They Expect a Ringing in the Ears

hil Jackson had it all wrong, which would not surprise even the most urbane residents of Sacramento.

Cowbells don’t make them rednecks, as the villainous Jackson has proposed.

They make them tropical, mon.

A day from reentering the Arco Arena atmosphere, home of the frantic Kings and their bell-happy fans, Rick Fox said that when the cowbells start swinging, he could close his eyes and think of home, the Bahamas.

On a holiday the islanders call Junknoo, according to Fox, a large celebration incorporates the ringing of cowbells. Fox was born in Canada and attended high school in Indiana. In between, he lived in the Bahamas.

“I’m used to shaking them,” Fox said. “I’m used to having them ring in my ears for hours on end. So, I might have to impart some Junknoo tapes on the plane, let some of these guys hear what Junknoo’s about. It’s a Boxing Day, Christmas Eve-type holiday down in the islands. It’s like carnival. It’s all cowbells, the whole city. Cowbells galore.”

Jackson, who was to attend his son’s college graduation today in Colorado, left immediately after Thursday’s practice and therefore was not available to pile on Sacramento. He did his part last week, observing that the Kings were “goofy guys” who ought to avoid those pesky dogs at the airport.

The Lakers assumed most in Sacramento haven’t forgotten, considering how they hold a grudge.

“I’m sure they’re ready to welcome us to their wonderful city,” Derek Fisher said with a grin. “We expect to see everything, at the hotel, at the arena, whatever.”

Last time he was in Sacramento, Shaquille O’Neal credited one of the cacophonous types with bringing home a Laker victory, 84-72 at Arco Arena.

Between the third and fourth quarters, the kid with the fake purple afro and nonstop bell leaned forward and shouted at O’Neal, “We’re going to beat you in the fourth quarter because you can’t make your free throws!”

O’Neal scored 16 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter, when the Kings missed 15 consecutive shots.

Jackson has said that a road playoff victory has less to do with shooting and defending than character.

“A road victory in the playoffs is probably one of the sweetest moments you can have as a basketball team,” he said. “To be able to go in against daunting odds, with the crowd, and win--I think these guys know where the level is you have to play. . . . They can remember being able to do that in Portland, and Indiana last year, and Phoenix last year. I think they’ll be able to recall how important that is.

“The other thing is, when you have a team down, and if Sacramento is going to have doubts, now’s the time to do it, before they have an opportunity to rehabilitate their game and get their confidence back and get everybody playing.”