NBA Doesn’t Mean ‘National Babble Assn.’

Jay Mariotti in the Chicago Sun-Times on the breakup of the Bulls after this season and the roles of owner Jerry Reinsdorf and General Manager Jerry Krause:

“Like evil, selfish Scrooges at Christmas, they are eager to break up a dynasty and shut down one of the world’s finer entertainment treasures so they can pursue that most farcical of ambitions: trying to win an NBA title of their own.

“Then, to prove how big he is, Krause suggested the contributions of [Michael] Jordan, [Coach Phil] Jackson and [Scottie] Pippen weren’t as critical as the cohesiveness of the whole franchise.

“Translation: He has been more instrumental in the dynasty. ‘It’s organizations that win championships,’ Krause said, babbling on as he has for years.”

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Trivia time: Who holds the Pacific 10 Conference record for the longest punt return?

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For good reason: Point guard Stephon Marbury of the Minnesota Timberwolves on the impact of teammate Kevin Garnett’s six-year contract for an estimated $125 million:

“Bob Cousy and those guys must be sick to their stomachs.”

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Court case? Rita Ewing, wife of the New York Knicks’ Patrick, has written a novel called “Seasonal Tides” built around a behind-the-scenes look at the NBA.

“It will be an interesting and juicy look at the NBA and its goings-on,” she promised.

Her husband hasn’t read it. He told her: “I’ll just sue you if I don’t like it.”

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Forgettable analysis: Jeff Chadiha in the San Francisco Examiner before Sunday’s Raider-Charger game: “The Raiders should prepare for the pass because the San Diego Chargers haven’t run on anyone yet.”

That coaching advice backfired as the Chargers’ Gary Brown ran for 181 yards and a touchdown in San Diego’s 25-10 victory.

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Looking back: On this day in 1956, Don Larsen of the New York Yankees pitched the only perfect game in World Series history for a 2-0 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers.

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Looking back again: On this day in 1933, Cliff Battles of the Boston Redskins became the first NFL player to gain more than 200 yards rushing with 215 yards in a 21-20 victory over the New York Giants.

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Trivia answer: Hugh McElhenny of Washington, 100 yards against USC in 1951.

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And finally: Golf World reports that LPGA player Kristal Parker-Gregory recently awoke in the middle of the night to discover that a naked female sleepwalker had entered her hotel room and hopped into her bed.

“I was in such a deep sleep I thought it was my husband,” Parker-Gregory recalled. “Then I realized he wasn’t with me and I completely freaked.”

She and her roommate, Page Dunlap, exited the room and hotel security quickly escorted the sleepwalking woman back to her room.