Wednesday, Jan. 19 It's very exciting that Michael Jordan is getting back into the game. Washington is a city that needed a little boost because the Wizards have been struggling as a team. I think Michael can provide the excitement they need. Having been around Michael and having coached him, I know he is a basketball junkie. With him as the head of basketball operations, particularly handling personnel, I think the Wizards will have a tremendous advantage, not only because he has a great talent for judging players, but because he will really study and work hard at every aspect of the game. With his name, Jordan will definitely be able to attract free agents. He obviously has a great rapport with his agent, David Falk, who has number of NBA players as his clients. Being the competitor that he is, Michael will give 100-percent effort to make a winner in Washington. He won't have control of the game itself, like he did as a player, but he will have control of the people he puts on his club. The respect he get from the other players will boost the on-the-court play because they know how dedicated he was to the game. I think the players will be excited to have someone like Michael Jordan in the front office.

Many poor decisions have been made by the Washington Wizards' management, leading to a decline in the degree of talent, and winning percentage of its basketball team. Michael Jordan has the star power, as well as the business and basketball knowledge to turn the club around. One cannot expect him to provide the city of Washington, D.C., with an NBA Championship right away, but you can count on him having the team be competitive in the years to come.

Tim Petonak
Pompton Plains, N.J.

As a Wizard (should be Bullet) fan, I'm cautiously optimistic about His Airness coming to D.C. I think it can only help a franchise that has languished below mediocrity for so many years. My only concern is that MJ will encounter the same problems that Magic, with his attempt to coach the Lakers, ran into: dealing with players who don't have his personal skill level and who don't have the competitive fire that he personally had on the court. When playing with "lesser" players, Jordan could take a game over and win it on his own. He won't be able to do that from Abe Pollin's executive box.

Dave Austin
Washington, D.C.

MJ is a godsend to the Wizards. Give him a year, two at the most, and they will be a force. Players will flock to Washington to play for him. The franchise will command instant respect.

	“	I want to wish Michael nothing but success and good fortune in his new role with the Washington Wizards. Michael will forever be a special part of the Bulls family. He has always thrived on challenges and opportunities. I expect nothing less from him now. Personally, I wish him all the best and look forward to discussing this new challenge with him when next we speak. ”
		— Jerry Reinsdorf

What qualifies Michael Jordan to run a basketball franchise? Sure, he was a great player, but great players do not necessarily make great managers. Look at Willis Reed. Michael might have a good business sense. But he is no more qualified to run the show than his buddy Bugs Bunny is.

Dave Gurwicz
Huntington, N.Y.

The Wizards have been a mediocre franchise for so long that it's going to take more than adding Michael Jordan to the front office to fix matters.

I think this is just a publicity stunt to get more people out to watch the Waste-of-Time Wizards. I, for one, refuse to pay the high prices for seats to watch a bunch of no account losers play basketball. I wouldn't pay $1 to see Strickland or Howard. Bringing in the so-called athlete of the century (an ESPN publicity stunt) is a sure guarantee that I will NEVER, EVER go to a Wizards game again. End of Story!!!

Jim
Cumberland, Md.

Michael Jordan and the Wizards?! Unless he's playing, the Wizards won't be contending anytime soon. Sure, the Wizards will probably sell out their remaining home games, but the novelty will wear out quickly when the team remains mediocre.

Ching Yu
Gaithersburg, Md.

I think the issue of what will happen with David Falk is a huge one. Even if he is no longer Jordan's agent, the relationship will still be there, and there will always be questions, especially if Falk's players show up on the Wizards' roster in big numbers or at below market value. And what of Jordan's endorsement deals? How many presidents of basketball operations have their own division at Nike? And what's to keep Jordan from getting the players he signs to sign on with Nike as well?

David Willard
Norcross, Ga.

I don't see how Jordan alone can affect a team so greatly. Has it ever happened that one man in a manager's position has changed a team completely from one season to the next?

Peter Leask
Red Deer, Alberta

I think you will see an improvement in the play of the Wizards for the simple fact that people like Strickland and Howard will no longer be late for practices and give half-hearted efforts when Jordan is looking over their shoulder. Also, I believe that Richmond will get some of that fire that has not been there since the day he arrived. The Wizards will finally have a true leader 'on' and off the court for the first time in about 10 years.

