It’s Karl’s Turn to Do a Little Housekeeping

How tenuous is George Karl’s reign as coach of the Seattle SuperSonics?

His wife, Cathy, announced in the Seattle Post-Intelligencer Monday that their 6,000-square-foot home in a Seattle suburb would be going on the market later this month.

“It’s very depressing,” she told the newspaper. “It’s a real reality check when somebody gets fired.”

Karl said his wife misspoke . . . sort of.

“No, it won’t be on the market, I’ve never even discussed it,” he said, but added, “My gut feeling is, if I even stay here, we’re probably going to move because our house is too big. It has nothing to do with the contractual situation.”

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Shaquille O’Neal’s most interesting encounter this series has not been with Karl or Vin Baker, but Karl’s wife.

Cathy Karl met Shaq in the runway after a game here last week and said, “If George is a woman, what does that make me?”

Shaq, momentarily stunned, recovered in time to turn on the charm.

He leaned over, kissed her on the cheek, and said, “You’re his wife? You’re a beautiful woman.”

Shaq admitted Monday that under different circumstances, he would have been fearful of a fist.

“You can tell, she’s a very strong woman,” he said. “If this had been something serious, she would have been serious.”