WMBFNews.com | Myrtle Beach/Florence, SC | News, Weather, SportsMichael Jordan talks for first time after buying Bobcats
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CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Thursday night Michael Jordan spoke publicly for the first time since becoming the majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats. The press conference at Time Warner Cable Arena took place one day after NBA owners approved Jordan's $275 million purchase of the team.
Jordan stressed his North Carolina roots. He talked about growing up in Wilmington and playing for UNC, where he helped the Tar Heels win the 1982 championship.
Jordan said he wants to make the Bobcats a winner and bring back the excitement Charlotte experienced during the early days of the Hornets. Jordan said he witnessed that excitement firsthand while playing for the Chicago Bulls.
"I want this place to be like when we used to come and play, and it was the loudest thing, and you'd hear that buzzing, and all that crazy stuff," Jordan said. "I want that same feeling to come back here; [but] it's going to take some time."
Former majority owner Bob Johnson has often been criticized for living in the Washington, DC, area and never becoming very involved in the community.
Jordan's primary residence is Chicago, and he admits he'll still be spending time there.
"My kids are still in Chicago," Jordan said. "Will I have a home here? Yes. I will have a home here. But I still have responsibilities to my kids."
But Jordan says despite his Chicago responsibilities, he plans to become very active in the Charlotte community.
"I can't afford to walk away from that responsibility," he said. "I want to get myself integrated in what's happening here in this city."
Many fans hope Jordan will be an owner more along the lines of the Panthers Jerry Richardson than Johnson.
"I think that the Panthers get a lot of loyalty and benefit of the doubt because Jerry Richardson has been so involved and enmeshed in this community," said Erik Spanberg of the Charlotte Business Journal. "So what Michael said tonight was a very good start."
Jordan has been criticized for his management decision, both with the Washington Wizards in the early 2000s and over the past three years as minority owner in Charlotte.
In Washington, he was criticized for drafting the disappointing Kwame Brown; in Charlotte he received similar criticism for drafting Adam Morrison.
"I think that his record as a player is much more stellar than his record as an executive," Spanberg said. "Although, to be fair to him, you have to give him credit, the Bobcats have been much better since they brought in Larry Brown, since they turned over the roster. They look like they might make the playoffs."
"If there's nothing else about Michael Jordan, we know he's competitive to the death, and I think he's very determined to prove that he can actually run a franchise and build a winner."
Jordan says his goal is to do just that.
