In Winston-Salem, John Delong writes that "contrary to
speculation," Hornets Owner George Shinn did not meet with
Michael Jordan this past week "to further discuss a sale of
the team" (WINSTON-SALEM JOURNAL, 4/12). In SI, Jackie
MacMullan writes the odds on Jordan becoming an owner "are
growing shorter by the day," as one "sticking point will be
Jordan's insistence" that Shinn agree "to remain deep in the
background ... and allow Jordan to be the primary decision
maker." But BET CEO Robert Johnson is forming his own bid
group and told SI: "If Mr. Shinn announces he's holding an
auction and everyone should show up with their money, we'll
be in the front row. But if it's going to be a no-bid
business, controlled by a network of insiders like David
Falk and Michael Jordan, then we won't have much of a chance
and that's disappointing" (SPORTS ILLUSTRATED, 4/12 issue).
HOT SEAT: Charlotte's New Arena Committee Chair John
Fennebresque was featured in a front-page profile in
Sunday's CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. Fennebresque met with Jordan
in N.Y. and "flew home to criticism from people who wondered
who John Fennebresque thought he was, sneaking off, all
alone, to sell Jordan on Charlotte" (CHAR. OBSERVER, 4/11).
