– The public face: What kind of media man will newly appointed Bulls coach Phil Jackson be? He`s promised that it will be the players, not the coach, who will be the front for the team. And he further promises to be a bit of a plumber, plugging leaks about any turmoil on the team, as did his coach on the Knicks, Red Holzman. ”Red was a very low-keyed individual and did very well at keeping everything inside the family,” Jackson said at his coming-out news conference Monday. ”(He) kept everything as tight as he could to the team. When we had internal problems, he brought them inside the room and we discussed them and we went out with a happy face.”
– Courtside manner: On the other hand, during games, Jackson promises to be, at times, the center of attention.
”I`m a little more abusive to referees (than was ex-coach Doug Collins). I will get some technical fouls. One year, a former Bull, Jerry Sloan, and I led the league (in technicals) . . . I will be very animated on the bench. I like to be up and about.”
– Shopping around: Craig Hodges became a free agent July 1, and on that day his agent`s phone started ringing . . . and ringing. By the time it stopped, four teams had expressed interest in the 29-year-old guard.
”He wants to stay in Chicago, he likes it there,” said Bob Woolf, Hodges` agent. ”But I owe it to him to check out the other offers.”
The Bulls haven`t been shy about reciprocating Hodges` affections and obviously want to hold onto him. Jackson points out that with a batch of rookies coming aboard, it`s crucial to keep the five starters intact, including Hodges.
– Wise guy: Jackson says he wants Michael Jordan to go after fewer defensive rebounds this season. Why? ”It puts him in the range of Bill Cartwright`s elbows, where he might get hurt.”
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