Rodman’s Mouth Is No Dirtier Than Usual

Imagine the indignation of Chicago Bull officials who were shocked--shocked!--to learn Dennis Rodman uses bad language in the dressing room.

Of course, why let him off with a mere suspension? He has been doing the same “anti-referee, obscenity-laced diatribe,” as the TV anchors say, since he got there. If good taste means so much to the Bulls all of a sudden, they’d better forfeit last season’s championship too.

However, not only did Rodman use “terrible, foul, abusive” language, as General Manager Jerry Krause put it, he did it on a live cable hookup with sponsor Chrysler-Plymouth’s logo superimposed on TV screens as Dennis turned Chicago living rooms purple.

Then there was the attendant hysteria. The Bulls who talked of going undefeated in December had lost two games--one to the Toronto Raptors, who didn’t exist two seasons ago, which is how long it had been since a .333 team beat them--with Rodman getting ejected after having repeatedly asserted his boredom, indifference to the team’s success and greater interest in his commercial-entertainer career.

Once taboo, Rodman has unique side deals, such as Victoria’s Secret. He will do a Jean-Claude Van Damme movie, and he makes $9 million off the court, No. 4 among athletes, according to Forbes magazine. His MTV show debuted the night of the Raptor loss.

Meanwhile teammates bristled as he gave up 23 points and 14 rebounds a game to his last eight opponents, Karl Malone, Loy Vaught (twice), Chris Gatling, Dominique Wilkins, Vin Baker and P.J. Brown.

“It’s not my responsibility to keep him in line,” Michael Jordan said. “I’m not going to sit here and monitor him. He gets paid a hefty fee to do his job, as we all are. . . .

“Dennis Rodman always has been a guy who says he’s in control. If that means telling some of the guys and corporations to back off and let him get his basketball skills back to where he wants them, then he should do that. The golden rule of being a spokesman is you can’t be successful off the court unless you’re successful on the court.”

That was the polite version. After the loss in Toronto, Jordan wouldn’t even speak.

SportsChannel had been televising live from the Bulls’ locker room since last season, but until Toronto, it trod carefully around Rodman, airing snippets and cutting away whenever he started an obscenity-laced anti-referee diatribe.

Now, however, with panic gripping Chicago and no Jordan to fill up the show, they kept the cameras rolling and broadcast history was made.

Boredom as much as decorum prevents us from printing Rodman’s remarks: Commissioner David Stern or his lieutenant, Rod Thorn, were out to get him--actually, he complained of a “David Thorn”--referees were babies, blah, blah, should wear diapers, blah, blah.

Jordan brooded silently for two days while the Chicago press roasted Rodman over a slow fire and management deliberated. Jordan disclosed his method after a victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves--Jason Caffey in Rodman’s place had four rebounds as the Bulls were outboarded again.

“I felt it was time for other people to speak out,” Jordan said. “I mean, occasionally I do that. . . .

“Sometimes you have to let the little people speak.”

Of course, something like this was predicted last summer when the Bulls forced Rodman to his knees in negotiations, giving him half of what he wanted and a one-year deal.

Rodman’s psyche isn’t the only problem. He hasn’t been the only lackluster performer or the only one threatening the peace. Scottie Pippen is averaging 18.8 points and shooting a career-low 45.9% and recently told Inside Sports:

“No way I’ll be in Chicago next year. I have no loyalty to Krause or Jerry Reinsdorf or anyone but my teammates and the coaching staff.”

Coach Phil Jackson took a one-year contract after another thorny negotiation. His old knack for circling the wagons may be undermined when his name starts getting mentioned for other teams’ vacancies.

Jordan, who has vowed he won’t return without Pippen or Jackson, has been happy as a honeymooner, but real life lurks in the darkness.

Anyway, Rodman apologized for teaching his fans so many new words--apparently his contract has hefty performance clauses. The entire organization felt a little better, for the moment.

