Michael Jordan doesn’t show signs of changing

With Bobcat fans still awaiting confirmation that Michael Jordan has bought the team, or any word on anything, the new boss still looks like the old boss.

Noting how happy he was for Jordan, Appalachian State Coach Buzz Peterson, his college roommate, joked: “He still won’t change, though. Going through the McDonald’s line, he still won’t pay for it.”

Amazingly, the Charlotte Observer reported Jordan put up most or all the estimated $250 million.

Mike, the ghost who customarily left at halftime — when he allowed himself to be seen sitting courtside — stayed for all of his (presumed) first game against Dallas.

He only wished he left at the half when the Bobcats led, 53-43, only to lose, 89-84.

Involved as he looked on TV, the Observer’s Tom Sorensen wrote appropriate dress would have been a trench coat, fedora, sunglasses and soft shoes “so as not to leave footprints.”

Bobcats Coach Larry Brown, at least, was ecstatic.

Asked about the new owner, forward Gerald Wallace said: “Unless he’s suiting up, it isn’t affecting us. Is he coming out of retirement?”

Of course, Larry may soon figure out some other reason this isn’t working.

Jordan’s “mean-spirited Hall of Fame speech” was media hogwash, with his jibes at rivals meant as thanks for what they meant to someone who lived to top them.

Now, he lives to do things on his terms.

Running the Wizards and Bobcats, supposedly constrained by his owners, topping anyone ran a distant second.

Jordan still makes millions, emerging long enough to shoot commercials with wide-eyed Charlie Sheen or Cuba Gooding Jr., but no one is smart enough to run an NBA team, or anything else, that way.

Now his money will flow out and his name will sit atop the directory, but until it’s a mission to him, as it is to his rivals, Mike’s just a narcissist in a tower.

Stoudemire’s destination?

Phoenix, on a roll, wants to extend Amare Stoudemire again, after shopping him, again.

Stoudemire deferred contract talks until summer.

Worse, with Miami known to be targeting him, Amare who used to say he hoped to stay, said, “Whatever situation I end up going to is going to work out the best for me.”

Denver’s J.R. Smith told AOL Fanhouse’s Chris Thomasson he tweeted trash about Kobe Bryant in a race with Milwaukee’s Brandon Jennings to get 20,000 followers.

In the really funny part, although Bryant laughed it off and couldn’t do anything about it last week, he’ll put 50 on the Nuggets one day and tell J.R. why.

No More Mr. Nice Guy

Philadelphia’s Eddie Jordan, coaching for his job, blasted his team after a rout in Orlando (“We lost the passion to compete.... I wasn’t going to have it.... Someone has to stand up and try to rally the troops, your teammates.”)... Said team leader Andre Iguodala: “You start to play the blame game and it really leads to a dead end.... I’m just going to go out there and keep doing what I’ve been doing my whole career, which is play basketball the right way.”... In other words, nice knowing you.