Magic angered by Rodman 'circus'
Posted: Friday February 19, 1999 08:29 PM
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Rodman professes he will make up his mind by Monday at the latest. Jonathan Daniel/Allsport |
INGLEWOOD, Calif. (AP) -- An exasperated Magic Johnson says Dennis Rodman is "trying
to hold us hostage," and the Los Angeles Lakers
should forget about signing him.
Johnson said the uncertainty surrounding Rodman's situation has damaged
the image of the team he led to five NBA championships during the 1980s.
And that uncertainty continued Friday as Rodman, appearing on ESPN's "Up
Close," said he still hasn't made a definite decision as to whether he's
going to play this season or not.
"If I play basketball, it will be between two teams, the Lakers or Miami,
and the odds are that's going to happen within the next 48 hours," Rodman
said.
Rodman said he would announce a decision by Monday at the latest, but
that might not mean much, since he was quoted by the Chicago
Sun-Times in Thursday's editions as saying he would sign with the
Lakers either Thursday or Friday.
And he reportedly decided a week ago to play for the Lakers.
"I'm tired of this. I am," Johnson, a part-owner and vice president of
the Lakers, said on David Letterman's show Thursday night. "I'm going to
say this tonight and I've been holding it. It's like a circus now.
"We are a first-class organization. We do things the right way, and right
now, he's like trying to hold us hostage. ... He's driving me crazy because
he's hurting the team, he's hurting the organization, so I would love us
just to say forget it."
So far, that hasn't been the case. Team spokesman John Black said
Thursday the Lakers weren't ready to issue an ultimatum to the flamboyant
seven-time rebounding champion, who met with team owner Jerry Buss on
Wednesday night.
The Lakers can sign Rodman only for the veteran minimum of $1 million,
prorated to $600,000 for the shortened season and diminishing further with
each game he misses.
However, Rodman will receive $3 million in a deal with Converse if he
plays in Los Angeles, Chicago or New York.
At a shootaround Friday, several hours before the Lakers faced the San Antonio Spurs at the
Forum, Black said he didn't expect any action Friday on Rodman.
Jerry West, the team's vice president of basketball operations, said he
knew of no developments and was tired of talking about it.
The Lakers first expressed interest in Rodman more than two weeks ago,
and it was reported last weekend he had decided to play for them.
Rodman, who turns 38 in May, played on championship teams in Chicago the
last three seasons.
Rodman told "Up Close" host Gary Miller he was the most popular and
recognized individual in the world today besides former teammate Michael Jordan, who
announced his retirement last month.
Rodman also said he believed Jordan "understands who Dennis Rodman really
is."
Rodman also acknowledged that he has had differences with Lakers star Shaquille O'Neal, but
that it wouldn't make any difference if he joined the Lakers.
"We've had words, we've bashed each other here and there," Rodman said.
"Like I said in Chicago with Michael and Scottie [Pippen], I don't give a
damn if these guys like me or not. I'm here to do a job. When the game is
over, we go our separate ways."
The Lakers certainly could use Rodman. Power forward Robert Horry, diagnosed
with an irregular heartbeat last Sunday, didn't play against the Spurs and
will miss at least three more games.
Black said Horry will wear a monitor Monday and Tuesday before being
evaluated, meaning the earliest he could return is Thursday night against
the Los Angeles
Clippers. The Lakers play at Seattle on Sunday, at Denver on Monday
night, and at Vancouver on Tuesday night.
The Lakers reached the 12-player limit Friday by placing rookies Sam
Jacobson and Tyronn Lue on the injured list. Jacobson broke his left ring
finger during pregame warmups Wednesday night; Lue has back spasms.
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