Wizards President of Basketball Operations Michael
Jordan "is itching to oust the notoriously awful Wizards
dancers," according to sources close to the team cited by
NEWSWEEK. Jordan, at a recent Wizards game, told a source:
"Getting the right players is hard. Finding cheerleaders
who can count on time shouldn't be." The dancers, who are
paid around $50 per game and "are known around the NBA for
their sloppy execution," have heard the rumors and "expect"
to get fired soon. One dancer: "They fired [former coach]
Gar [Heard] after a big win. They'll probably fire us after
one of our better performances" (NEWSWEEK, 2/21).
JORDAN TAKES RIBBING, GIVES ONE: ESPY Awards host Jimmy
Smits, to Jordan, who was seated in the front row of last
night's event: "Michael, I think I speak for everyone here
when I say -- the Wizards?" Jordan, in accepting the ESPY
for Pro Basketball Player of the Decade, said, "To all of
you who have supported Michael Jordan in the years, please
come out and check out a Wizards game." Jordan, to Charles
Barkley, who was sitting in the audience: "You're welcome to
get a job with us if you need a job. We definitely need a
new mascot in Washington" ("ESPY Awards," ESPN, 2/14).
COULD MJ BOLT SPORTSLINE? BUSINESS WEEK reports that
Capitals Owner Ted Leonsis said that in three years, revenue
from ads and sales on the team's Web site "could surpass
that of" its TV deal, and he is eventually "counting on the
star power" of Jordan to attract fans to the site. Leonsis
wants to associate Jordan with the site once his contract
with SportsLine.com expires in 2007 (BUSINESS WEEK, 2/21).
