Word: rodman
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...days later, after the former Chicago Bull had officially signed, it was Laker coach Del Harris who broke down. Not because he'd have to baby-sit Rodman (whose last coach would be wearing a straitjacket today were he not a Zen master) but because Harris had just been fired after a 6-6 start with a team that had had ring-ceremony potential...
...most pained character in the whole drama was basketball legend and Laker vice president Jerry West, who had complained about stress on the job pre-Rodman. West too appeared near tears, but it wasn't clear whether it was from firing his friend Harris or from sheer relief that Rodman, who uses his head as an evolving art project and wears enough facial rings to hang curtains, hadn't shown up wearing a dress. Yes, Rodman is right for L.A. But for the Lakers...
...have mixed emotions," admitted West, who lost his argument against Rodman with owner Jerry Buss. The Laker organization, one of the most successful sports franchises in the history of overpriced beer, is in lock-the-doors identity crisis. They fire a gentleman who represented the class of the past, and they bring in Rodman's history of tormenting coaches and alienating teammates with tardiness and demon-seed weirdness. Before he'd even put on a uniform, Rodman said the Lakers "don't know the game of basketball." And since they'd fired Harris, Rodman volunteered to coach, saying that...
...Lakers gambled because Rodman was, and might still be at age 37, a great player whose specialties--rebounding and defense--are their weaknesses. And he has won five championship rings, a trick the Lakers hope he can teach young stars Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant. Plus there's always a chance Rodman's ex-squeeze Madonna will become a Laker girl...
...debuted Friday night. Rodman's hair was Laker purple and yellow, and his rebounding and hustle helped his new team to an easy win over the hapless Clippers. "As a player, we can use him, plain and simple," says veteran guard Derek Harper, who won't be afraid to take Rodman by the hand if he goes goofy on them...