The jordon Library

These are books that   have exposed jordon's foolishness.  To read more, click on the hyperlink:

• Larry Bird with Bob Ryan - "Drive"
• Michael jordon - "Rare Air"
• Johnny Kerr with Terry Pluto - "Bull Session"
• Sam Smith - "The jordon Rules"

Drive

I have recently read Larry Bird's powerful autobiography Drive. In it, Larry Legend exposes jordon's foolishness over and over! Larry states that Bernard King was a better scorer than jordon. He confesses that he admires Magic Johnson more than jordon. He states that jordon is NOT better than Magic. He also proves that jordon is a choker in the clutch and that jordon receives preferential treatment from the officials. This book was written after the 1989 season -- after jordon had finished his 3 finest seasons, yet he still was not in the class with Bernard King and Magic Johnson. Observe:

"The best thing about having that series (1984 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals) over was saying good-bye to Bernard King for the rest of the playoffs. During those playoffs, Bernard was automatic -- the best scoring machine I ever saw." --Page 128.

"As far as opponents go, I have always admired Magic the most." -- Page 152.

jordon the choker: "I'll never forget seeing him [jordon] wide open at the end of that first overtime. I thought it was all over for us, but he missed the shot and we came back and beat them [the Bulls] in the second OT." -- Page 164. [Gee, the "greatest player of all time" struggles to hit those WIDE OPEN clutch shots? Cough! Cough!] 

"...I wouldn't say Michael [jordon] is better than Magic [Johnson] because Magic plays the game the way it should be played." -- page 165. [That must be why Magic led his teams to victory over Bird's in the 1985 and 1987 playoffs, whereas jordon ballhogged his team to a 0-6 record against Larry Legend!]

"I felt that Bill [Laimbeer] was trying to hurt me on that play [in Game #4 of the 1987 Eastern Conference Finals] and out of sheer frustration I threw the ball at him. Even under those circumstances, I shouldn't have done that and of course I was kicked out of the game." -- Page 180. [When jordon threw the ball at Mark Jackson, he merely received a technical. No way, he would be thrown out -- especially when he was trying to pad his stats, so he would win another fabricated scoring title!]

"In my time, I believe the best all-around player has been Magic Johnson. The best defensive player has been Michael Cooper." -- page 271.
 

"...if I were selecting a team I would take Magic Johnson first because he makes it so much easier for everyone on the club." -- page 272.
 

"Leadership is diving for a loose ball [Rodman], getting the crowd involved [Rodman], getting other players involved [Pippen] - no more, no less." --page 276.

Further proof that I am right when I say that Pippen and Rodman are the leaders of the Bulls and jordon is a dead-weight, stat-hogging/glory-seeking prima donna.

Larry's thoughts on guys like jordon, who couldn't even shoot 80% from the stripe this year: "One thing I've never understood since I began playing basketball is why more players don't make the effort to become reliable free throw shooters. It just takes practice and hard work." -- page 260.

Oops, is Larry agreeing with jordon (Rare Air) and jordon's mom (5/10/98 ESPN Sunday Conversation) that jordon has a poor work ethic?

"I've worked hard because I had to. I always worried that I couldn't run and couldn't jump, so I tried to be a great shooter and passer and I learned how to box people off the boards--all the things that I hoped would compensate for any shortcomings I might have. I learned how to get good position and use my body correctly...Practice habits were crucial to my development in basketball. I didn't play against the toughest competition in high school, but one reason I was able to do well in college was that I mastered the fundamentals. You've got to have them down before you can even think about playing. When I went from high school to college, I was so fundamentally sound that I fit right in with everybody else because I knew how to do the basics." -- page 283-84.

Take note of the contrast to jordon. Larry practiced hard because he had so many physical limitations. jordon COULD jump and run, so conversely, he DIDN'T practice. His poor work ethic is shown in his declining assists, his inability to ever lead the league in free throw percentage, his poor defense, his sub-Magic, sub-Oscar, sub-Larry rebounding, and especially the way he has chucked up more buzzer bricks than buzzer beaters. Larry's fundamentals, achieved through hard work and practice, made him ready to compete on any level. jordon's poor work ethic is why he could never lead a great team. jordon rode James Worthy's coattails to the 1982 NCAA title, and then couldn't even "lead" UNC back to the final 4, even though he had studs like Sam Perkins, Brad Daugherty, and Kenny Smith on his teams. (All top 6 draft picks!)  jordon is 0-6 vs.  Larry's Celts in the playoffs and couldn't get out of the first round, even though he played with Woolridge (20 PPG), Oakley (top 10 rebounder), and George Gervin (top 50 of all time!) until a REAL leader, Pippen, joined the team! jordon's playoff failures in the 80s are well documented. His lack of work ethic, and subsequent lack of fundamentals, is why he could never compete in the NBA until the league became watered down and the quality *dropped* to jordon's level...and even then (1995) he couldn't do squat without a great rebounding PF. jordon is the Anti-Larry. That is why Larry is an all-time great and jordon is not.