DOWNSIZED FOR CHRISTMAS, UNEMPLOYED AT 121-43

Said San Antonio General Manager Gregg Popovich the day he named himself to replace Coach Bob Hill:

“I fully realize that the timing might look bad.”

Thanks, Mr. Sensitivity. Hill lost David Robinson, Chuck Person and Charles Smith and, after weeks of issuing bulletins about his franchise player’s return, was offed the day the Admiral came back.

Players were aghast. Dominique Wilkins thought it was a joke and had to be told several times.

Only the timing, however, was a surprise. Last spring, Hill went to ask Popovich for an extension with a bounce in his step after 62-20 and 59-23 seasons and was handed his head, instead, told he was being held accountable for the second-round loss to Utah.

“I love these players,” Hill said last week. “I did great here. Look at my record. I have nothing to be ashamed of.”

Eight years after Robinson arrived, the franchise is still David surrounded by flotsam and jetsam. The Spurs have averaged 55 victories under five coaches in the ‘90s but have lost in the first round three times and in the second twice. The finger seemed to point at Robinson until this fall, when his supporting cast turned stiffer than his back.

The playoffs are still within reach, but what then? If Popovich can’t turn it around--safe bet--he may turn to his old boss, Don Nelson, once the NBA’s patron saint of lost causes.

Popovich had better think of something or the next Christmas that gets spoiled may be his.

NAMES AND NUMBERS

New York, New York: Patrick Ewing, in his free-agent season, ripped Knick fans for booing as they lost a 20-point lead over the Clippers before winning. “Whenever something goes wrong, they jump off the bandwagon,” he said. “They’re annoying me. It’s been like that for 12 years and I’m fed up with it.” . . . After a back-page pounding by the tabloids, Ewing was booed the rest of the week, missed 28 of 41 shots, but hung in to score 28 points with 28 rebounds in two wins. Said he, quoting Dr. Seuss, “I meant what I said and I said what I meant.” . . . Bottom line, the fans need Ewing more than he needs them. If he doesn’t return, his $3-million salary goes off the books--but the Knicks are still at $31.5 million, far over the cap. Without Ewing, Larry Johnson ($8.5 million next season) and Allan Houston ($6 million) will get more shots and the Knicks can revisit the Pat Cummings era.

The Phoenix Suns are offering any of their free agents in trade. The Pacers, desperate for firepower, are interested in Sam Cassell. . . . Brian Williams is reportedly hoping the league announces its salary cap raise this week before choosing among the Miami Heat, Seattle SuperSonics, Bulls and Clippers. League sources say the cap raise may not be announced until next month. Prediction: Williams to Heat.

Chris Webber after the Washington Bullets blew a 17-point lead and lost in Toronto: “We’re supposed to beat teams like this. No disrespect to them. If there’s a food chain in the NBA, we’re above them in the food chain.” Hold that burger. The Raptors are 4-1 against the Bullets. . . . Washington’s chemistry looks weird. New Bullet Tracy Murray even pines for his Raptor days. “We lost last year,” he said. “It wasn’t fun, but at the same time, you knew it wasn’t for lack of effort. You saw them against us, you saw them against the Bulls. They played hard for 48 minutes. We have to do the same things.” TNT’s Reggie Theus after Murray made four of five three-pointers in a win over Cleveland: “You’ve got to get him the ball because, knowing Tracy, it’ll be over soon.”

Kendall Gill, a once bright prospect who was traded by the Charlotte Hornets twice and the SuperSonics as well, ripped his former coach, George Karl, before their game in New Jersey--”I wouldn’t mind running into him in a dark alley somewhere and then we’d see how much smack he’s gonna talk.”--then scored 24 points in the Nets’ upset. Said teammate Jayson Williams: “I told Kendall I got $250 on George Karl. I told him it’s going the distance but George Karl can take him. He looks like that boxer, Butterbean.” Said Net Coach John Calipari: “I hope I don’t do anything to tick off Kendall.”