Cutting Michael Jordan

Washington Post -- How many people remember that Babe Ruth, in the deep twilight of his baseball career, played briefly for the Boston Braves? Probably about as many as will recall, years from now, that Michael Jordan played a couple of seasons for the Washington Wizards and then got the gate.
For all the furor over this week's abrupt and unbecoming (to just about everybody) rupture between Jordan and the Wizards' owner, Abe Pollin, the incident will be no more than a footnote to the Michael Jordan story, which is actually more on the order of a legend, and most unlikely to be amended at this late date with any verses questioning his acumen as a front-office executive or his ability to motivate a collection of unmemorable teammates.
This may seem unfair to Pollin, who is, in his hometown, a republican version of royalty -- a person whose business drive has been leavened by integrity and charity, and whose contributions to this community are many. But even the most respected team owners rarely fare well when they take on their popular athletes, and Michael Jordan is beyond popular: He is arguably the most famous person on earth, and about as dramatic a personal presence as you'll find in the celebrity world. Witness that front-page photo of him Thursday driving off in a convertible, the perfect picture of Michael Steamed, wearing an earring and a scowl that would intimidate George Steinbrenner.
Anonymous badmouthing
Pollin is no Steinbrenner, perhaps the opposite, but the intriguing, plotting and anonymous badmouthing that marked the end of Michael Jordan's playing career and his attempt to resume a top executive role with the Wizards have been conducted on a New Yorkish scale that is unlikely to diminish for some time. It would be nice if it did, though: Whatever the rights and wrongs in this battle, it hasn't been the proper way to wind up the career of the best basketball player of all time.
Michael Jordan will go on to other things, and soon; he'll have many offers to choose from.