January 8, 2002

10:40 AM

Juanita Jordan files for divorce.MJ's wife cites irreconcilible differences. What does this mean for his sponsorship careers? Does (should?) marital status make a difference in role-modeling?
posted by MeetMegan (21 comments total)

she never drove the lane and she will get $100 million plus, what a country.
posted by tsarfan at 10:49 AM on January 8, 2002

Maybe she's upset that he's playing ball again, and now he's not too good and playing on a not too good team?
posted by panopticon at 10:55 AM on January 8, 2002

It means that the strip-clubs that MJ and his buddies have been frequenting all these years will finally get the TV commercials they've always dreamed of.
posted by jpoulos at 10:55 AM on January 8, 2002

As long as he's not a role model for sustaining a marriage indefinitely, I don't see what difference it should make. Divorces happen all the time, and while they are sad, I don't think they are a sign of moral weakness. I don't have much of an opinion about him as an athlete, but as a human being, he's done a world of good with his Sports Classic charities supporting the Ronald McDonald Houses, establishing the Jordan Institute for Families, and the James R. Jordan Boys and Girls Club and Family Life Center.

He's not famous for getting drunk, getting caught cheating on his wife, beating his kids, or committing crimes- he's famous for being an adventurous athlete unafraid to try new things (little side trip to baseball, anyone?) and for being a nice guy. His one big scandal was losing a pittance (by his financial status) on legal gambling- and it wasn't even as though he got caught doing it illegally or squandered his fortune doing it. He went to Vegas and lost some bucks; Michael Jordan is as middle American as you can get, and I'd think twice about any corporation that decided a no-fault divorce was reason enough to shuffle him out of sponsorship.
posted by headspace at 10:55 AM on January 8, 2002

Jesus, hasn't Michael Jordan ceased to be relevent yet? Anybody that does commercials in his underwear and has a line of clothing that's made by exploited third-world laborers isn't a role model in my book, I don't care how good he used to be at basketball.
posted by RylandDotNet at 11:01 AM on January 8, 2002

Yes! He's single!! And he's lives here in DC too!! *Chases down MJ*
posted by jennak at 11:19 AM on January 8, 2002

used to be? i saw the bulls at wizards game. is.
posted by moz at 11:31 AM on January 8, 2002

MJ irrelevent? The Wizards, the mediocre team he plays for, is 3 1/2 games out of first place and on a 3 game winning streak.

He's in the top ten in scoring, averaging about 25 a game, every seat is sold out whereever they play and their tv ratings aren't bad either.

And, in a very classy move, he is playing for the coach who got him his first NBA ring, Doug Collins, who was fired soon after that first winning season.

Oh, and he racked up 51 points a few games ago. Not bad for an old man who took it to Bird and Magic and now Vinsanity and Iverson.
posted by tsarfan at 11:39 AM on January 8, 2002

Future fax to Juanita: "I'm back."
posted by jacknose at 11:40 AM on January 8, 2002

Has anyone ever filed for divorce citing "reconcilable differences"? Or just "differences"? Or "irreconcilable similarities"?

"Your honor. We both insist on sleeping on the left side of the bed!"
"Then you can sleep head to toe."
"We both insist on sleeping with our bodies oriented head/north and feet/south."
"Very well. Divorce granted."
posted by etc. at 11:52 AM on January 8, 2002

The sports media won't touch this.

They have MJ built up into Ali territory and this doesn't fit their agenda because it's negative.

You won't hear much more about it.
posted by BarneyFifesBullet at 12:08 PM on January 8, 2002

You won't hear much more about it because it's commonplace -- lots of people get divorced. As long as there's not some scandal involved, and there doesn't yet seem to be, I don't see how it's a "negative."
posted by kindall at 12:12 PM on January 8, 2002

MJ's spokesmanship career is in serious jeopardy! Millions of men will be trading in their Nikes for Reeboks out of fear that their wives will leave them!
posted by straight at 12:13 PM on January 8, 2002

I thought he seemed to have a little more bounce in his step the last few games...
posted by adampsyche at 12:14 PM on January 8, 2002

Magic Johnson didn't get divorced when he contracted HIV, now that's an understanding woman.
posted by Mark at 12:38 PM on January 8, 2002

To NBA wives: "You can't stop them; you can only hope to contain them."
posted by jacknose at 1:00 PM on January 8, 2002

Confidential to MH, CP: the comments of jpoulos, jennak, or jacknose among others show I'm not the only one to think that way. ;)
posted by hincandenza at 2:04 PM on January 8, 2002

*Chases down MJ*

jennak: why do you torture me so? :-)
posted by jpoulos at 2:07 PM on January 8, 2002

... he is playing for the coach who got him his first NBA ring, Doug Collins.... - tsarfan

Jordan has won 6 championships, all under Phil Jackson's coaching. Doug Collins turned the Chicago Bulls into a winning team not a championship team.
posted by snoopie at 2:59 PM on January 8, 2002

my bad snoopie, as a Bulls fan from way back before MJ, those details can get blurry. still it was class for MJ to hire him.
posted by tsarfan at 3:11 PM on January 8, 2002

It's funny how ignorant people like panopticon make stupid, ignorant comments when they know nothing of MJ's current situation or the wizards' situation, which both happen to be very good. Please refrain from making judgemental comments about things that you have extremely limited knowledge of next time. Thanks.
posted by sean17 at 6:01 PM on January 8, 2002