It isn't Dan Gilbert.
It isn't Robert Sarver
It isn't even Paul Allen.
No ladies & gentlemen, the man that is standing between the fans and having NBA basketball this year is Michael Jordan.
...motherbleeping Michael Jordan!?
In case you missed it, Howard Beck of the New York Times reported today that there are factions of hard-liners on both sides of the NBA labor negotiations meeting on Saturday that could threaten the entire 2011-12 season. It looked like a typical article covering the Greek tragedy that the NBA lockout has become at first. Then that little Jordan nugget hit me.
Jordan wasn't just voicing an opinion, he isn't just one of the hard-line owners...he's their leader!
Let's think about that for a moment.
Michael Lee, who covers the Washington Wizards for the Washington Post, reminded folks on Twitter how during the last major NBA lockout in 1999 Jordan told the late Wizards owner Abe Pollin "If you can't make it work economically, you should sell the team." Pollin would later become Jordan's boss after he retired for the second time.
Now 12 years later with Jordan being on the other side of the table as owner of the Charlotte Bobcats he is leading a group of owners in seeking a Wall Street TARP-style bailout (thanks Jason Whitlock) on the backs of the players.
No one should really be surprised though, this is Michael Jordan.
The same Michael Jordan who purposely kept Isiah Thomas off the 1992 Olympic Dream Team.
The same Michael Jordan who gave one of the most, if not the most egotistical induction speeches in the history of the Basketball Hall of Fame.
The same Michael Jordan who didn't stand against Jesse Helms, one of the most despicable human beings to ever serve in the U.S. Senate.
Jordan only looks out for Jordan. This time though, it may be at the expense of everyone else.
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