BY PAUL DAUGHERTY
The Cincinnati Enquirer
At some point in our lives, all of us work for people we think are idiots. If we're lucky enough to have a career, and luckier still to have it last until we can retire comfortably, we will have to suffer fools telling us what to do. That's why they call it work.
So why is everyone feeling so sorry for Michael Jordan?
The blast from Chicago is that Jordan is being forced into retirement by the decision of Chicago Bulls owner Jerry Reinsdorf and his lieutenant, General Manager Jerry Krause, to kiss off former coach Phil Jackson and hire erstwhile Iowa State coach Tim Floyd.
Jordan has said he will not play for any coach but Jackson, and certainly not for some hotshot from college, a man MJ referred to as "Pink."
Because Jordan is a saint who flies with the angels, and thus above reproach, criticism or even the vaguest second opinions, the national chorus is slamming the Jerrys for what they've done to the Bulls, and to Jordan.
(Krause hired Phil Jackson. Reinsdorf paid for Jordan, Dennis Rodman, Scottie Pippen and others. But never mind.)
As if the two Jerrys, one rich, one fat, have dictated Jordan's future to him. As if Jerry Krause sat MJ down and cut him.
Sure.
Know this: The only person capable of retiring Jordan is Jordan. The major difference is, most of us don't have Jordan's option of walking away from bosses we don't like.
Owner is boss
This isn't to defend the Jerrys. They're indefensible. Reinsdorf's ridiculous ego-flex has succeeded in breaking up the most successful team in the last 30 years. In effect, he and Krause have traded Jordan, Jackson, Pippen and Rodman for Tim Floyd.
It makes you wonder how some people get so rich.
Reinsdorf is arrogant, insecure and power hungry. Also, nuts. But guess what? He's allowed. It's his team.
Krause allowed his lousy relationship with Jackson to interfere with the common goal of winning titles. His clash with Zen Man started the dominoes jumping.
But the day Jordan dips into his cash well and pulls up a couple hundred million is the day he can call the coaching and front-office shots. I don't see him bellying up to that bar.
Jordan has no more right telling Reinsdorf who should coach than Reinsdorf has telling Jordan how to shoot a fadeaway jumper. "It's not the same when you have to go in and get accustomed to another philosophy," Jordan explained.
No kidding, and so what?
MJ not in front office
In 19 years, I've had nine sports editors. None had the same philosophy. If you work for only one or two bosses your whole career, you're either lucky or not too talented.
If Jordan said he wanted to go out on the ultimate high of making the shot that won his sixth title, we could understand. If he said his unrivaled passion for the game had dimmed, we could understand. If he said he wanted to run a marathon, climb Mt. Everest or save whales . . .
"I just want to play golf," Michael Jordan said yesterday, explaining his retirement.
We could understand.
That's not what Jordan said.
He said he wouldn't play for anyone but Jackson.
If that's how he really feels, so be it. That's his call. It's crazy to leave the canvas when you're a master and painting as well as you ever have. But it's Jordan's life.
But please, don't feel sorry for him, or believe the Jerrys forced him from the game.
One side isn't big enough to break up something as great as the Bulls' dynasty and Jordan's career. It takes two. Blame the Jerrys, who started it all. But save a little blame for Jordan, who can do what he likes.
Enquirer columnist Paul Daugherty welcomes your comments at 768-8454.
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