quite frankly I see why MJ was mad.

I really don't know right now if I can support this team any longer.

mambo47 · 05-07-2003, 05:22 PM

I knew Jordan and Collins were gone as soon as they started ripping players.

(1) These were Jordan's own choices.

(2) Shows the coach lost control of his players.

(3) Their public whinings diminished the trade value of any of the said players.

If it were my club, I would have fired them too.

If you look at my previous posts, i have complained that it became all about Jordan and not about developing the young players - well, there's a price for everything.

I hope they get rid of all the whiners; Oakley, Collins, Jordan and the whole crew.

**BCH** · 05-07-2003, 05:33 PM

Anyone else prepared to laugh at the full page ad Pollin is going to take out in the Washington Post proclaiming his commitment to DC and to bringing this great city a NBA Championship.

Seriously, watch for it over the next few days.

MikeDC · 05-07-2003, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BCH!
Anyone else prepared to laugh at the full page ad Pollin is going to take out in the Washington Post proclaiming his commitment to DC and to bringing this great city a NBA Championship.

Seriously, watch for it over the next few days.

LOL, did he take one out after the trade of Webber too?

**johnston797** · 05-07-2003, 08:08 PM

An AP story on the Sporting News site

http://www.sportingnews.com/nba/arti...07/472446.html

Quote:

Pollin's statement also implied that his decision was made with minority partner Ted Leonsis, saying that: "In the end, Ted and I felt that this franchise should move in a different direction."

However, another team source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Leonsis was not aware of Pollin's decision until the meeting.

Leonsis and Jordan, who dined together Tuesday night, arrived expecting to discuss Jordan's rejoining the team, the source said. Instead, Pollin opened with a statement saying Jordan would not be welcome back and that is was not open for discussion.

Looks like Abe stood alone on this one.

MikeDC · 05-07-2003, 08:51 PM

You mean old "nice guy Abe" said that?

That's a good natured jab, by the way, at those who think Pollin is a "nice guy" because of his charity and whatnot.

He's a nice guy in that regard, but he's one of those guys that has a split personality. There's Abe the private person, then there's Abe the Businessman. Abe the Green Goblin. That Abe is not a nice guy, and don't make the mistake of forgetting about him when considering the total person.

I halfway think he's had something like this planned from the getgo. Do you think a guy like Abe the Businessman ever forgets something like what MJ said to him during the lockout? MJ told him how to run his business and so Abe decided to teach him a thing or two about how 'business' really works.

**BCH** · 05-07-2003, 09:04 PM

I have a feeling as more and more of this comes out, I will be spending my time counting the days until Abe Pollin sells.

TJ Kidd's Head · 05-07-2003, 09:34 PM

According to Thompson, Jordan was used like a "cheap whore". I agree. The man wasn't Jerry West in the office, but he at the least deserved his 2 years to turn the team around. I mean, he singlehandledly generated millions of dollars for the Wiz and the NBA in general, whilst putting beaucoup d'argent in Abe's pocket. This is truly a edited for masking. truebluefanmove on Abe's part.

Uggg....at least we know for sure Wes is not a candidate.

MikeDC · 05-07-2003, 09:34 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by BCH!
I have a feeling as more and more of this comes out, I will be spending my time counting the days until Abe Pollin sells.

You, me, and Ted Leonsis makes three.

I can't even think of the last time I've heard of a blindside like the one that's being reported. At least, outside of pro wrestling.

GB · 05-07-2003, 11:47 PM

No compensation either...

a confidant of Jordan's insisted last night that no such deal existed - acknowledging it would constitute a cap violation - and that Jordan would not be further compensated by the club. The confidant said Jordan felt used by the Wizards for a few seasons of profit.

The line:

Pollin then said he would reward Jordan financially for his contributions when Jordan interrupted him, the participant in the meeting said.

"That's not what I was looking for," Jordan said, according to the participant. "I didn't do this for the money. I thought I was going to take over the franchise eventually."

Pollin replied, according to the participant: "That was never part of the arrangement. I've worked 39 years to build this organization. I'm not giving it to you and I don't want you to be my partner, Michael."
nytimes.com

Actually, I don't feel one way or another about the whole thing. Ho hum. But basketball-wise it's very interesting. Color me crazy, but I think Pollin has given the Wiz motivation they wouldn't accept anywhere else.

But Pollin better watch his back---I know that.

