What's funny is that the media protected and still protects Jordan quite a bit, largely because of his GOAT status. This is why you won't hear too much about infidelity or any bad behavior whatsoever on Jordan's part. For example, it's not too well known that though Jordan was a consummate winner, he wasn't the best of teammates. You'd think everyone liked Jordan, but it was more respect than fondness.
I can't help but imagine that if Jordan had played out his career in today's spotlight, he wouldn't have come off as squeaky clean as he did back then. Today's media is prolific as well as pervasive as evidenced by the less than flattering treatment he received from the media in DC. Most people won't hear the stories about Jordan attacking teammates in practice, berating them, or trying to get some traded behind the scenes.
You'll hear a lot of the retired players talking about how these young guys have no respect for the game, and how they're destroying the image of the NBA. It may be true that the hip hop and the doo rags aren't necessarily helping the cause, but I really think that most of it has to do with the stories that are coming out about players. The Kobes, Garnetts, Kidds and Iversons of the league aren't necessarily worse than the Jordans, Oakleys, Barkleys, and Rodmans of the previous era; it's just that they're talked about more.