ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, May 21, 1996 TAG: 9605210116
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: FROM ASSOCIATED PRESS REPORTS
For the fourth time in his celebrated career, Michael Jordan is the NBA's Most Valuable Player. This time, he wants his pay to match his value.
Jordan, who won an unprecedented eighth league scoring title in leading Chicago to the best regular-season record in NBA history, received the MVP trophy Monday - a day after demanding at least $36 million to play the next two seasons for the Bulls.
He received 109 of 113 first-place votes - 96.5 percent, the highest percentage since the media began selecting the winner in 1980-81. Jordan had 1,114 points, almost double the 574 of runner-up David Robinson of San Antonio. Orlando's Anfernee Hardaway finished third with 360 points.
Jordan, who also was MVP in 1987-88, 1990-91 and 1991-92 and is considered by many to be the best player ever, has been relatively underpaid his entire career. His salary for this season is just under $4 million, less than many players with a fraction of his ability.
Shaquille O'Neal, Alonzo Mourning and Juwan Howard - good young players but hardly athletes of Jordan's stature - have talked about getting upward of $20 million per season beginning next year.
Of his two-year, $36 million demand, Jordan told the Chicago Tribune on Sunday: ``That's the absolute bottom figure.''
He went on to say: ``If they mess around with me here, which I don't think they will, I'll go elsewhere for whatever. I'll play on another team for $10 million less if I have to, just on principle. They've made a lot of money here, and it's time to give a little back.''
Jordan, who makes an estimated $40 million annually in endorsements, didn't want to talk about his contract at his MVP news conference Monday.
``We're in the process of trying to win a championship. For me to start complaining or negotiating would be a very selfish act,'' said Jordan, who led the Bulls to NBA titles in 1991, 1992 and 1993 and has the team within seven wins of another this year. ``My attorneys haven't talked. I haven't communicated with [team owner] Jerry Reinsdorf. It's purely speculation.''
When told that the speculation apparently was his own, Jordan said his quotes were ``taken a little out of context,'' and that he ``didn't understand the intentions of what was happening.''
Tribune sports editor Tim Franklin said columnist Bob Verdi made sure ``Michael was clear on the terms of the conversation.''
``At no point did Jordan dispute the facts in the story at his press conference,'' Franklin said.
Jordan said the business of basketball sometimes overshadows the enjoyment of playing.
``You grow up and see it as a game, something you'd play [for free] at the YMCA or Boys Club,'' he said. ``But now we've learned this is a business, with a lot of money to be made.''
And Jordan certainly should make a lot of money, Phil Jackson said.
``I don't know what worth is in this game,'' the Bulls' coach said. ``But I do know this: If anybody gets paid money in this league, Michael Jordan deserves it. And with the kind of salaries I've heard bandied about, Michael Jordan is the best player, and has been for the last eight, 10 years.
``If Sylvester Stallone is worth $20 million for a movie, I can't imagine why Michael won't get $20 million for a season.''
Jordan joins Wilt Chamberlain as a four-time MVP. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar won the award six times and Bill Russell won five MVPs.
The other first-place votes went to Hardaway (two), Houston's Hakeem Olajuwon (one) and Utah's Karl Malone (one).
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines KEYWORDS: BASKETBALLby CNB