"I still try to stick to what I believe in and not let the notion of having a lot of money sway me. That concept can crop up a lot in the endorsement area. I only endorse products that I believe in" -- page 285.

Larry keeps it real. jordon is shallow and phony. In "Rare Air", jordon admits that he NEVER ate Wheaties before he endorsed them. jordon will say or do *anything* if it gets him more money and more shot attempts.  Further proof that jordon is not a leader. "Breakfast of champions"...ha ha...jordon started endorsing them when he couldn't even get out of the first round.

Larry Bird. Simply powerful. Simply everything jordon could never be. A true basketball legend.

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Rare Air

Finally, jordon admits the truth! Take note, jordon jockers! jordon himself KNOWS he's not the best ever. To read about the best ever, click here.

Page 36: "I wasn't afraid to take a big shot in the professional ranks because I had made one when I was snotty-nosed kid in 1982 to beat Georgetown.

Who got cold feet against Utah and needed Steve Kerr to bail him out?

Page 36: "Give me the ball. I'll shoot it. No problem."

jordon admits he is a ballhog.

Page 39: "Give me four guys of average ability with strong fundamentals and big hearts and I'll take my chances every time."

jordon said earlier this year, that if he knew Pippen wouldn't return (after Pippen said he wouldn't) that he [jordon] wouldn't have returned. Does Pippen have average athletic ability?

Page 43: "Basketball isn't my job. For me, my job begins the moment I walk off the floor...My job is being a product endorser..."

We know where jordon's priorities are.

Page 64: "I was lazy as a kid...One time he [his father] asked me to pass him the 9/16ths wrench. I said, 'What the h*ll is a 9/16ths wrench?' That would make him so mad because I wasn't following in his footsteps and becoming a mechanically inclined person. I'm the type of guy that if something happens to my car, come pick it up. It's broken.  Change a tire? I'm calling Triple A. He would tell me, 'Go on in there with the women. Go in there and learn how to do the dishes.' I'd say, 'sure.' I don't have a problem with that. I'm not going to get my nails dirty. I don't know anything about any 9/16ths wrench. But I can wash dishes. At least I know how to do that."

jordon is a mama's boy!!! He admits he is lazy and lacks a strong work ethic. This is reflected in his game!

Page 73: "Growing up...I was always in trouble...My ninth-grade year I was in trouble every day. I got suspended on the first day of school...I was in trouble all the time. I fought with my sisters and brothers."

jordon. Simply a role model for player's like Latrell Sprewell.

Page 73: "My sisters and brothers all had jobs...Me? I would go home and mess around. I didn't want to do my homework."

jordon speaks of his lack of a work ethic again.

Page 84: "When I was 12 years old, my brother Larry and I were the starting backcourt in Pee Wee League. He was the defensive guy and I was the scorer. So I hit the winning basket and as we were riding home my father said, 'Larry, that was great defense you played.' I'm saying, 'D*mn! I stole the ball and scored the winning lay-up.' In my mind I'm thinking that my father didn't see what I did..."

Yes, he saw that jordon was a vulgar, 1-dimensional ballhog who sought the glory, while admitting not to playing defense, and letting his brother do it -- just like today. Scottie plays the defense and jordon hogs the ball!

Page 98-99: "Everyone thinks of me as more of a scorer anyway. That's why some people say I've never been a team player, that I don't make my teammates better...The only thing that matters to me now is winning championships. I don't care about individual awards or accolades. Whatever they are, I've already got them. Just give me more rings. That's what it's all about now."

Notice the word NOW used twice? In 1989, jordon was more interested in personal accolades and not in winning. That is why he had Doug Collins fired when Collins put him at the point, and jordon actually DID improve the play of his teammates (8 assists/game), and the Bulls made their best playoff run, to that point.  Also, jordon lies about only caring about winning. He proved that in game #5 of the 1996 finals, as he screamed at Pippen and Kukoc to pass him the ball, so he could pad his stats, even though he had bricked his way to a 2 point 4th quarter. jordon had told the media he would let his game speak for him. It spoke of his foolishness, and he felt the need to pad his stats and feed his ego.

Page 106: "...I'll know when the time comes for me [to retire]. Whenever I get up one morning and I don't want to do all this anymore. That simple. It could be tonight, tomorrow, or next week. Whenever the feeling hits me, that's when I'll stop playing. I would never allow anyone to talk me into playing longer either. I wouldn't get the bug to come back.  No way. There isn't that much bug in the world. I would not come back under any circumstances."

Liar! Liar! Pants on fire!

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Bull Session

"This was Michael [jordon's] first game with the Bulls, a game where he had 16 points, a game where he shot only 5-for-16 from the field and had 6 rebounds and 5 turnovers.  The Bulls beat Washington 109-93 on October 26, 1984.  Their leading scorers were Orlando Woolridge (28 points) and Quintin Dailey (25).  But it was [jordon] who dominated the story we were told:

• Exactly 21 seconds went by before [jordon] took his first shot, an 18-footer that banged against the back of the rim...

