NEW YORK When Phil Jackson eventually leaves the Bulls, it'sthought he will walk away from basketball, at least for a while, andseek a new trail to travel.
First up may well be the road to the White House and helpingfriend and former New York Knicks teammate Bill Bradley get there inthe next presidential campaign. Of course, no one has bothered toask Bradley, who remains shrewdly coy about his own future plans - tosay nothing about Jackson's.
"Phil is a great friend, and I don't really deal withhypotheticals," said Bradley, the former U.S. senator from New Jerseywho has yet to declare his own presidential aspirations. "He's beenvery active in my past campaigns. He has campaigned for me, and he'scome to events, things like that."And Bradley does envision a day when Jackson could leavebasketball behind."He will probably stay in the game as long as he is challengedby it and as long as he feels that his own abilities and artistry andexperience are being utilized at the highest level," Bradley said,recalling an epiphany he had one day while serving on a senatecommittee in which he rarely had the votes to carry the day but hadbecome quite adept at the maneuvering necessary to achieve his goals."I thought, `You know, I really know how to do this job,' and atthe same time I felt comfort with my own knowledge and ability andprofessional expertise, I felt uncomfortable. I have a hunch, neverhaving really talked to Phil about this, this is not dissimilar towhat he will feel when he eventually decides to leave (basketball).When he feels too comfortable doing what he's doing, then he'll feeluncomfortable and he'll want to leave."THE OUTLINE: "It does not surprise me at all that he's a greatcoach," Bradley said of Jackson, "because as a player (a) he had afierce determination to win, (b) he was not interested in personalglory, (c) he knew his strengths and weaknesses and always played tohis strengths, (d) he was analytical and was always thinking aboutthe game and what the team does and (e) even then, he demonstratedthe ability to listen to people and tune in to their individuality."MAJORITY WHIP: In Jackson, Bradley sees the qualities of a goodpolitical leader."He has a fierce desire to be the best, and he has a commitmentto his family and to a way of relating to people as individual humanbeings," Bradley said. "His life is centered on those three things."He gives each individual a tailored kind of respect andacknowledgment. There are a lot of coaches who try to make everybodythe same. He recognizes everybody's individuality and then figuresout a way to reach that person and how to get them to do what hewants the group to do."GOOD THING HE'S NOT BITTER: Lance Johnson, the former White Soxoutfielder dealt by the New York Mets to the Cubs last week, thinksthe Mets severely underestimated his role as a mentor to their youngplayers in sending him back to Chicago and out of the pennant chase."I don't have to worry about it, but (the Mets) made a mistake,"Johnson told the Daily News in New York. "I helped keep everythingtogether, just like (with the White Sox). I was the glue.Management just didn't realize it."I want to be where I'm wanted. I don't want to be where I'mnot wanted. . . . I came in with class. I left with class. Youjust go away and let people live with their mistakes."REALLY? THEY WANT TO WIN? Not everyone has a thing against theMets. Reliever Turk Wendell, who was part of the deal that sentJohnson away, liked Chicago and the Cubs, but he's telling New Yorkwriters he's glad to be with the Mets."It was like, `Welcome to the big leagues,' " said Wendell, whohadn't allowed a run or even a hit in his first four innings andthree appearances with New York. "I could see it right away; theseguys want to win, and they really have a good attitude aboutcompeting."AND THERE ARE LOT OF DUDS IN THE CLUBHOUSE: Wendell said thefirst pleasant surprise came when he found his Mets locker stuffedwith T-shirts, warmups and other goodies. "In Chicago," he told theNew York Post, "it was a matter of getting one pair of pants and oneT-shirt."THE LAST WORD: Did Bradley have any funny stories about Jacksonas a player? "None that I'd repeat," he said.
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