Worm Worries Rodman’s Back, But Jordan, Pippen Fed Up With Their Teammate’s Antics

Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen no longer respect Dennis Rodman, whose most recent suspension showed the Chicago Bulls’ stars that “The Worm” cares only about himself.

Rodman returns tonight after sitting out 11 games for kicking a cameraman - his third suspension in 1-1/2 seasons with the Bulls - and Pippen isn’t sure Rodman is willing or able to avoid future trouble.

“All I know is that Dennis doesn’t give a damn about most things,” Pippen said. “I’m not sure he’s capable of learning any lessons from his suspensions. I don’t expect him ever to change because if he did, he wouldn’t be The Worm, the personality he has invented for himself.”

As for Rodman’s relationship with Jordan, “We have no relationship,” Jordan said.

When Rodman takes the court tonight against the Charlotte Hornets, he undoubtedly will be cheered by the sellout crowd at the United Center.

After all, the cross-dressing, hair-dyeing, referee-baiting forward helped the Bulls win the NBA title last season. And Rodman, the league’s rebounding leader, has promised to demonstrate his love for Chicago fans by donating his salary from the next 11 games to charity.

But Jordan and Pippen are wary.

What will Rodman do next? Will it be bad enough for NBA commissioner David Stern to banish him from the league forever?

Jordan is prepared for the worst.

While leading the Bulls to a 9-2 record during Rodman’s latest suspension, Jordan repeatedly said the Bulls can repeat as champions without the tattooed one. They went 72-10 last season even though Rodman missed 18 games and are a league-best 42-6 this season.

“We can be better with Dennis, we know that. But we can survive without Dennis, we know that, too,” Jordan said after Sunday’s All-Star Game. “Our will to win is just as great without Dennis.”

Asked what advice he’d give Rodman tonight, Jordan said: “I’d tell him to wear pants all the time.”

It was the first time Jordan took a public shot at Rodman’s assortment of evening gowns, feathered boas and lingerie.

Pippen, meanwhile, is disappointed that Rodman “knocks the game so much.”

“Someday, maybe, he’ll realize that he wouldn’t have all the movies and books and fans if he didn’t have basketball,” Pippen said Sunday. “He says he doesn’t need the game, but it’s the game that’s made him who he is.”

Neither Rodman, Jordan nor Pippen talked to the media immediately after Monday’s practice.

Later Rodman talked to Chicago Tribune about his return saying, “I’m going to keep playing the way I’ve always played. People love me when I’m aggressive and when I retaliate, as far as the game is concerned. As far as hitting someone, I’ve never intentionally tried to hurt someone or to injure them permanently. That’s not my game. My game is physical. I mentally and psychologically try to take my opponent out, no matter how things transpire. But if somebody wants to judge me because I head-butted somebody or kicked somebody, out of the 11 years I’ve been in the league, I think that’s wrong.”

Teammate, Steve Kerr, said Rodman didn’t apologize.

“We don’t expect an apology, at least a verbal one. His apology comes on the floor when he goes out and plays hard and gets 20 boards,” Kerr said.

Coach Phil Jackson said Rodman looked good in practice but might not start tonight. After serving a six-game suspension for head-butting a referee last March, Rodman came off the bench for five games.

Jackson said Rodman “is a very easy person to have on the team.”

“He does his job, comes to practice and keeps his mouth shut. He works hard. He is never delinquent. The fact that he’s not there for every game is the only thing that’s a problem for us. When you get to rely on a person as dominant as he is and he’s not available, then it is a problem.

“A lot of people don’t like his disruptive tactics. They don’t like what they consider non-sportsmanship. That’s another issue entirely. That has nothing to do with us.”

Rodman appeared Thursday on the “Tonight Show” and said he was treated unjustly by Stern.

“It wasn’t fair to me,” Rodman said. “I haven’t raped anybody. I haven’t been thrown in jail. I haven’t done this, I haven’t done that. Tell me something I’ve done that’s been harmful.”