• It was at 7:27 of the first quarter when [jordon] made his first NBA field goal, a 12-foot banker from the right side.

No mention was made of when Michael took his first sip of water as a pro, but you get the idea. As [Jim] O'Donnell [of the Arlington Heights (Illinois) Herald] wrote, "No one was denying the fact that the celestial Mr. [jordon] had alleviated the spiritual malaise plaguing the team for much of the past three seasons."  -- pp. 21-22

Exactly!   Kerr sites such pathetic jordon-jocking drivel and demonstrates how the press heaped unmerited hype on Foolish jordon, when in fact, he was sucking with his bricks and turnovers.  Woolridge, Dailey, and company had to work extra hard to overcome jordon the albatross.  This game was so typical of the Bulls...jordon chucks up bricks, the other Bulls win the game, and the press credits jordon for the win.  Since when has 31% shooting and 5 turnovers been alleviating?  Also, notice how quickly jordon hogged the ball, yet how long it took it him to make a basket...vintage jordon, in his very first game!

"But Michael was not a complete player.  About all he did was drive.  Teams played off of him and he had a hard time making that wide open 18-footer." -- page 23.

Surprise, surprise, surprise!  jordon has no range?  Fancy that!  No wonder he was the worst 3 point shooter in the league out of those with at least 100 attempts!   jordon not a complete player?  Gee, that's exactly what his ballhog points indicate!

"I remember a game at Golden State where Kevin [Loughery, the Bulls' coach] took Michael out early and then didn't use him again.  After the game, Kevin said something like, "Well, I got caught up in a situation and time just flew and I didn't get Michael back in."-- page 23.

Loughery no doubt had the team's best interest in mind and grounded the albatross.  However, it got him the pink slip.  The next coach, Stan Albeck, limited jordon's minutes (after jordon returned from foot surgery) and he received his walking papers.  The next coach, Doug Collins attempted to cut back jordon's shot attempts and he was fired.  Now, it appears that Phil the Phool was also fired by jordon for the same reason.  Too bad...these fine coaches all failed to balance the team's need to win with jordon's need to hog the ball.

"Rod Thorn was out as general manager and Jerry Krause was in.  The City of Chicago has started to fall in love with Michael, but he fans really only showed up in big numbers for the good teams--Boston, Los Angeles and so on." -- page 27.

Kerr is saying that Bulls "fans" are jockriders...fancy that!

[After returning from foot surgery in 1986, Coach Stan Albeck was instructed to limit jordon to 30 minutes per game].   "Michael was making the most of his minutes, doing things like scoring 28 points in 26 minutes...He thought he had to shoot more because he had only so many minutes on the court and he couldn't waste a second.  This caused him to shoot shots that he normally wouldn't take."--page 33.

jordon felt the need to hog the ball even MORE (hard to imagine!)  He was willing to take ill-advised shots that hurt the team in order to get his desired scoring totals.   Typical attitude of a selfish and cancerous ballhog!

The Official reason [Bulls coach Stan Albeck was fired] was that management didn't like Albeck's offense.  He ran a lot of isolation plays with Michael and another player on one side of the court while three guys stood on the other side and watched.  The owners said they wanted more passing and movement like the great New York teams..." -- page 35.

Exactly!   The Bulls' knew that in order to succeed they would have to cut back jordon's number of shot attempts and play like the SuperKnicks!!!  Much to Albeck's credit, though, he was a visionary, as isolations and pick and rolls are the standard in the watered-down 90s.  Albeck was simply 10 years ahead of his time!

"At First I wasn't sure if I had never seen anyone quite like Michael Jordon on the court..." -- page 37.

Take note...Johnny Kerr, the announcer for the Bulls and the man who has seen more jordon games than possibly any man alive, spells is j-o-r-d-O-n.  Judden is good!  Judden is wise!  Kerr confirms it!

"...suppose [Horace] Grant gets the ball about eight feet from the basket.  He has the choice of making a move to the hoop or throwing the ball back out to Michael, who is 25 feet away.   Textbook basketball logic would tell Grant to take the shot.  But Bulls' logic is get the ball to Michael, who is 25 feet away." -- page 45.

jordon's ballhogging defies logic!  Of course, after seeing countless coaches fired for trying to control jordon's ill-advised ballhogging, it's easy to see why it would be "Bulls' logic" to throw the ball to jordon 25 feet away, when Kerr just said that jordon can't shoot from 18 feet away!

"He [jordon] missed one [free throw] with 47 seconds left, he missed another one with eight seconds to go.  Then the Bulls had the ball with two seconds left and the score tied.   Doug [Collins] set up a nice play for Michael to take the last shot.  Michael caught a long pass and took a fall-away 12-footer on the baseline.  As the buzzer sounded, Michael's shot banged against the rim.  The Cavs then won the game in overtime..." -- Page 258.

