Bulls’ Foes Don’t Get Off Scottie Free

The foot injury that figures to keep Scottie Pippen inactive until at least mid-December doesn’t enhance the New York Knicks’ chances of beating the Chicago Bulls, according to Knick Coach Jeff Van Gundy.

The man, Michael Jordan, is still there.

“That guy is so good that he will make the guys around him that much better and they’ll still win,” Van Gundy said. “They’ve got Jordan. When Jordan leaves, then they don’t have a shot.”

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Add Knicks: Van Gundy also scoffs at the Bulls’ vaunted “triangle offense,” saying, “They still call it triangle, but what they should call it is triangle 23--give [Jordan] the ball and get out of the way.”

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Trivia time: What is the NCAA Division I-A record for yards gained in a game by one team?

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Viva la France: Olivier St. Jean, the former San Jose State forward the Sacramento Kings selected last summer as the team’s top draft choice, will soon make NBA history.

He’ll become the first player born and raised in France to play in the league.

St. Jean is proud of his heritage, saying, “I’m French. No matter what you say, I’m French. I speak English, and I went to school in America. But I was born and raised there. I’m more French than anything.”

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Cellar funk: Chicago Bear assistant coach Tony Wise told the Rockford (Ill.) Register Star that Coach Dave Wannstedt is totally focused:

“Believe me, he doesn’t know that Princess Diana died. He doesn’t know the Cubs’ record. He almost doesn’t know what month it is.”

That’s what an 0-6 record will do to you.

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Add losers: Furman Bisher in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution: “It’s a dark reflection on any football team when the most exciting weapon is the punt. But that’s the way it has been with the Falcons.”

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Huh?: From the Yogi Berra File: “If the people don’t want to come out to the park, nobody’s gonna stop them.”

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Like a lube job: Funny car driver Cruz Pedregon, while in a hospital for an emergency appendectomy:

“When I was laying on the surgery bed I told the doctor, ‘Fix whatever you have to, but I’m going to be driving 300 mph on Friday.’ He thought I was nuts.”

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Looking back: On this day in 1981, LeRoy Irvin scored two touchdowns on punt returns, helping the Rams to a 37-35 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.

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Trivia answer: Houston gained 1,021 against Southern Methodist on Oct. 21, 1989.

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And finally: It’s going to cost Kentucky as much as $8,000 to replace the goal post torn down after the Wildcats’ 40-34 overtime victory over Alabama last Saturday night.

C.M. Newton, Kentucky’s athletic director, said, “If I wasn’t so old, I would have jumped up on the damn thing myself.”