During the 11:00pm ET broadcast of "Fox Sports News,"
FSN's Keith Olbermann reported that new information
regarding Michael Jordan's interest in purchasing part of
the Hornets includes one scenario where Jordan returns to
the NBA for one season as a player for the team. Olbermann:
"Sources close to Jordan quote him as saying that he `has to
stay in shape,' because the first of several scenarios being
considered would have Jordan play one season for Charlotte
-- presumably next season -- and then retire again, to
assume part-ownership of the team." Sources told Olbermann
that a one-year return is part of Jordan's "best-case
scenario" and would entail "Jordan as a player -- with his
fifty percent or more stake in the franchise deferred, or
held in trust -- for a year; Phil Jackson ... as the Hornets
coach for at least that year," and Dean Smith as the Hornets
President. Olbermann noted that NBA Commissioner David Stern
"brought Jordan and Shinn together" (FSN, 3/31).
PLAYERS SAY A RETURN IS DOUBTFUL: Charles Barkley, on
Jordan's possible return: "I'd be very surprised if he came
back and played." Scottie Pippen: "That's a new one. I
don't see him coming in as a player" (AP, 3/31).
WHAT WOULD MJ BE LIKE AS OWNER? In Charlotte, Rick
Bonnell asks, "Why in the name of Gatorade would Jordan buy
back into an industry he believes is sliding into the sea,"
and writes that by doing so, the "culture of self-indulgence
becomes Jordan's problem as an owner." Bonnell speculates
that Jordan is interested in ownership only because he is
"bored" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 3/31). In Dallas, Bart Hubbuch
wrote that Jordan owning the Hornets "makes so much sense,
and would make the NBA look so good." Hubbuch: "Stern has
to make this happen, and he knows it. ... A black as owner
would be fitting, too, considering the NBA has long been the
most progressive sports league" (DALLAS MORNING NEWS, 3/30).