Vintage jordon.  The Bulls were up 2-1 on the Cavs in this series (1989 playoffs).   jordon had been shooting off his mouth before the series that the Bulls would win in 4 games.  In typical jordon fashion, he not only fails to back up his big talk, but he chokes the game away at the buzzer, as he has so often done in his career -- more than any other player in history!  Larry Bird went on two different occasions and told the opponent where he was going to take the game winning shot from!  jordon is no Bird!  Larry Legend even predicted a Celtics victory against the Cavs in the playoffs.  Once again, jordon is no legend.

"In the opening round, he [Cartwright] faced an all-star center in Brad Daugherty and held the Cavs' big man to 11 points and 36 percent shooting from the field.  In the second round, he went up against another all-star in Patrick Ewing, a man he backed up in New York, and more than held his own.  What Cartwright did against Ewing was occupy the big man.  Because Bill has a true center's game--the turnaround jumper, the hook shot and some power moves to the basket--Ewing had to stay with Cartwright.  That kept Ewing from roving and blocking shots...Cartwright put his body on Patrick and kept it there, making Ewing earn every basket.  For his part, Cartwright averaged a highly respectable 14.5 points, 7 rebounds and shot 58 percent.  
        In other words, Cartwright gave the Bulls precisely what they wanted when they made the trade--a center who would compete against the league's best big men." --page 264-65

Keep in mind that jordon opposed the trade and belittled Cartwright for much of the year!

"I like challenges and I like doing something new," Michael told me late in the season.   "Being the point guard is what I need to do for this team.  It's where I can show the most leadership, where I can get everyone involved because I can control things--ball distribution, pace of the game, things like that.  I'm convinced that I can play that position for the rest of my career, although I'll have to work on my ballhandling in the off season.  Look, anybody can go out there and run the offense, make the obvious pass on the first option of a play.  But to be a good point guard, you have to be aware of so much, like where everyone is on the court, I mean your teammates and the defense.  You have to watch the clock, make sure guys are in position to catch a pass.  For example, I never played with a center like Bill Cartwright before.  It took me a long time to figure out what he likes and what he doesn't like on the court."--page 268

Heh heh.   Vintage jordon double-speak.  He fired Collins shortly after the comment and went back to his shooting guard role.  He didn't work on his ballhandling and we saw the results at the end of game 6 in the 1998 Easter Conference finals (see jordon theater) and game 6 of the 1995 Eastern conference semi-finals, when Nick Anderson exposed jordon's foolish ballhandling.  jordon's lack of work ethic resulted in his continued poor ballhandling and he never went on to do those things that he described above, which is why he never became a truly great ballplayer.   He doesn't watch the clock, doesn't care how his teammates like passes.  He just hogs the ball and shoots all the time!

"Then there is the question of when it is best for you take your own shot.  It has given me a greater appreciation of what Magic Johnson does and believe me, I'm no Magic."--page 268

Dam* straight--foolish jordon!  jordon admits what Larry Bird said above, jordon isn't the caliber of player that Magic was!  jordon doesn't even question when it's best to take a shot...if there's time on the game clock, jordon figures it's a good time to shoot.

"If he [jordon] were surrounded with enough talent, I also think that Michael could play as Magic does, moving the ball around and only shooting when the other guys are cold." -- page 56.

D'OH!   Game 6, 1998 finals.  jordon took 52% of the Bulls field goals for the game.   He hit 42.8% of his shots, where the rest of the team connected on 59% of their shots.  They certainly weren't "cold," yet jordon STILL hogged the ball.   Typical jordon ballhogging.  He continues to hog the ball, even though he certainly has "enough talent" surrounding him, as jordon jockers have pontificated about the 1996 Bulls being the "best ever."

Also, in Johnny Kerr's book, he tells of the drafting of Foolish jordon.  The Bulls' G.M. was Rod Thorn, who is David Stern's (supreme jordon jocker) right hand "yes man."  Here's what Kerr says:

"Right after Michael was drafted, Thorn told us, "Michael is a very good offensive player, but not an overpowering one.  He is not the kind of guy who will single-handedly turn around the franchise and I'd never ask him to do that."--page 19.

Exactly!   jordon is not powerful, nor is he "overpowering."  jordon is not powerful like Super John Starks or Super Patrick Ewing!  jordon also isn't the type of player who can turn around a franchise!  Thorn was right in his assessment--jordon never could lead the team to a 2nd round playoff appearance or even a winning record.   When Pippen joined the Bulls, they made it to the 2nd round and went 50-32 in the regular season...no coincidence.  When jordon retired, Pippen led them to a 55-27 record (vs. 57-25 the previous year) and a 2nd round playoff record.  This proves that Pippen IS the type of player who can single-handedly turn around the franchise."   As for jordon not being an overpowering offensive player...once again, this is true, which is why he has never seriously challenged Wilt Chamberlain's singe game or single season scoring records!

