While Michael Jordan confirmed yesterday his interest
in purchasing a stake in the Hornets, his statement
"suggested the deal is far from consummation," according to
Bonnell & Chandler of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. Jordan
described his discussions with Hornets Owner George Shinn as
"very preliminary," and Bonnell & Chandler report that the
two sides "are probably weeks, if not months," from reaching
an agreement. Shinn's impending divorce from his wife,
Carolyn, "apparently won't impede a sale to Jordan," as the
two issued a statement Monday saying that they have reached
an "amicable divorce settlement." The statement added that
the settlement "would have no effect" on Shinn's future
plans for the Hornets (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 3/30).
PLAYING HARD TO GET? In Chicago, Lacy Banks writes that
a source familiar with the negotiations said that Hornets
management "was not pleased" with the "ambivalent tone" of
Jordan's statement. The source: "Now it sounds like Michael
is playing hard to get. ... He knows that Shinn is somewhat
on the ropes from a public-relations standpoint." Banks
notes that there is a "growing consensus" that Jordan "will
not put his money and reputation on the line unless he is
assured majority control of basketball operations." The
source calls Shinn "a very stubborn and proud man" and says
that Jordan and his agent David Falk "must be careful to do
this thing in a way that will leave Shinn with some dignity,
or Shinn will back out" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 3/30). A source
of the WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL's John Delong said that both
parties are "still far apart," because Jordan "has been
seeking to buy in at bargain-basement prices." The source:
"It's not like George is going to come down on his price
just because he's talking to Michael" (W-S JOURNAL, 3/30).
MORE REAX: In Toronto, Craig Daniels writes that he
believes the NBA "helped leak" the story of Jordan's
interest in the Hornets to the press, and now "the pressure
is on Shinn to unload the club" (TORONTO SUN, 3/30).
