A blockbuster
The NBA sent out its annual no-no tape, the one that goes to every team with video examples of things you can’t do, and the Bulls are on it. Specifically, Scottie Pippen.
“Michael’s usually on it, but this is Pippen and the walk he does at the top of the key,” Bulls coach Phil Jackson said. “They have Chris Webber for spinning on the post, Gary Payton and Tim Hardaway (for crossover dribbles).”
What about New York center Patrick Ewing? Is he on the tape for taking four steps in the post every time he tries a turnaround?
“No,” Jackson said. “We call it the Georgetown Gallop now, because all the Georgetown centers do it–(Alonzo) Mourning, (Dikembe) Mutombo–it’s one dribble and run with the ball.”
Dot com
You surf the Internet enough and you’re bound to come across a Web page like this: “Reasons NOT to Worship MJ.”
Originally titled “Reasons to Hate MJ,” the site (www.geocities.com/SouthBeach/Lights/6143/jordan.html) lists reasons such as Michael Jordan’s a “ball hog,” has a “huge ego” and “acts like he should get away with fouling.”
Thing is, the Web page is topped with an admission that Jordan is the greatest player ever.
But wait
I did find one reason on the Web site that I liked: “His sneakers just keep getting uglier.”
Add reasons
If you’re going to dislike Jordan, here’s a legit reason: He lobbied to bring back Dennis Rodman.
Story time
A Rodman story from the Bob Hill collection:
After one particularly exasperating day in San Antonio, the New York Post’s Peter Vecsey said, the former Spurs coach was told by then-assistant Dave Cowens: “I think we should just have him killed.”
Just asking
How did Rich Kotite and Pete Carroll ever get two NFL head-coaching jobs before Tony Dungy ever got one?
Au revoir
Mario Lemieux was so touched by being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame–fast-tracked to enshrinement, as a matter of fact–that he refused to do a TV interview for legendary “Hockey Night in Canada,” had bodyguards ready to punch any print reporter who approached him and delivered his enshrinement speech without a smile or tears and did it in 2 minutes flat, hoping to step out of hockey forever.
Then again, the point is to play like a Hall of Famer, not act like one.
One tin soldier
No golf, said new Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jacques Demers, until his team starts winning.
This, of course, comes after Demers’ stinging description of a lot of Lightning players as “phonies” who have “cheated” the fans with their work habits–before he even had coached a game there.
Demers’ tough-guy routine has prompted people in Tampa to call him “Billy Jacques.”
Nick’s knack
Toronto tough guy Nick Kypreos was beaten up badly earlier in the season by the New York Rangers’ Ryan Vandenbussche.
“Not too many people would’ve guessed the only two people to be knocked out at Madison Square Garden this season would be me and Janet Jones Gretzky,” Kypreos said.
Bring cash
From comedy writer Bob Lacey: “The man who paid $52,000 for shoes Muhammad Ali once wore wasn’t using his head. For a few dollars more he could have purchased a brand new pair of Air Jordans.”
Quotable
Phoenix Suns coach Danny Ainge, when asked if he planned to see the Rolling Stones concert in nearby Tempe: “No. That would be like watching Dolph Schayes play basketball.”