Amar Shrivastava
Somerset, N.J.

As a season-ticket holder for the woeful Wiz, usually January is the time of year I start cursing my decision to renew back in September, so if nothing else, Jordan's move to our camp at least will give me the motivation to get out of bed on gameday morning. But the problems of this franchise go deep into its foundation, and I doubt that MJ, even if he is here to actually do work and not just solidify his media/political presence, can do anything to correct it. Until Abe sells the team, and Wes (though I admire the man) is out of the decision-making process, nothing will change.

Nick Ricci
Washington, D.C.

Just when I thought it was safe to turn on the news or pick up a newspaper in Chicago without seeing and hearing Michael Jordan ... Is anyone else sick of this guy?

Al D'Ambrosio
Chicago

Well, growing up in Chicago I love the Bulls and Michael. I'm kinda upset that Michael isn't trying to get in the front office of the Bulls. Seeing the Bulls struggle as bad as they are this year I think he could turn it around here. Michael belongs in Chicago. He is a Bull, not a Wizard.

Doug Hoban
Lebanon, Mo.

Michael Jordan will have his work cut out. I have been a Wizards fan since the Elvin Hayes days. Jordan needs to instill players with a good work ethic, team oriented goals. Other than Richard Hamilton and some bench players, everyone else on the team should be made available. If he could get through to Rod Strickland he might be worth saving.

Publicity Stunt? No, Jordan is being added to try and rejuvenate an underachieving team. I look for the team to stay stagnant. I don't see any moves being made, or this team to suddenly start winning. I think Jordan may turn into what Bobby Clarke has been to Philadelphia. He was good, but not the best player developer, or team developer.

James Goodwin
Sterling Heights, Mich.

	Juwan Howard makes a lot of money, and his stats are down.

How with the other GMs in the league handle MJ? Will they be harsher in dealing with him because of all the punishment he inflicted to their teams on the court?

Eric
Goodyear, Ariz.

I think this is silly. With the salary cap problem the Wizards have, God himself would need a miracle to make a difference.

James Steele
Washington, D.C.

Now we will finally see if Jordan can be successful in something where he doesn't get special treatment and gets away with cheating. This time he will gave to obey the rules of the salary cap, contracts, etc. I bet it won't be as easy as he expects. Look how miserably he failed at something where he wasn't allowed to cheat (baseball) and he quickly got out of that and went back to the NBA. Interesting isn't it? I wish him luck and hope he can save the Wizards, because they are struggling like the pre-Jordan Bulls.

Graydon Johns
North Salt Lake City, Utah

As a fan, I can tell you that I'll pay for tickets to be in the same building as the man -- and I'm not the only one in this city who'd say that. Hopefully the impact will be making the talented players that are already here play better (Juwan Howard, Mitch Richmond), and coaxing other players to the team. If you're in the NBA would you rather say you play for Wes Unseld and Gar Heard, or Michael Jordan? Not a tough question.

Justin Breland
Washington, D.C.

I don't have a question, but I do have a statement to make. The Hornets' organization was dumb to not take Jordan up on his offer. He would have helped the organization to become a great one and really be put on the map. Michael Jordan is a class act and he will lead any organization to success. I say congratulations to Michael and I hope he does well. I also want to say thanks to Michael for all the wonderful basketball memories.

Steve Wilson
Greenfield, Wisc.

Michael Jordan is merely a name right now. There is very little he can do to turn this franchise around -- at least in the short-term. The idea that Jordan's presence as an administrator alone will bring fans to the stands is foreign to me. Personally, and I share this sentiment with many others, I have lost all interest in basketball.

I think this move is a stroke of genius. Yes, I understand that he's only one person, and that he's not going to play on the court. But the guy's a winner, everyone likes him, he's well-respected and he'll surely make an impact. The name "Jordan" commands respect. What current player wouldn't want to come to D.C.? If Grant Hill signs here, he has the best instructor to teach him the intangibles to get to the next level. I think this is a move that just about every team will wish they had made in four or five years. Kind of like the 19 teams who passed up on Randy Moss. There is no better person, than Jordan, the most hard-working, passionate competitor in all of sports.

Ryan Lawrence
Washington, D.C.