Rodman Penalty Confirmed, but Shaq Report Ridiculed

The Lakers on Wednesday acknowledged that Dennis Rodman will be penalized for his delay in returning to the team, but ridiculed a report by TNT’s Craig Sager that Shaquille O’Neal recently called a meeting in which the players voted, 12-0, to fine Rodman for leaving the team to go to Las Vegas.

“Craig Sager’s a liar,” O’Neal said after Wednesday’s practice in Cleveland.

“Any votes that go down are called by the president, handled by the president and tallied up by the president--me. There were no votes. I don’t know what the hell Craig’s talking about.”

Laker Coach Kurt Rambis said the TNT report is just another part of the tabloid haze that surrounds Rodman.

“That’s crazy,” Rambis said. “That’s ludicrous.

“First of all, we handle our disciplinary problems internally through management. Players are given a set of rules. They don’t determine who gets fined or anything like that. They don’t have a say in it.

“We make a decision as management what we’re going to do, and they can vote until their heads blow off, it’s not going to make a difference.”

But Rambis added that Rodman, already fined once for showing up late to his first Laker practice, will be fined an undetermined amount for the length of his absence, which had been excused by the Lakers in its early stages so Rodman could handle personal issues.

“He will definitely be fined,” said Rambis, who also said “there probably is” a cut-off point, also not yet determined, for how long the Lakers would tolerate Rodman’s absence before considering releasing him.

“[The fine] has nothing to do with Vegas. It’s just a general practice of the team, you’re allowed certain leniencies with some things, but you’re still responsible for being with the team. . . .

“I think the difference lies in how long an excused absence is.”

TONIGHT

at Cleveland, 4:30 PST

Channel 9 (6 PST)

* Site--Gund Arena.

* Radio--KLAC (570).

* Records--Lakers 17-7, Cavaliers 10-10.

* Record vs. Cavaliers (1997-98)--1-1.

* Update--The Lakers catch their second consecutive bruised-up ballclub. Through trade and injury, the Cavaliers are down to Shawn Kemp and not much else down low, though they signed Corie Blount last weekend after the Lakers released him. So Shaquille O’Neal, who has had a blistering month, could enjoy this one.