**BCH** · 05-07-2003, 11:52 PM

The more that gets reported the worse it looks for Pollin

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2003May7.html

Quote:

Those sources said Leonsis heard the news, sitting in the meeting, at the same time Jordan did. Leonsis's allies, who would speak only on the condition of anonymity, said they were incensed that Pollin did not even wait to hear out Jordan and were also angry about the Wizards' news release, which they said was written without Leonsis's knowledge.

Don't even let the guy who brought MJ in, and who owns 44% of the team in on it, Abe. Way to be a man, and discuss the matter with MJ before deciding.

Quote:

Pollin last night issued a second, two-sentence statement through a spokesman, saying: "The only thing I said to Michael Jordan is that I would be fair. And I have lived up to that in every conceivable way."

During yesterday's brief meeting, Pollin offered Jordan $10 million for his contributions to the franchise, according to two sources familiar with the event, but those sources said Jordan declined the offer, saying he was there for a job, not for the money.

Feeling guilty you treated the guy like a prostitute? You can't buy dignity Abe.

Quote:

Jordan felt trepidation about coming out of retirement as a player, according to sources, because he believed his future lay in management and because he might have difficulty reacquiring his ownership in the teams. With Pollin's encouragement, Jordan decided to play for the Wizards, one of the least successful teams in the NBA.

I guess Abe was trying to buy a conscience. Can you imagine the conversations they had? "Go ahead Michael. Play with the guys and get a true feel for it. When you buy back in, you will have a much better position because of the increased value, and a much better understanding. Don't worry about your job as GM, it will still be here."

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2003May7.html

Quote:

When Pollin required the Wizards to stay at an airport hotel in Portland, Ore., that his brother owns, Jordan used his personal credit card to book rooms for all the players at a more upscale, centrally located hotel.

A Mom and Pop, Mickey Mouse organization. It is hilarious.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2003May7.html

Quote:

A very smart lawyer I know with business dealings with the Wizards over the years told me the day Jordan put on a uniform that the Wizards would make all the money off him they could, then go back to running the franchise with Pollin, O'Malley and Wes Unseld calling all the shots.

Why did anyone think it could be different? Everyone, including MJ was taken in by this.

Quote:

Jordan isn't going to scream bloody murder, though. I hoped he would. In a conversation yesterday afternoon he said: "I'm not going to get into a war of words with these guys. I'm not going to go back and forth. I'd like to think I'm bigger than that as a person."

Quote:

But there was no mistaking Jordan's feeling of betrayal. For you conspiracy theorists who think this might have been set up all along so that Jordan could run off to Charlotte, keep in mind that in a long conversation on Monday night, Jordan was already talking about his plans for the future of the team. There was no reason to have an on-the-record conversation about wanting to stay in D.C. and run the Wizards if he didn't really want to because Jordan was free to walk at any time.

MJ wanted to come back. He deserved to finish the job of he wanted to, especially for the money he made Abe in the time he played.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn...-2003May7.html

Quote:

But what Pollin had to ask himself was, why should he pay the tab for Jordan to learn basic people skills on the job, at the franchise's long-term expense?

I threw this in because Sally Jenkins should stick to writing about figure skating. She is a fool. Pollin paying the tab? How much did MJ make the Wizards? Long-term expense? Does Sally have any clue about the history of the Wizards? She has NFC and it shows. Her article is a hodge podge of poor cliches. She should go back to trying to be funny and begging Tony Kornheiser for material for her columns, because trying to be a serious columnist isn't working.

jazzy1 · 05-08-2003, 01:45 AM

The details are worse than I thought. I think Wes bailed out because he didn't want to be seen as part of this whole scenario. I think he saw it coming and wanted no part of all this. I think he felt badly about what they were gonna do and said I'm out.

I suspect Leonsis and MJ had a plan when Abe sold to him MJ would gain control from Ted. Maybe Abe got wind of that also with all the other factors. MJ saying he thought he was gonna take over the franchise kinda makes sense in all this.

Would be really sad if Abe held the grudge against MJ after the whole labor negotiations thing in 98. That would be terrible.

Abe could've told MJ's reps over the phone about not wanting him back. He did it to MJ's face and Leonsis's face to send a message to both. Don't screw with me Ted or MJ. ted being part owner was made to know that Abe holds all the cards. How old is Abe 79 .

Funny thing though I think Falk and all his clients who Abe

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