James Jones thinks Jordan could aid labor talks in new role as Bobcats' owner

With Michael Jordan making the conversion from superstar player to owner, Heat forward James Jones expects one more sympathetic ear among the NBA's brass in labor negotiations.

Jones, secretary treasurer of the NBA players association, was encouraged on many levels when the NBA's board of governors last week approved Jordan's bid to purchase a controlling interest in the Charlotte Bobcats.

Jordan's purchase comes at a time when owners and the players association are preparing to negotiate a new collective bargaining agreement. The current deal expires after the 2010-11 season.

``Mike has a unique perspective,'' Jones said Saturday of Jordan, who attended the Heat-Bobcats game that night at AmericanAirlines Arena. ``When you can mesh a person like Mike -- who played and is now an owner -- he has a perspective I don't think anyone in that [negotiating] room is going to have.''

Jordan's voice was instrumental for the players in the NBA lockout that cut the 1998-99 season to 50 games.

Talks already have been testy this time around, with the players and owners trading barbs during All-Star Weekend.

Jordan now joins those negotiations as the NBA's first player to become a majority owner. Being ``like Mike'' has a new meaning.

``It's not just playing the game, but taking ownership as well,'' Jones said. ``We look at it as the greatest player showing the world that, `I love this game so much, I'm putting all I have on the line to own a part of it.' ''



(miamiherald.com)