Hornets Owner Michael Jordan conducted interviews that ran on both FS1 and ESPN last night. Jordan said that all the indications he has seen is that "everybody loves" the name change from Bobcats to Hornets, but that is "just one aspect" of turning the franchise around. He said, "The other aspect is the basketball portion of it is just as equally exciting and it matches what we'll try to do from a business side." In terms of the on-court product, the hope is the "progress continues" because the team "made a big stride last year and the energy around here makes all the work that went into rebranding much, much better." Jordan: "The fans want to see that type of competitive team. Me, as an owner, I want that, too ... We should build on what we did last year. We should not settle for just making the playoffs. (I) think we should try to excel in the playoffs." Jordan added he is in a "perfect place to be where I own a team." Jordan: "Obviously, I'm involved in the team. But I allow them to be and let the game play in this era." FS1's Bill Reiter following the taped interview said, "It is long overdue for Michael Jordan to start doing what he is doing. I think he's turning this thing around" ("Fox Sports Live," FS1, 10/27).
TAKING IT IN FROM A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE: Jordan admitted it was "hard" watching the Bobcats pile up losses on the court "because I was coming from a situation where I could impact the game totally differently." He said, "When I'm in shorts and tennis shoes, I can determine what the outcome is. As an owner, you live vicariously through the investments ... that you have, and that's very tough. But it's good that you can take all that in and learn and start to make changes and start to get on the other side of it. My competitive juices never wavered at all. I never looked at anything else or getting out. I just wanted to win. I was going to do everything I could possibly do to get on the other side." He admits he is now impacting the game "from a totally different perspective and it's not as much fun but it's a lot harder." Jordan: "But I love the game and I love watching it. I am a steward of the game. I want the game to be respected in all facets. I'm willing to contribute in whatever way possible to make sure that the perception of the game is held appropriately from a player's standpoint and to some degree from an owner's standpoint. I'm in the business because I still love the game of basketball and if I lost the love for the game of basketball, I'm pretty sure I would get out of it" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 10/27).
DON'T TEASE US: SPORTING NEWS' Chris Littmann notes Jordan today has taken over several of the Hornets' social media outlets, including on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook, to "mark the opening of the NBA season." His first tweet was, "I’M BACK! …just kidding LOL. Trying out social media for the first time and sharing my day with you. Ready? #MJTakeover" (SPORTINGNEWS.com, 10/28).
