Jackson Says Goodbye To The Bulls

In true ex-hippie, free-wheeling Zen form, Phil Jackson roared away from work for the last time on a red and black Harley-Davidson adorned with the Chicago Bulls logo and his players' signatures.

His office bare, his memories full, he wore the contented smile of a man secure in the knowledge he's leaving at the right time. And, most importantly, on his terms.

"It was time to go," he said. "I've been pushing at this horn a little bit the last couple of years about leaving and being ready to leave. It's my time to go. It's the right time."

Despite an offer from Bulls chairman Jerry Reinsdorf to stay for one more year, with or without Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen, the Jackson era officially ended Monday.

He cleaned out the few remaining things in his office at the Bulls' practice facility, said his goodbyes and then hopped on his motorcycle. After nine years and six NBA titles, Jackson is looking for a different ride.

"Phil Jackson will be long remembered as the best coach in Chicago Bulls' history and as one of the greatest coaches in the history of the National Basketball Association," Reinsdorf said in a statement. "He will be missed."

Reinsdorf did not mention a new Bulls coach, and the team doesn't have a timetable for naming one. George Karl, who was fired as coach of the Seattle SuperSonics, has been mentioned as a replacement, as has Kansas coach Roy Williams and Iowa State coach Tim Floyd.

There also has been speculation the Bulls might consider assistant Bill Cartwright, who played center on the Bulls' first three championship teams.

But Monday was Jackson's day, and it was a day long in coming. His relations with general manager Jerry Krause have been thorny for years, and Reinsdorf said Jackson told him after each of the last three seasons that he wanted to take a break.

Each time, though, Jackson was talked into coming back for one more year.

"Personally, I would like to thank him for giving us each of those seasons," Reinsdorf said. "We have all enjoyed them and are glad he gave us as much time as he did."

After signing a one-year, $6 million contract last summer, Jackson swore this season would be his last. He never wavered from that, telling his players from training camp on that this was it.

So despite all the rumors and what-ifs, when the team gathered at Michael Jordan's restaurant last Tuesday after a citywide celebration for the Bulls sixth championship, Jackson didn't need to say a word.

"Phil's been true to himself all year," Bulls backup center Bill Wennington said. "He's decided he needs time off, and I respect that. He's not caving into pressures. He has a plan for his life and what he needs to do, and he's going at it."

Aside from a vacation in Turkey with his wife, June, and former New York Knickteammate and U.S. Sen. Bill Bradley, Jackson has no plans.

"I don't know if there is a basketball challenge," Jackson said. "I'll have to wait and see if one presents itself."

And if it doesn't, well, that's fine, too.

"I feel happy," he said. "I'm glad to be on my way out of here."

As for the rest of the Bulls, Jackson said their futures are up to them. Jordan, Pippen and Dennis Rodman all are free agents, as are six of the other players on Chicago's 12-man playoff roster.

Jordan has said he doesn't want to play for anyone but Jackson, but he's since softened that stance. And Pippen has said he will be open-minded if the rest of the Bulls return, despite saying repeatedly he wanted to play somewhere else.

"One of the things we said last week was that we were going to support each other with whatever decisions we have to make because it's a personal time now and people have to do that for themselves," Jackson said.

"Whatever paths people may have to take, one thing they can't take away from us is the bonds we've made together winning these championships."

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