Michael Jordan and Jerry Krause shared a hate-hate relationship in Chicago. Without a doubt, there was no love between the two despite the 6 championships they won together. Krause was easily one of the top executives of his time. And Jordan, as we know, the greatest ever. Yet, their big egos clashed and consumed the team. However, it seems that the battle did not end after Michael Jordan parted ways with the Bulls in 1998. It continued and came back to bite the 6ft 6″ legend later.
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After his unceremonious departure from Chicago, Michael stayed retired for only 3 seasons. It took 3 seasons for him to realize how much he disliked not playing in front of thousands of players. So, Jordan returned to play. This time, it wasn’t for Chicago.
After a deal with Abe Pollin following his job as an executive and minority owner, Michael donned Wizards’ colors and began his third stint in the NBA. However, at the time, Jordan had no idea that this was headed towards disaster.
Abe Pollin schemed with Jerry Krause to oust Michael Jordan
In his book Michael Jordan: The Life, acclaimed Sports writer revealed the turmoil in Washington. With Michael’s entry, the Wizard franchise changed for the better. He made the team entertaining, got rid of the aging dead-weight that slowed down the franchise’s progress.
But even as he did all of this, Pollin began to develop issues with Michael. Where Jordan thought he’d be awarded for his service to the team, Pollin had less productive ideas.
A few days before the infamous New York Times report which suggested Pollin would fire Michael, the Wizards owner called up the executive who had ended MJ’s days in Chicago. The following is an excerpt from Roland’s book detailing the call between Jerry Krause and Abe Pollin.
“About three weeks before the season ended, Jerry Krause learned of the trouble that was coming. “I called Abe Pollin,” he recalled in 2012. “He told me, ‘I’m gonna f**k that friend of yours. He thinks he’s f**king me. You watch. He doesn’t know.’ Abe was a tough son of a b**ch himself.” Shortly after that, basketball writer Mike Wise of the New York Times got a phone call from a source, who told him the shocking news that Pollin was going to cut Jordan loose at the end of the season.”
Remember when Jordan got fired by Wizards owner Abe Pollin? He taught Jordan that the owner has ultimate power. Jordan learned the lesson.
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) July 9, 2010
Mj stormed out of Washington
After the New York Times article, Michael Jordan went to Pollin’s office for a meeting. However, while he had come for his award, he was handed his termination.
The nature of the firing angered Jordan beyond measure. He lashed out at one of the minority owners for making him part of this entire scene. MJ then stormed out of the room and never played for the Wizards again. Instead, he turned his eyes towards the Charlotte Bobcats who then became the Hornets, a team Michael owns to this day.
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