In response to Mr. Matt Lazzarotto’s letter of May 24: His comment that “with multimillion-dollar contracts being handed out to players who don’t produce, it’s a shame (Scottie) Pippen has had to beg and plead for his long-due respect.” I beg to differ with Mr. Lazzarotto’s somewhat revisionist history, but the actual chain of events showed nothing more than utmost respect for Pippen’s talents.
If we remember, it was Scottie who insisted on the long-term deal. He wanted the security, and rightfully so, as he was coming off a back injury. Pippen wanted to guarantee that he would get compensation for the next seven years. Any organization that cuts a seven-year deal with a man with a back injury is stupid, yet out of respect for the man the Bulls did it. League rules prohibit any substantial increases in pay, so there is nothing that can be done for him until he becomes a free agent. Yet Pippen continues to whine and burn his bridges. He is inarguably a great basketball player, but he is a “1.8-second” crybaby. Scottie should take a lesson from Michael Jordan and honor what he signs, then the rewards will come.
