Michael Jordan reportedly assumed some $150 million in debt to take over the Bobcats

Last year, I saw this clip of Scottie Pippen, in F-list "Midgets vs. Mascots," getting gaffled by a group of little people, including Gary Coleman. Don't get it twisted. This wasn't a well-received, wink-wink cameo like Mike Tyson's in The Hangover. This was one of the 25 to 30 greatest players in NBA history, just recently retired, making a cringe-worthy appearance in a crap movie even by straight-to-DVD standards.

Why had Pippen stooped to this level? Only he really knows. But one wonders if it's because Pippen -- although earning well over $100 million in salary and endorsements during his career -- was looking to make some dough after well publicized and regretful financial woes.

I bring up this depressing story as his old running mate is pulling a landmark power move. Last week, in case you didn't know, the NBA approved Michael Jordan's bid to buy the Charlotte Bobcats. He is the first athlete to go on to majority ownership of a major professional sports franchise. (Technically, it's Mario Lemieux, but Lemieux used deferred salaries to buy the Pittsburgh Penguins.)

Is this the start of a trend? Might we see a new dynamic in the next 20 to 30 years? You'd hope. But with stories like Pippen's or Antoine Walker's (a recent Outside The Lines segment reported Walker's startling demise from filthy rich to dirty broke), you never know. Reading Pablo S. Torre's piece in Sports Illustrated last year, I almost choked when I read this: Within five years of retirement, an estimated 60 percent of former NBA players are broke. It's no better in the NFL where, by the time they have been retired for two years, a reported 78 percent of former NFL players have gone bankrupt or are under financial stress.

This is a not a, "Why can't you reckless athletes keep your millions?" piece. I recognize and can even understand how stuff happens. Bad business, child support, alimony, seedy handlers, entourages and, of course, ballin' outta control can add up. Tyson, Pippen, Latrell Sprewell, Evander Holyfield -- those are just some big names. Athletes go broke. That's not going to change. But the smarter ones -- I'm hoping they're looking at Jordan and thinking, "I wanna make that kind of power move, too."

Not all athletes are going to make MJ cheddar during their careers. Although Jordan made only about $90 million in NBA salary (I say "only" because I can probably rattle off about 50 current players that will have made more by the end of their careers), he cashed in much more from Nike, Gatorade and all his other endorsement deals. Before his Bobcats acquisition, MJ's net worth was said to be about $500 million. But it's not like MJ hasn't weathered a costly divorce and doesn't enjoy the occasional game of high stakes poker.
Kevin Garnett, Grant Hill, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Dwyane Wade -- these cats will have made a boatload of money by the time they call it quits. Why can't one or all of them organize individual investment groups the way MJ gathered up the money through MJ Basketball Holdings? Fifteen years from now, why can't native Seattle sons Brandon Roy, Nate Robinson, Jamal Crawford, Martell Webster, Marvin Williams, Aaron Brooks and whomever else get an ownership group together and resurrect the Sonics in Emerald City (if someone doesn't beat them to it)?

Pro franchises are exactly cash cows. Vanity toys for some owners, many teams are reported to be losing money recently. And most of these owners are far richer than these athletes. But making money in owning a sports team can be done. The statement/symbolism of former athletes becoming owners is nothing if not social/commercial progress.

Actors don't own movie studios. Musicians don't go on to own major labels. And former athletes don't own teams. Until now. Think about the different dynamic there would be between players and owners, if, in a few decades, a third of the teams were owned by former athletes. The owners' ranks would benefit from the perspective of men not too far removed from competition. Players would be working for men with whom they share a kinship. It would change, if nothing else, the nature -- maybe even process or outcome -- of collective bargaining negotiations. And with a contracted cultural and generational gap, some of the "us vs. them" that colors every league/players relationship would inevitably ease. The impact would be palpable.
That's how MJ's power move resonates with me. Once again, he's providing a paradigm. Former athletes cutting checks. A pipe dream? We'll see.

Right roster change can give new perspective on season

Did the Mavericks suddenly become tougher after a blockbuster trade deadline deal reshaped their starting lineup, sparking a season-high winning streak? A definite personality shift seems to be afoot in Dallas.

"The entire personality has not changed," Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle countered. "We still have four of the veterans that have been here for several years and been deep into the playoffs several times."

Carlisle was referring to Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Kidd, Jason Terry and Erick Dampier. They're the major influences on the team's personality. That doesn't change overnight.

But the additions of Caron Butler, Brendan Haywood and DeShawn Stevenson, coming from a miserable situation in Washington, coupled with the subtractions of Josh Howard, Drew Gooden and others have been felt in Dallas.

League observers, as well as those that have played the Mavericks since the All-Star break, have noticed the difference. Lakers coach Phil Jackson said Dallas is bigger and more physical.

Others have commented on the increased cohesion. As much as an infusion of size and talent can impact a roster, new blood brings another intangible into play.
"Coming from their situations, they have new life and that new life brings energy," Hornets forward James Posey said of the new Dallas trio. "That opportunity and better chance of winning it all, that energy right there is something the guys that have been there can feed off."

Just ask the Bobcats. Dealing for explosive/impulsive Stephen Jackson in November, plus making the trade-deadline moves for Tyrus Thomas and Theo Ratliff, have accelerated their rebuilding.

"Our defense is a lot better with them now," Jackson said recently of Thomas and Ratliff. "They make us better all around. It's just amazing what one move can do for us."
Larry Brown's team now is in the playoff chase. That was hardly the case during the franchise's first five years in the league.

"Sometimes the energy levels can change when you have new people," New Orleans coach Jeff Bower said. "I think excitement and energy is sometimes contagious. When you have guys excited to be somewhere or play for something that tends to spread."

The Bucks didn't deal for a "difference-maker," but something has clicked since the arrival of John Salmons and Co. Milwaukee had its six-game winning streak snapped on Sunday in Atlanta, but has moved up to seventh in the East.

Not all trades are about turnarounds. A deep playoff run is expected in Cleveland, so the acquisition of Antawn Jamison wasn't about nailing down a few extra wins in the regular season. Jamison also wasn't going to alter the Cavaliers' personality; LeBron James is perhaps the strongest individual presence in the league.
Jamison, though, is starting to find his groove after a rough start, which is critical with Shaquille O'Neal out for the rest of the regular season. The Cavaliers have won four straight, the league's second-longest current winning streak behind Dallas' eight-game run. Much like the new Mavs' crew, Jamison escaped a hopeless situation with the Wizards.

"For their style of play, he's a perfect fit for them," Posey said. "He has new life now, new energy. He's on a new team that's playing the right way. It's going to take some time, but he doesn't have to do it himself. He can work his way into things."

The lucky few who improved their NBA lot via trade now have a new outlook. The same might be said for a lucky few new teammates.

"Now, can the attitude change some? Yeah, sure it can change," Carlisle said. "Trades can help that. The key for us is just to keep it going in a positive-curve type direction with everything. It's challenging because the more you win, the more teams are gunning for you. The more your record improves, the more they feel like it's a big deal to beat you.

"But that's part of the challenge you've got to love."