Chicago Bulls vs. The Chicago School -- MJ, Labor and Lockout

TomBoerwinkle#1 · Nov 11, 2011

http://www.chicagomag.com/Chicago-M...ool-Michael-Jordan-Labor-and-the-NBA-Lockout/

Steve Rhodes points me to a couple good reads on Michael Jordan's current role as an owner in the NBA lockout—according to the New York Times, leading the "hard-line" group of owners—versus his role in labor relations as a player.

* At SB Nation, Tom Ziller writes:

In fact, as a player, he was represented by one of the fiercest player advocates in memory in David Falk. As such, MJ was at the forefront of several labor battles. He said things. They were quoted. They made the news, for Michael Jordan was an important man.

Ziller has the quotes; worth catching up on.

* In the Sun-Times, Lacy J. Banks calls Jordan a hypocrite:

During his NBA career, he always defended the average player because he was a committed, compassionate athlete. His marketing appeal helped players and owners reap millions.

Someone—I wish I could rember who or in what medium—brought up a good point the other day: Michael Jordan wants to win. Above all things, it's what we know about him. Whether it's on the court, or the links, or the practice gym, the most important thing to Jordan is winning. And for most of his adult life, Jordan could beat anyone at will. One of my favorite anecdotes about the Bulls comes from Michael Wilbon, a precise observer of sports and athletes who concludes that Jordan is "addicted to competition":

"I can remember this time in, I think, 1990 when Scottie decided to challenge Michael one day in practice," Hodges said. "Michael kind of backed up for a half-second. Then he proceeded, literally, to score on Scottie at will. It was incredible. I mean, Scottie Pippen even then was one of the best players in the league and Michael just rained points on him. Scottie had to step back and say, 'Slow up, man.' "

This made Jordan, by many accounts, kind of a jerk, but it also made him better at what he did than practically any athlete in sports—than practically anyone at what they do in my lifetime.
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