Fans Haven’t Deserted McNall : Kings: He says they have been supportive despite ‘the extraneous stuff.’

Embattled King President Bruce McNall, who has been out among the public at exhibitions the last couple of weeks, was asked how fans have been treating him since the public emergence of his financial and legal problems.

He answered the question with one of his own.

“What do you think would happen if O.J. Simpson walked down the hall?” McNall asked reporters.

McNall surmised that bystanders would cheer and pat Simpson on the back, drawing a loose parallel to his own situation. “The fans have been nice,” he said Friday night. “The bottom line is that they care about the game. They could care less about the extraneous stuff.”

There have been awkward moments. Normal conversational openers--how are you?--can lead to a pause. McNall often tries to fill the gap with a quip, sometimes directed at his own expense.

“My attitude is that I try to be normal, to be the same as I’ve been,” McNall said. “At times it is (difficult), but not particularly. You have to take the good with the bad. I didn’t always take the successes seriously.”

McNall has agreed to plead guilty to four criminal counts stemming from a federal bank fraud investigation, according to sources close to the case. Federal prosecutors have been completing plea agreements from other McNall business associates, the latest being his former accountant Robert J. Houston, who is expected to plead guilty to three criminal counts for his role in preparing false tax returns and financial statements.

McNall spoke about his commitment to the Kings as their president and his representation of them on the NHL’s board of governors. McNall resigned as chairman of the board in April once the federal investigation became public.

King co-owner Joseph M. Cohen has made repeated statements of public support. NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman has not commented, but McNall said they recently spoke about his situation.

“I’ve talked to the league. I’ve told Gary I’ll do the right thing at the time,” McNall said. “If there’s an appearance (of a problem), I feel at some point I would do something as I did when I was chairman. We’ll take a look and see. Everybody has been sympathetic. “

McNall said he would step down if he felt it was necessary.

“If it’s in the best interest of this team, I don’t want to put a cloud on anything,” he said.

Even without a title, he didn’t think much would change, hoping he could continue to contribute. Meanwhile, McNall continues to operate much like before, such as having a pregame dinner with Wayne Gretzky and then entertaining other Hollywood types. Friday’s celebrity guest was Simpson lawyer Robert L. Shapiro.

McNall was discussing hockey’s current labor situation and his active role two years ago in helping negotiate the end to the brief players’ strike. This time, he is being informed by Bettman like everyone else.

McNall spoke about the looming postponement to the season and sounded wistful, saying: “I wonder what would have happened if all this hadn’t happened.”