LA Times columnist TJ Simers interrogates Phil Jackson before Game 3:
“I believe you’re getting paid $10 million for moments like this,” I said at his pre-game news conference.
“How would you even know that stuff?” he replied. “You’re not the IRS.”
“Is it more than that?”
“Do I ask information about you?” Jackson said.
“I don’t make $10 million, but should.”
“Should not,” Jackson countered, and I know he’s a friend of Sam Zell, the Times’ new owner, so that’s not what I wanted to hear.
“Let’s not get in an argument,” I said. “Isn’t this supposed to be your time to make adjustments and show us some magic?”
“You’re right,” Jackson said.
“Does it start tonight? And if it doesn’t, can we come after you?”
“You can ask for a rebate,” Jackson said, which tells me there’s every chance in the world the way the NBA is going these days he had already gotten the memo indicating who was going to win Game 3.