Thorn said that he rated Akeem Olajuwon (then Akeem) higher than jordon!  -- page 19 [paraphrased]

No surprise!   A true statement!  Hakeem is a far better player than jordon.  His Power Points are higher and unlike jordon, he was able to single-handedly turn the franchise around!  Now, the question begs to be asked...why does Thorn jock jordon?  The bad selection of jordon cost Thorn his job, as the Bulls fired him after that season!   The reason why is because jordon, in a sense, is Thorn's "legacy."   If jordon succeeds, Thorn looks smart.  Therefore, Thorn does everything in his power to jock jordon and make jordon (and ultimately himself) look good.

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The jordon Rules

As of today (November 1), I have not finished reading this masterpiece.

"The morning after the final victory, jordon clutched the championship trophy like a long-lost friend.  He wouldn't put it down, and everyone saw him walk off the plane with it.  He slept with it all the way back to Chicago and wouldn't let it get farther than five feet away from him on the team bus." - page 12.

No wonder!  There is a ball on it, and jordon is a ballhog!  Ironic that the man who tried his hardest to prevent the Bulls from winning the trophy was hogging it, no?

jordon on teammates:

"I was looking over and saw Horace [Grant] and Scottie [Pippen] screwing around joking and messing up," jordon told an acquaintance later.  "They got the talent, but they don't take it seriously.  And the rookies were together as usual.  They got no idea what it's all about.  The white guys [John Paxson and Ed Nealy], they work hard, but they don't have the talent.  And the rest of them?  Who knows what to expect?  They're not good for much of anything." - Page 14-15.

"And so jordon left the game without speaking to anyone, without speaking to anyone, leaving the media scrambling for reasons and jordon's teammates searching for answers.  It was not a happy group that headed back to Chicago for Game 3.  jordon believed his team had let him down when he was hurt.  The team believed he'd let them down by failing to face the media after such a crucial loss.  Sure, several noted, he was there long into the night after he scored 50 points, but where was he when he scored only 20?  And his man, Dumars, had burned him in two straight games, and had clearly been the difference in Detroit taking a 2-0 lead.  The players agreed: We hear it from him when we don't play well, but when he doesn't play well it's still our fault?
    Center Dave Corazine, a former Bull, had once explained it well: 'It's hard playing on a team with Michael jordon because you're always the reason the team lost.'"- Page 20.

"He's [Dennis Rodman] a flopper," jordon would say disdainfully.  "He just falls down and tries to get calls.   That's not good defense." - page 18.

Funny that jordon would comment on "good" defense, since he doesn't play any, but keep in mind that if Rodman is a poor defender and the Bulls won titles with him (and Harper and Longley in the starting lineup), then that shows just how watered-down the league has truly become!

"jordon was curt afterward.  He didn't smile or joke, as he usually does in postgame sessions.   He went to the podium and said he wouldn't talk about his locker-room incident in Game 2.  He said he never criticized his teammates.  He said he only spoke as 'we,' not 'they.' 
    'He said that?' Grant exclaimed when told about jordon's comments. 'Really, no, he really said that?' 
    Cartwright, sitting next to Grant, shook his head.  'Crazy,' he said with a wry smile." - Page 23.

"jordon's dislike for [Will] Perdue was palpable.  He called him 'Will Vanderbilt.'  'He doesn't deserve to be named after a Big Ten school," jordon would explain.

Funny that jordon cannot distinguish between Purdue and Perdue.  Even funnier that Perdue gained respect when he joined San Antonio and left jordon the cancer, no?

"It didn't help that [Will] Perdue was backup to one of the most respected players on the Bulls (if not by jordon), Bill Cartwright." - page 32

jordon on TEAM:

"jordon understood, too, that a great effort was being made to shift some of the spotlight away from him and onto some of his teammates.  'I know they're into this de-Michaelization,' he said during their 1989-90 season.  'So I've just got to get mine now.' -- page 36.

"It was all about pride.   Despite his fame and acclaim, jordon still sometimes reacted like the high school sophomore who failed to make the varsity basketball team; he still remembers not wanting to cheer for that team even though his close friends were playing.  'I guess I wanted them to lose to prove that they made a mistake by leaving me off the team,' jordon recalls, and years late he still felt the same way.  Even as a young pro, jordon conceded once, 'I thought of myself first, the team second.  I always wanted my teams to be successful.  But I wanted to be the main cause."--Pages 65-66

"Stretching out a stat sheet, jordon, with 32 points in thirty minutes, had some ... instruction for the younger players: "That's the kind of game where you get your points and get out of there," he told Armstrong. Horace Grant shook his head. He and jordon had become antagonist a few years back when he became the first Bulls player ever to challenge jordon, although not publicly. It was on a plane ride home from a playoff loss against Detroit, and tensions were high. jordon had scored 18 points and wasn't too happy about it, and had taken a beating...jordon enjoyed taunting Grant, whom he felt was not very bright, but Grant, who could be as sensitive as an open wound, finally tired of the kidding.
"Screw you, M.j.," Grant shot back. "All you care about is your points and everyone knows it. You don't care about anything but yourself."
"You're an idiot," jordon screamed at Grant... The rest of the players sat stunned as the verbal assaults continued back and forth, jordon being derisive and Grant warily fending off the arrows, until the two were finally separated. And after the season, jordon tried to get management to trade Grant for Buck Williams.--Page 108.

