THE DAILY QUEST FOR AIR: COULD SHINN SELL TO HIGH BIDDER?

          In Chicago, Steve Rosenbloom writes, "Some people now
     are saying [Michael Jordan's] apparent leverage in scooping
     up half the Hornets from troubled current owner George Shinn
     is militated by Shinn's threat to auction the team to the
     highest bidder if Michael doesn't come up with more scratch
     than $20 million and agree to share power for a while"
     (CHICAGO TRIBUNE, 4/21).  Jordan, on yesterday's Charlotte
     Observer report that he is looking to pay less than 50% for
     a half share of the Hornets: "There's no truth to that. 
     None at all" (DAILY SOUTHTOWN, 4/21).  One NBA assistant,
     who has previously worked with Hornets Exec VP Bob Bass,
     said, "If Michael Jordan comes in and allows Bob to leave,
     he will be making a big mistake. ... They weren't wrong when
     they made him executive of the year twice" (ESPN.com, 4/21).