ESPN Page 2 The List: Worst cases of foot-in-mouth disease Con job Shortly before a Bulls-Knicks game in January 1997, New York Knicks coach Jeff Van Gundy called Michael Jordan a "con man," among other things. "He really doesn't care about [young players].... He sucks them into thinking he wants to see them develop. He talks about young players, invites people to be in his movies -- and it's all a con. His way is to befriend them, soften them up, try to make them feel like he cares about them. Then he goes out there and tries to destroy them. The first step as a player is to realize that and don't go for it." Van Gundy said he meant it as a compliment, but Jordan didn't take it that way. The payback? After hearing what Van Gundy said, MJ scored 51 points to lead to the Bulls to an 88-87 win over the Knicks. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Wow. A little different approach from Rudy, I'd say. Thoughts? This is going to be weird.
Jordan always looked for ways to motivate himself. The reason that Jeff's comments "burned" Jordan, was because it was true to a point. Even though Jordan might not have intentionally done what Van Gundy said he did. A lot of what Jeff talks about does hold some truth. Remember, the famous phrase, "Hold your friends close and your enemies closer?" That's what Bill Gates has done for the last 25 years. Embrace, Extend, Extinguish. Same principle. So Jordan was "angred" because Van Gundy was exposing a little bit of the truth; hidden tactics. Don't you think Jordan learned anything from Phil Jackson's philosophies on the "Art of War?" Heh...some of that does rub off. Van Gundy knew about this.
VanGundy has never been one to mince words. He can be very abrasive and possibly even rude. I am not suprised at all that he said that about MJ. VanGundy takes basketball personal, he is a very intense guy so I am sure he was angered by MJ's antics
now that's what i call having the balls to say your bold opinions to a man. but i think JVG was a lil bit overboard with his comments. but, ima give him props for saying that to michael eventhough all over the league and the world is kissing michael's a** til now. he didnt backed out just because mike's the greatest player in basketball and that everybody loves him and that he will be an automatic antagonist of this story eventhough he got some good points! but its still a lil too much..
Jordan was talking from the standpoint of still competing for rings with the Bulls. I say, everything goes under those circumstances. The timing of you pulling this back out, TheFreak, tends to bring up notions of Jordan as a player/owner at Wash. See Faos's take on your quote.
That honesty is exactly what this team needs. We no longer have the type of players who we can baby and expect to work towards a goal on their own. We now have a team who needs to be shown discipline and needs to hear the truth whether it be good, bad, or ugly.
