All Kinds of Options Await Former Bull Coach Jackson

Phil Jackson was tanned from sun-splashed trips to Turkey, Arizona and California, rested from a life in Montana without basketball and as clean-shaven as the politician sitting next to him.

He was a man at peace Friday, four months after hopping on his motorcycle and saying it was time to go after leading the Chicago Bulls to a sixth NBA title.

Now there is no place Jackson has to be and that’s how he likes it. His options are many, including helping former New York Knicks teammate Bill Bradley launch a presidential bid--if that is what he chooses.

“This is my pick for the president,” Jackson said as he sat beside Bradley, a former U.S. senator, in a downtown bookstore. “He hasn’t decided to run yet or not but what I am going to do is probably chauffeur his car around when he starts running as a president or do something of that ilk.”

Jackson wrote the forward for Bradley’s new book “Values Of The Game,” and a leap into the political arena would produce public scrutiny of a different kind from the NBA.

As Jackson and Bradley signed books Friday, a few anti-abortion protesters gathered on the sidewalk outside the store. Perhaps forgetting that Bradley no longer is in the Senate, they waved signs featuring grizzly pictures and chanted: “Bill Bradley Must Go.”

Bradley and Jackson’s agent Todd Musburger emphasized that Jackson, the ex-hippie and proponent of Zen, can do whatever he wants with his life. That is more than likely not going to include a quick return to basketball when the NBA lockout is resolved.

“He could write some more, travel some more or teach,” Musburger said. “He’s had some interesting university offers, some business offers. He has some attractive media offers as well. He’s sifting through those.

“It will be interesting to see how he handles the game action when they are back playing and he’s not.”

Jackson wouldn’t answer questions about the Bulls future or his successor Tim Floyd during a brief five-minute news conference.

“That’s Jerry Krause’s concern right now,” he said of the team.

Jackson, who has long been Michael Jordan’s coach of choice, said he doesn’t miss the grind of the game, especially the preseason.

“I’ve enjoyed being able to experience fall in the country and to experience the lake I vacationed on for almost 30 years in the offseason,” Jackson said. “I’ve enjoyed this and it’s been great not to have to think about basketball.”

Jackson has homes in Montana and New York state, but he has his Chicago home up for sale, Musburger said.

That pretty much says that he and the Bulls are divorced forever. But what if there was a lockout-shortened season beginning in January?

“I am a guy who says, ‘Never say never,’ ” Musburger said, answering for his client.

“But in the realm of calculated possibilities, there is no set of facts I can see that would put Phil back at the helm.

“We have all tried very hard to be accurate and forthcoming about that and to not create false hopes with the fans who have been so terrific to Phil. This is not a man who left with bitterness or who wants to engage in recriminations or name calling or finger pointing. He achieved so much. He legitimately felt it was time and he still believes that and he’s never wavered from that.

“Phil is moving on. What the players do is going to be their call, not his.”