Chicago Celebrates Bulls’ Fifth NBA Title

Dennis Rodman didn’t curse--he said “hell” once. Phil Jackson spoke for less time than it takes a 24-second clock to expire. And Michael Jordan dedicated the Chicago Bulls’ fifth NBA title to the city’s working people.

Tens of thousands crammed into Grant Park at Chicago on Monday for a 38-minute, low-key, it’s-another-championship celebration. Owner Jerry Reinsdorf, who has rankled fans with talk of changes to the team, didn’t speak.

“This championship goes to all the working people here in the city of Chicago who go out every single day and bust their butts to make a living,” Jordan said.

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NBC’s coverage of the NBA finals between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz drew the second-highest rating in league championship history, an average Neilsen rating of 16.8 with a 30 share. . . . Portland Trailblazer forward Jermaine O’Neal spent a night in jail last weekend after the 18-year-old was arrested at a mall in Columbia, S.C., for what police say was mouthing off at Richland County sheriff’s deputies. . . . Detroit Piston Coach Doug Collins announced he would be back next season after he and team owners renegotiated his contract.

Hockey

The NHL has chosen Nashville, Atlanta, St. Paul, Minn., and Columbus, Ohio, as its next four expansion sites, according to broadcast reports.

The Sports Network and CNN/SI said Nashville will start play in 1998, followed by Atlanta in 1999 and St. Paul and Columbus in 2000.

Richard Gnida, driver in the limousine accident that injured two Detroit Red Wings and the team masseur, appeared never to have applied the brakes and might have been asleep when the limo careened into a tree, police said.

The crash left defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov and masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov comatose and also injured defenseman Slava Fetisov.

There has been no explanation as to why the three were riding in a limo after a golf outing. The Red Wings have not commented on the outing, who was there or who paid for the limo.

Tennis

Three-time champion Pete Sampras was given the top seeding in the men’s draw for Wimbledon and Martina Hingis earned the women’s top spot. The No. 2 men’s spot went to third-ranked Goran Ivanisevic. Monica Seles was seeded second among the women.

Venus Williams advanced to the main draw of the Eastbourne tournament at the All England Club by beating Miho Saeki of Japan, 6-3, 6-4. . . . The Heineken Trophy grass-court tennis tournament lost its first seeded player when Dutchman Sjeng Schalken ousted No. 7 Thomas Johansson of Sweden, 6-0, 7-6 (7-5), at Rosmalen, Netherlands. . . . Marcelo Rios, a Chilean clay-court player, was ousted from the Nottingham Open at England by Kenneth Carlsen of Denmark in the first round, 6-4, 6-2.

Pro Football

Veteran linebacker Seth Joyner was released by the Arizona Cardinals, who hope to re-sign him for less money. Joyner, 32, was scheduled to earn $3.45 million next season and $2.7 million in 1998.

Wide receiver Darnay Scott signed a one-year, $785,000 contract with the Cincinnati Bengals. . . . Buffalo wide receiver Eric Moulds was fined $540 and ordered to perform 80 hours of community service for attacking two women. . . . The Kansas City Chiefs signed free-agent cornerback Mark McMillian, who played last season with the New Orleans Saints, to a three-year contract.

Miscellany

Tiger Woods completed his meteoric rise in the world golf rankings, passing Greg Norman to become the youngest player to hold the top spot in the 11-year history of the rankings.

Also, Woods’ representatives filed a federal suit against the Franklin Mint, claiming a medal commemorating the golfer’s Masters victory is an unauthorized use of his image.

Brazil got goals from Aldair, Camilo Romero and Leonardo to overcome a 2-0 deficit and beat Mexico, 3-2, in the America Cup in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Neider Morantes scored two goals for Colombia in a 4-1 win over Costa Rica.

Larisa Nechayeva, 44, director general of the Russian soccer club Spartak Moscow, was shot to death Sunday at her country house east of Moscow. Police said the killing could be linked to Nechayeva’s business activities. . . . Testosterone, the male hormone that has led to the suspensions of distance runner Mary Slaney and hurdler Sandra Farmer-Patrick, should be dropped from track’s list of banned drugs unless a foolproof test can be developed to catch cheaters, U.S. Olympic Committee executive director Dick Schultz said

Formula One driver Olivier Panis will probably be sidelined until at least fall after surgery on both legs he broke in a crash in the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday at Montreal. . . . Former heavyweight champion Trevor Berbick was jailed in Syracuse, N.Y., awaiting extradition to Florida for failure to make court-ordered payments for violating probation. . . . Washington State lineman Jason McEndoo has filed a lawsuit against teammate Ryan McShane, stemming from a car crash that killed McEndoo’s wife.

Names in the News

Willa Mae Walker, sister of former Brooklyn Dodger Jackie Robinson, died Thursday at 80 in Pasadena. Services are today at 1 p.m. at Scott United Methodist Church in Pasadena.