The first rule of the NBA lockout is that you do not talk about the NBA lockout during the NBA lockout. Even if you're Michael Jordan and you're babbling listless crap to a newspaper in Australia. Because then the NBA will get mad and fine you a month later.
Here's what Jordan told The Herald Sun back in August:
I can't say so much ... but I know the owners are not going to move off what we feel is very necessary for us to get a deal in place where we can co-exist as partners.
We need a lot of financial support throughout the league as well as revenue sharing to keep this business afloat.
We have stars like Bogut who are entitled to certain type of demands. But for us to be profitable in small markets, we have to be able to win ballgames and build a better basketball team. ...
I love Bogut's game. ...[H]e is a star to be reckoned with (and) will be a star for some time.'
Wait. Michael Jordan says something nice about another player, about Andrew Bogut of all players, and gets hammered for it? Just what in hell is this world coming to?
Bogut, small-market teams need NBA lockout solution: Michael Jordan [The Herald Sun]