Fortunately for the Bulls, Grant didn't meet the same fate as others who stood up to jordon, such as Doug Collins and B.J. Armstrong!

"Gerald Wilkins posted jordon up for a jump shot, which usually infuriates jordon.  He hates to be isolated for a score and almost always comes back to go one-on-one with the player who does this to him.  This annoys the coaches, because it means jordon is going to ignore the offense...It's most aggravating to teammates."--Page 113.

Now why would they isolate on a player who is supposedly such a great defensive player that jordon jockers claim that jordon is?  Did teams isolate on Bill Russell?  Hakeem Olajuwon?  Sounds like jordon's defense was just a weeeeeeee [cough! cough!] bit overrated!  How does jordon respond?  Mano y mano macho one-on-one playground rules for "respect."  Be like Mike...indeed!

"Meanwhile, jordon, as if to emphasize Cartwright's clumsiness, began to lay out banana peels for Cartwright to slip on...Knowing Cartwright was not a reflexively sharp athlete, he'd dart into the lane and shoot Cartwright a no-look pass.  Invariably, it would bounce off Cartwright's hands and go out of bounds.  "He's causing me to many turnovers," jordon would tell reporters, always making sure Cartwright could hear.   -- page 121.

jordon the selfish.  Does he care about the team...only his statistics (in this case turnovers), all the while, he appears willing to pass, but only if it makes a teammate look bad, so it gives him a supposed excuse to hog the ball in the long run!  Go back and read the next to last quote from the Johnny Kerr book above, where jordon speaks of the challenges of playing point guard...he was right about one thing...he's no Magic Johnson!

jordon on leadership:

"But the trouble between jordon and Cartwright ran deeper than most observers realized.  Much of it stemmed from the Bulls' acquisition of Cartwright in a trade for Oakley, jordon's last good friend on the team...he was still a smart, effective center, and in the 1991 playoffs jordon finally offered him some grudging credit...jordon would chow down heavily on his words about Cartwright, but he wouldn't sit at the table alone.  'You guys,' jordon told reporters when asked whether he regretted the negative remarks he'd made about the trade for Cartwright, "didn't know either." - page 33.

jordon the "leader" accepting responsibility for his foolishness...heh.

"But [Phil] Jackson wasn't a goofy innocent.  He could make backs stiffen with his messages.
    Like his game films.  After the Bulls had fallen behind two games to none in the 1990 playoffs against Detroit, Jackson decided he'd edit the game film himself for the next day's meeting.  First there was Joe Dumars slashing by jordon for a basket.  Then came a snippet from the movie The Wizard of Oz, with the Tin Man talking about not having a heart.  The players laughed loudly."--page 85.

Be like Mike...indeed!

"jordon liked to belittle Cartwright in the locker room...Bur jordon went one step too far in the 1988-89 season...he told Grant, Vincent, and Pippen--three players who were usually on the floor at the end of the games with him--that they were not to pass the Cartwright the ball in the last four minutes of a game.  'If you do that,' jordon said, 'you'll never get the ball from me.' And suddenly, plays called by Collins were being ignored as jordon took the ball to the basket...Eventually, though, word got back to Cartwright.  He didn't do or say anything to anybody until late that season, when he told jordon he needed to talk to him.
      There was little small talk exchanged.  "I don't like the things I've heard you saying about me, "Cartwright told jordon.
  jordon stared at him.
      'If I ever hear again that you're telling guys not pass me the ball,' Cartwright continued, "you will never play basketball again.'  That was it. -- Page 122-3.

Only through physical threats could Cartwright get jordon to pass.  What a ballhog!   What a leader!  Be like Mike!

"...Hodges who was among the strongest backers of an additional pension program for the players that went into effect late in the summer of 1990.  The plan was to provide money for players in the years after they retired until their pension plan went into effect at age forty-five.  It sounded good, but it also meant that each team would have about $1.5 million less under the salary cap to sign players now...with more money under the cap, the teams presumably could re-negotiate some deals, like jordon's...Publicly, it should have been an embarrassing position for jordon to take, seeking a raise at the expense of players who were less fortunate...Late in the summer, Hodges got a message to call [jordon's agent David] Falk.  'You know, Michael is against this proposal,' Falk told Hodges, the Bulls' player representative who would cast the team's vote at the upcoming union meeting.  "He'd really like to see it rejected."  Hodges heard the underlying warning--go against Michael and you risk you position on the team--but he believed the issue was more important than his own security...Hodges joined in a near-unanimous vote in support of the proposal.  As Hodges walked out of the meeting, smiling broadly if a little nervously, he went up to a friend and joked, "You know he's going to have me traded now."--Page 43-4.

Yep...jordon's a union guy, alright...and if you believe that...  Go check out the part about jordon and the union written on a different section.   Fortunately for Hodges, he had to have surgery on his ankle that summer, and that prevented him from being traded, as teams didn't want to trade for "damaged goods."

