Michael Jordan appeared on CNN's "Larry King Live" last
night and discussed a number of topics, including the launch
of his new cologne with Bijan, called "Jordan by Michael."
Jordan said his role in the cologne's development is "not
just a name. It's actually my hands-on involvement and
education from Mr. Bijan and his group to understand the
product itself." Jordan hopes the product "can touch a lot
of different types of people in terms of style and trend and
taste. Will it touch everyone? No. Maybe not. But it's
gone under research over the period of years that I've been
participating in sports that people have adapted to the
certain things that I prefer. And this is just another way
to see if they prefer the fragrance and the scent that we
have worked on." Jordan, on his first fragrance with Bijan
which did $200M in sales: "It was a big surprise. ... [But]
now we're taking a different approach. We're not trying to
overwhelm the industry. I think we're taking a more
exclusive approach. ... This time it's more away from the
game of basketball. More simple. More lifelike. ... We're
going to limit our distribution to some degree. ... This
time we're going to stick more to cologne-oriented
situations and distributorships" ("Larry King Live," 6/14).
ANOTHER "PLANNED" TRIP TO ASIA? Asked about the
situation in Nike-contracted factories overseas, Jordan
said, "I am very much involved in that and plan a trip this
summer to visit Asia and certainly continue on that whole
probe about that issue. But I think when it was an
awareness of the, you know, America's interest, [Nike Chair]
Phil Knight did a great thing about stepping up and taking
some motivation and those suggestions from the public as
well as the government to make changes." Asked if he would
have left Nike if action by the company wasn't taken, Jordan
said, "I think that is a decision that I would have had to
made. You know, because I've always taken pride in that the
business I'm associated with has operated in the good faith
of the Constitution, and certainly of the government and the
people that have supported it" ("Larry King Live," 6/14).
NEW BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT? Asked if there are new future
business prospects, Jordan said, "Right now I can say that
my time is of utmost importance to me. So I am trying not
to divvy up too much more of my time to business. I want to
relinquish some of those decisions and some of those
businesses to where I have more time to spend with my family
and do other things" ("Larry King Live," CNN, 6/14).
WITH DOLLAR BILL: On his involvement in Bill Bradley's
Presidential campaign: "I do see myself supporting him. ...
Before I fully commit myself, I want to understand all of
the issues [Bradley's campaigning on]" (CNN, 6/14).
