Union Urges Rodman Appeal

The NBA players’ union is urging Dennis Rodman to file a grievance over his two-game suspension, arguing that the Chicago Bulls violated the collective bargaining agreement by effectively fining Rodman more than $104,000.

Rodman was suspended by the Bulls on Tuesday for a profanity-laden tirade he made about the officiating in Chicago’s loss at Toronto. The comments were broadcast live on cable television.

“Never before have we seen discipline approaching this level of severity for comments made in a locker room after a game,” National Basketball Players Assn. President Billy Hunter said Wednesday.

“We believe the Bulls were motivated by other economic concerns, as it will now be more difficult for Dennis to earn bonuses in his contract for playing in a certain amount of games.”

The union contends that the two-game suspension without pay is tantamount to a $104,878 fine--the amount of salary Rodman will lose. The collective bargaining agreement allows for a maximum fine of $25,000.

General Manager Jerry Krause denied that the Bulls were trying to punish Rodman financially. The Bulls are donating the $104,878 to charity.

“That never even entered my mind. . . . I never even thought of that until somebody brought it up afterward,” Krause said.

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Former Massachusetts star Marcus Camby, Toronto’s No. 1 draft choice, was hoping to play against Boston on Wednesday night, but his back wouldn’t allow it.

“I had this game starred on my calendar. I was looking forward to playing in this game,” said Camby, who has sat out the last five games because of a lower back sprain. “I still have a lot to prove to the people of Boston.”

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Isaiah Rider walked out of the Portland Trail Blazers’ practice Wednesday, and team spokesman John Christensen said he didn’t know why Rider left early.

Rider had to sit out the first quarter of Tuesday night’s 99-93 loss to Orlando after missing the shootaround earlier in the day.