My entire outlook, and dare I say all out devotion and fervor dwindled considerably on the heels of that hideous Ray Allen trade. Then again with the Gary Payton stiff. And then there was the great team revolt against George Karl in the backed in playoffs against the Pistons the year the Bucks set an NBA record for going from first to worse and simply quit on us a year after going to the NBA Finals led by nutty Sam Cassell!
But the Cardinal sin and mother of all gaffes happen and the Bucks had the audacity to rebuff MJ's efforts to purchase the Bucks' as Kohl granted him a 'token shot ' at minority ownership for the icon or all icon's who actually wanted to honor us to come run our team!
This was the last straw in my Bucks fandom. The cold Michael Jordan rejection or ownership that I thought would bring us back to the top of the NBA and make us relevant if not intriguing again.
It was the perfect time I thought for Kohl to sell the team to Jordan an outsider just like Selig sold the team to Attansio and the Brewers have not looked back since, even eventually bringing in CC to get to the postseason!
They have a new ballpark thanks to Selig, and who is to say that on name alone much less net worth MJ could not have forged the Bucks ahead with Ulice Payne to get a new arena and start a new era for Bucks basketball!?
Today the Bobcats are attempting to atleast try to assemble a team after waiting to see that it did not work (unlike Bucks). MJ is showing he can make deals too, which was fake concern of many of you not in favor of Jordan being owner. citing his mistakes in Washington with Hamilton and Kwame and others...
But today Jordan and Bobcats have made a move to bring in two proven team players and winning professionals Raja Bell and Boris Diaw, as As they also look to then sign veteran PF Juwan Howard another proven veteran, with still more moves to come perhaps of Wallace, Morrison and Carroll for head caoch Larry brown, as MJ tries to shape a team in his coaches image and expertise.
I begin looking at the Bucks and asked myself why can't we do that? And also how might have things been different 6 years ago had Senator Herb Kohl sold the team to Michael Jordan and stepped aside like Selig did with the Brewers. Surely things would have been TOTALLY DIFFERENT! But how different is up for debate, conversation, and speculation...and makes for as interesting a topic as i can invent at this time.
I began to remember when my fervor for the Bucks began to wane and when I really started going downhill after they traded Ray Allen and then two years later, they did the unthinkable....
The made the Cardinal sin or high treason in my book when Senator Kohl entertained offers to sale the team to NBA legend and Megastar Michael Jordan and almost had deal and then 'changed his mind' and refused to seal the deal and sale this team to Michael Jordan about 6 years ago.
From that day forward you must admit, (don't lie!) we have been in a total drought and I want to say a downright curse of sorts! I recall I fought tooth and nail when many of you said this franchise cannot go to an incompetant Jordan. You pointed to what he did or could not do in Washington as your example (as if that means anything!?)to stay clear of this guy.
I for one...THOUGHT THIS WOULD BE THE BEST DEAL IN WISCONSIN SPORTS HISTORY even at the risk of this team leaving. We got the greatest player of all time running the show and bringing in Stars! Just like Jerry West and Larry Bird! I felt it was a chance worth taking to win a title which Jordan might have been motivated to get done here, and possibly even gotten a new arena deal!
The very issues we are complaining about this very hour, right from that moment former GM Ernie Grunfeld (or Larry Harris?) drafted TJ Ford, and then he hit the door, we have been in a downward spiral since then and cursed to this very hour! You know it's true...
Look at the facts for yourself. The Bucks have not been any better without him at all. Many have to admit they might have been wrong about this in hindsight. I know none of you will admit it but all i ask is just think about it...
We should have sold the team to Michael Jordan. Bottom line. It was that simple to me then and even more now. I know right away some of you say he would have moved it to this or there...But David Stern said he would not! You then would point to Seattle and say, 'what about them?' But I think that is a different story.
All I know and see are the facts...4 coaches since then, only one playoff appearance and playoff win and 4 lottery finishes in those 6 years! Pitiful. A host of shoddy player acquisitions and meddlesome involvement by the owner. So you still think we would have been worse off?
We would have probaly have a better roster of players, a new arena deal perhaps with Potowatomi and a winning team had Jordan bought the Bucks. Yes he probaly would have done things his way and he might have even moved the team which I doubt, but what difference does it make.
A losing team is dead wieght anyways in todays sports market. But regardless to what anyone says, I think since that day we have been hit with the 'Jordan Curse.' Many franchises can point to a move or trade or deal they made or did not made that shaped or altered the course of history and their fortunes...
The Bucks' 'Jordan Jinx' I will call it, might one day rival the Cubs' and the 'Billy Goat Curse' or the RedSox and the 'Curse of the Bambino' or perhaps newer ones have started with the Brewers and the curse of CC Sabathia' or for the Packers and "the curse of 'Brett Favre!?" LOL....
I don't really believe in such things myself, I rather be blessed then cursed. But, I am just saying...
Man I wish we were more ...Like Mike. Remember that commercial?
"Like Mike, If I could be like Mike."
My sisters likes to say when I act silly, "stop boy! God dont like ugly!" Well perhaps the so called sports gods or basketball god's if you will were not happy when we spurned Mike Jordan. Look at our 'success' ever since hey? Ah, fate...a mysterious thing...Seriously though, In closing, you can all relax he is not coming here. But he should have. It has just been a total downhill 'free fall' since then and has not abated. Admit it!
You know it is true....
Now discuss.