Vintage jordon:

"The Pistons had taken the first two games by 86-77 and 102-93, and Detroit's defense had put the Bulls' fast break in neutral:  The Bulls had failed to shoot better than 41 percent in either game.   jordon himself had averaged only 27 points, stubbornly going 17 for 43." - page 15.

17 for 43?  Stubborn?   Foolish is more like it.  jordon shoots 39% and the team shoots 41%.   Who's dragging down the team percentage?

"...Jackson had been drilling his team -- including jordon--about moving the ball and hitting the open man.   And on the final, decisive play in the Washington game, no one was near Craig Hodges in his favorite spot in the corner, yet four Bullets jumped at jordon and blocked his shot.  It happens, but some began to wonder when it happened again the next game:   Boston squeezed out a 110-108 victory in Chicago when jordon missed an eighteen-foot jumper with about twenty seconds left, and Brian Shaw, whom jordon was supposed to be guarding, rebounded a missed Robert Parish jumper over jordon and put the ball in the buzzer to win the game...The Bulls were 0-3.--Page 82.

jordon said in the Nike commercials that HE lost 200 games in his career.  Not the Bulls, but HE.   No doubt.  Here's 2 of those 200 that they would have won without him.

jordon the ballhog:

"After this start [after jordon lost the 2 games listed above], jordon told reporters he'd talked it over and decided to become more assertive on offense.  And just whom had he talked that over with?  'I talked it over with myself,' jordon explained." -- page 82

Hmmmmm.   He blows 2 game winning shots, and blows his rebounding assignment and thinks he needs to be more assertive on offense?  Is he crazy?  Well, possibly -- after all, he *IS* talking to himself.  Sounds like those voices in his head need to tell him that he needs to be more assertive on DEFENSE.  More assertive on REBOUNDING.   More assertive on PASSING.

"But the Pistons get their shots back at jordon.  They love to taunt jordon during games about his selfish play, his baldness (that's a specialty of John Salley), and how he enjoys being a loser." - page 19.

"And this, too, from [John] Salley: "We don't care who scores the points as long as we win.  It would be hard for Michael jordon to play on this team because he's got to score all the points.   I don't think he'd fit in here." - page 19.

"[Steve] Colter wasn't strong enough to stand up to jordon; few Bulls ever have been.  It's one reason some people felt the Bulls should have pursued Danny Ainge after the 1989-90 season, when the feisty point guard was being made available by Sacramento.  The Bulls were looking for a scorer on their second team, but they also needed someone to stand up to jordon when he routinely ordered his teammates out of the way late in the game.  'He'll tell Michael to f*** off when starts screaming for the ball,' said assistant coach John Bach at the time.  'And sometimes we need that.'" - page 31.

"Phil Jackson would later reject his assistants' suggestion to move jordon to point guard, arguing that jordon's passing was not consistently good enough and that giving jordon the ball even more would reduce the chances of dividing up the scoring load, one of Jackson's main goals." - page 45.

"To anyone who would listen, Collins would complain of his inability to get the Bulls into a running game.   "Do you know who's the biggest obstacle to us running?"  Collins would ask..."Michael jordon, that's who.  He won't let go of the ball." -- pages 64-5.

"Just a few weeks after joining the Bulls as an assistant coach under Doug Collins in 1987, he [Phil Jackson] was sitting in a coaches' meeting explaining that his Knicks teams had played so well together because of their philosophy of teamwork...Collins listened for a few seconds.  He didn't disagree with Jackson, but he knew jordon wouldn't see it quite that way...Collins just stared and said, 'Why don't you tell Michael that?'
"Okay," Jackson said earnestly, "I will.
" So Jackson confronted jordon...Jackson remembers jordon saying "Thanks" politely and walking away.  jordon remembers rolling his eyes afterwards thinking Jackson was nuts." -- Pages 64, 67.

"[Bill] Cartwright had grown tired of jordon's approach to the game. He was getting fewer shot opportunities than almost any of the starting centers in the league, despite the fact that Jackson constantly urged players during the games to "get the ball inside." He liked Jackson's offensive concept, but couldn't stand the way jordon ignored it. So he thought perhaps the right opportunity might come along in the off-season and he'd get a chance at a title somewhere else. He thought the Bulls had the talent to make a run, but wasn't sure the tension between jordon and his teammates regarding the offense would allow it. "--Page 98-99.

"It would be an easy Bulls win, 116-95, as jordon had 33 points and 7 steals before the end of the third quarter…He was headed for a 50-point game, at least the high 40s, with easily a few more fan-pleasing cradle dunks, but Jackson took him out early. And as jordon sat on the bench during the fourth quarter after having played just 27 minutes, less than every starter but Paxson, he finally came to a realization, something he'd considered but never really believed. He turned to Armstrong on the bench: "He's not going to let me win the scoring title." The reality was finally sinking in." -- Page 97

How did jordon respond? Read on!  [Take note of jordon's poor work ethic being referenced!]

