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 Expansion WiretapKohl takes Bucks off marketIn a stunning turnaround, Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.) said Sunday that he had decided against selling the Milwaukee Bucks to Michael Jordan and would "continue to own them, improve them and commit them to remaining in Wisconsin." Kohl's abrupt announcement came after weeks of intense local and national speculation that the retired basketball superstar had reached a tentative agreement to buy the team or was about to do so. The announcement would have to be considered a huge disappointment for Jordan. Kohl's announcement capped an afternoon in which the Bucks released general manager Ernie Grunfeld from the last year of his contract, allowing Grunfeld to pursue what is expected to be a similar position with the Washington Wizards. That move immediately raised questions about the future of the basketball operations of the franchise. Assistant general manager Larry Harris, the son of former Bucks coach Del Harris, was named acting general manager. Jordan ended his playing career this season with the Wizards, then was fired by owner Abe Pollin as Jordan was poised to take over that team's basketball operations. Jordan had high hopes of becoming an owner in the National Basketball Association. Via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Bucks, Chicago Bulls, Washington Wizards, Expansion Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Johnson: If I'm Jordan, I'd want to own teamCharlotte Bobcats owner Bob Johnson said Thursday that if he were Michael Jordan, he'd buy an NBA team rather than work for someone else. "I'm an owner," Johnson said. "To me, if ever given a choice between being the guy who works for somebody or being an owner, I'm always going to go for ownership." Apparently Jordan concurs. The Observer reported last month that Jordan is assembling a group to try to buy the Milwaukee Bucks. ESPN reported Thursday that a deal between Jordan and U.S. Senator Herb Kohl, the Bucks' owner, is close to happening. Jordan is choosing whether to buy the Bucks or accept an offer from Johnson to become part-owner and team president of the Bobcats. Johnson said he's placed no deadline on Jordan's decision and wouldn't handicap the chances of Jordan joining the Bobcats. The Bucks gave permission to the Washington Wizards to interview general manager Ernie Grunfeld for a similar position. The Bucks had previously denied that permission. The team's change of heart is another indication Jordan might be taking over in Milwaukee. Expansion, Milwaukee Bucks, NBA Draft, Washington Wizards Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Stern denies Jordan dealThere is no agreement in principle to sell the Milwaukee Bucks to Michael Jordan, and the basketball superstar had no hand in the Bucks' draft selections Thursday night, NBA Commissioner David Stern said Thursday. Stern's comments came relayed from Tim Frank, a spokesman for the National Basketball Association. A spokesman for Jordan could not be reached for comment. Jordan has not spoken publicly about his efforts to buy the Bucks, but is making an effort to buy the team from U.S. Sen. Herb Kohl (D-Wis.), the owner of the team since 1985. Earlier Thursday, a report published on ESPN.com Insider, a subscription service on ESPN.com, said Jordan had reached a tentative agreement to buy the Bucks from Kohl. The report, citing unnamed but "multiple league sources," said not only had Jordan reached a tentative deal with Kohl to buy the Bucks but that Jordan was running the team and, in effect, was in a position to make the call on the Bucks' first-round draft pick. Despite several attempts, Kohl refused to comment. A Bucks spokesman in Milwaukee said Kohl would have no comment on the possible sale of the team. Via Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Milwaukee Bucks, Washington Wizards, Chicago Bulls, Expansion Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Jun 2003 Archive
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