Michael Jordan's new role with the Wizards will make
his relationship with agent David Falk a "touchy subject,"
especially since the Wizards made their locker room "off-
limits" to Falk and all agents "after several bitterly
contentious contract negotiations in the '90s," according to
Greg Boeck of USA TODAY. But NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ
Granik said that he doesn't "expect any problems" with the
relationship and that "people are making more of this than
it seems to be." Jordan: "Let's straighten the air. David
works for me, instead of me working for David. He can be a
pain in the (rear). I know that. But he's a great pain in
the (rear) to have on your side" (USA TODAY, 1/20).
Meanwhile, NBA Senior VP/Sports Communications Brian
McIntyre said that the issue "was not one the league had
rules about." McIntyre: "It's unchartered waters. We'll
have to figure how to deal with it" (N.Y. TIMES, 1/20).
Jordan, on Falk: "We will confer with the league. We will
confer with the union. See what's allowable and what's not
allowable. ... We're willing to address the problem whenever
the time comes, if it is a problem. It hadn't really been
made clear to us [if Falk] is a major problem" (ESPN2,
1/19). In Boston, Michael Holley writes that "eventually,
Jordan will have to alter his relationship with [Falk].
Other owners could complain that Jordan has a competitive
advantage, due to his close relationship with the powerful
Falk" (BOSTON GLOBE, 1/20). FSN's Jim Rome: "As much as
David Stern wanted this to happen, he has to do something
about MJ's relationship with his agent-business partner,
David Falk. I mean, if there's a greater conflict of
interest than that relationship I don't happen to know what
it is" ("The Last Word," FSN, 1/19).