"The Bulls beat the Clippers easily with perhaps their best effort of the season. Paxson hit for 26 and Pippen scored a triple double. Six players were in double figures, including jordon with 14 points on 12 shots. Jackson was feeling pretty good. Perhaps it was finally working. Perhaps jordon was going to go along. Several players said it was the best game the team had played in years. But the next night, before the Bulls played the Denver Nuggets in the final game on the trip, Jackson noted something unusual.    jordon was on the floor long before the game, shooting. jordon NEVER engaged in pregame shooting drills. He liked to relax before the game, sorting out tickets for friends, chatting with out-of-town reporters. But since the other players were required to shoot before games, the Bulls offered a flimsy excuse, saying that the crowds around jordon would be too disruptive. That didn't fool the other players, for they knew fans weren't even allowed in the arena during pregame shooting drills… But because he didn't shoot before the games, jordon never felt comfortable shooting when games opened, so he usually surveyed the defense, examining where the double-team was coming from and how the overall defense was reacting, and passed the ball at the start, which is what Jackson wanted anyhow… jordon had 18 by halftime on the way to 38 points, and the Bulls won, 151-145. But when the team returned home, Jackson noticed that jordon had continued his pregame shooting routine. Suddenly he was taking shots early in the game as never before, scoring 15 in the first quarter of an easy win over the Bullets, then 20 in the first quarter in another easy win over the Pacers to end November. jordon would score 13 in the first quarter the next night against Cleveland, then 15 and 16 in the first quarter the next week in games against the Knicks and Trail Blazers. jordon was averaging more points in the first quarter than anyone else on the team was averaging the entire game. Jackson thought he'd come up with the rules the tam needed to go all the way; jordon was rewriting the rules. His rebellion was becoming clear to his teammates and coaches. jordon realized he wasn't going to get as many minutes as before, and in the current offense he was not going to get as many opportunities. He was desperately unhappy, and completely at odds with the rest of the team. Several players felt jordon cared only about winning the scoring title…jordon, meanwhile, told reporters it was a new team strategy to come out more aggressively, although he did belie his motives in accompanying statements." -- Pages 104-106

"The Bulls called time-out soon after, and as they walked back to the huddle, jordon was furious with Cartwright."  "You've got to give me the ball," jordon demanded.  "But M.j., you had two guys on you," snapped Cartwright.   "Yeah, but one was Fred Roberts," jordon shot back.--page 116.

Heh.   Must be how Gerald Wilkins was feeling [above] in the isolation..."but it's Michael jordon!  Get me the ball!"  jordon the ballhog...wanting the ball in a double-team...forget the open man.

jordon on the triangle offense:

"jordon had never heard of [Phil] Jackson when Jackson came to the Bulls, and he didn't know anything about the Knicks of the seventies...he believed that era had ended.  'The players today can do things they couldn't do twenty years ago,' jordon said.  'The game isn't played any more like Tex Winter taught it or even P.J. [Jackson].  Those concepts don't work against bigger, faster players who jump higher.  You don't need that with players who can create."

Heh heh heh.  Funny not only how jordon was proven wrong, but how that 1950s college offense is considered "complex" to today's jordon-inspired brainless basketball players!   Be like Mike...Indeed!

jordon rarely stopped griping about the offense.  "If I had come up under Phil," jordon said to friends, "I'd have never become the player I did. He'd have had me all screwed up and doubting what I could
do with that system like these other rookies. And what's Tex Winter ever won anyway?"   page 99

Answer to jordon: Coach of the year, Big 8 championship over Wilt's Jayhawks, and he made the final 4, which is more than jordon did without James Worthy carrying UNC]...the REAL question is what did jordon ever win in the NBA? Who was he to question Tex Winter? All jordon did was score a lot of points, because he was a ballhog, and couldn't win. He was too dense to figure out that his ballhogging was exactly the reason the team wasn't winning.

miscellaneous:

"'I've always said, the best talent I ever played with was my first year with the Bulls,'  jordon noted."--page 34.

Hmmmm.   Best talent and they won 37 games?  1-3 in the playoffs?  Without Pippen's leadership, jordon's cancerous ways and selfish ballhogging prove to destroy even the most talented teams!

"...jordon would check with the official scorer during the game to see how many rebounds or assists he needed for another triple-double."  -- page 80.

jordon.  The inspiration for Anthony Bowie!  Be like Mike...Indeed!

During one game, referee Hue Hollins tooted his whistle and jordon, thinking it was on him, spun around.  'Don't worry,' Hollins said, 'I'm not going to make the call on you, Michael.'  Whereupon he turned around and shouted: "Five [Paxson], hold."--Page 89.

I have been saying that jordon gets unprecedented favoritism unlike any player in history and Hue Hollins proves it!  Keep in mind that when jordon retired, Hollins called a touch foul on Pippen, that he never would have called on jordon, that ended up being the difference in the playoff series, that sent the Bulls home.  Hollins is a jordon-jocking ref, just like his peers!

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