It’s Rodman’s World, and Bulls Will Let Him Keep Playing in It

CHICAGO —  The Chicago Bulls’ prodigal forward returned once more, embarrassed at what he had done, at least according to his protector, Coach Phil Jackson, who said Dennis Rodman was “blushing.”

Of course, Rodman may have only been embarrassed at what he got away with:

Skip Monday’s practice: $10,000 fine by the NBA plus undisclosed fine by team.

Appear at wrestling match that night in Detroit with fellow cartoon character Hollywood Hogan: $250,000 fee (according to teammate Ron Harper).

How could Rodman fail to learn his lesson? He just blew off practice, netted $235,000 or so and got enough publicity to start his own wrestling circuit.

“Dennis fits well in that world,” said Jackson, continuing to play it both ways, zinging Rodman while letting him roam America, pay token fines and continue to play.

Not that it’s working--for Jackson. He has even been criticized in the local newspapers for demeaning the Bulls by accepting anything as long as they win a title.

Jackson suggests, credibly or not, he’s finding work for a troubled man and the newspapers are at fault for blowing up the story.

Said Jackson: “The focus should be that Dennis is a unique individual, maybe in some sense handicapped, who’s finding an occupation here at which he’s doing extremely well.

“Rather than trying to make him look like some kind of dysfunctional character--Dennis functions probably as well as he can function in a system like this. And it’s a wonderful thing that he’s been able to find it to play in. I don’t know if he could ever play in a 9-to-5 world. I doubt if he could. But he’s made it in this world and it’s great.

“He’s only taking your focus away from the finals, not ours. You’re focusing on it and you’re the ones who’ve made him what he’s out to be. . . . He’s become an anti-hero in this society, and that’s a problem.”

It’s a problem the Bulls have survived before, though a plainly peeved Michael Jordan called for a $250,000 fine for Rodman, suggesting Jackson is angrier than he’s letting on. “I told Phil,” Jordan said, “whatever [Rodman] got paid, he should just distribute it to the players, split evenly.”

Rodman practiced but left the court as soon as reporters were allowed in. Since he consented to answer a few questions later, posed by a league official in the dressing room, he wasn’t fined. This either represented more permissiveness or more resignation.

For what it’s worth, Rodman didn’t sound embarrassed.

“It was good,” he said of his trip. “I made some good friends and made a lot of money.”

*

A hearty thank you, Worm: Utah Jazz players could sit back and watch the spectacle of the local media bounding after Rodman, rather than sneering at them.

“I’d rather lose than be put in that situation [with Rodman],” Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan said. “There are certain things you have to deal with, guys who have problems and you can deal with it.

“But winning is the only thing? No. It’s never been that important.”

*

On the second attempt, Kevin Willis became a member of the Toronto Raptors.

Willis was almost traded to Toronto last February and Tuesday the Houston Rockets finally made a deal, sending him to Canada in exchange for the 16th and 18th picks in the June 24 draft and forward Roy Rogers.

The Rockets already have the No. 14 pick.

*

The Associated Press contributed to this story.