People change, and as their positions change, so do their priorities. But it’s not often someone goes from vehemently advocating one side to vehemently arguing for its polar opposite, spewing language that insults the other side along the way.
That’s where Michael Jordan, whose greatness has helped him avoid ever being wrong (in his mind), finds himself at the moment.
With the NBA lockout having officially stretched into what should be the first month of the season, Jordan’s hypocrisy has been collected by the folks at SBNation. As a player, Jordan was pro-player in past labor standoffs. As part owner of the Charlotte Bobcats, he’s now pro-owner.
That’s not surprising, obviously. His patronizing, dismissive tone is quite glaring, though, given that he once directed it at the same people he now supports.
“All [NBA commissioner David Stern] has to do is evaluate the deal he has proposed to us from a player’s standpoint,” Jordan said in 1995, according to SBNation. “He wouldn’t recommend that. He wouldn’t accept that deal from a business standpoint, so why would he ask the players to do that?”
Derek Fisher and the players might say the same thing to you now, MJ.
Jordan’s not simply speaking out of greed (well, maybe). He has said he is legitimately struggling to make it economically with the Bobcats, and he doesn’t want to have to sell the team.
Except, during the last lockout in 1998-99, Jordan told an owner, “If you can’t make it work economically, you should sell the team.”
Oops.
But none of the examples show how much times have changed more than an excerpt from a 1995 Sports Illustrated story. Phil Taylor relates the tale of Grant Long receiving a video tape from Jordan and others. In the tape, Jordan outlines why a strong luxury tax (which owners are seeking this time around) would hurt the players. Long recalls popping the tape into his VCR and watching Jordan claim the NBA union should decertify.
Yes, times truly have changed. Seriously, when is the last time you heard a story involving a VCR?
Photo of the day
Excuse me, sir. Do you happen to have any Grey Poupon?
Photo via Flickr/NACHO CUBERO
Quote of the day
“I don’t think he’s as big a prick as some people say.”
— Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, paying about the highest compliment anyone’s even given Albama coach Nick Saban
Tweet of the day
The “Really, NFL?” tweet could apply to a lot of things, but #POLAMALU works, too.
Video of the day
Question: How would this guy be punished if this happened in another sport?
Answer: In the NFL, Roger Goodell would fine him $7 billion and suspend him for eight lifetimes. In the NHL, Brendan Shanahanwould fine him $5,000 and fans would whine that the lack of player-to-official contact was ruining the game. In MLB, Bud Selig would make his toad face and declare a tie. In the NBA, they’d just ask Ron Artest to quit it, already.
