Jordan Fries French In Mcparis
The Chicago Bulls, even at half strength, have found their way into another championship game.
This time it is the finals of the McDonald’s Championship in Paris after an 89-82 victory over stubborn French champions Paris-St. Germain on Friday.
“You probably saw the results of a few too many hot chocolates and crepes,” said Bulls center Luc Longley, who finished with 14 points.
Michael Jordan, whose presence has drawn 1,000 reporters to Paris - more than for the NBA Final - finished with 28 points and got wild cheers even for the unspectacular. In some polls he’s the most popular athlete in France.
European champion Olympiakos drew the spot in the finals opposite the five-time NBA champions after defeating Argentina’s Atenas de Cordoba in the other semifinal 89-86 on a four-point play with 9.6 seconds to play by Lithuanian Arturas Karnisovas.
The Bulls - with Scottie Pippen recovering from foot surgery, Dennis Rodman ill, and the team surely distracted by a week of NBA hoopla in the French capital - started Jason Caffey and Randy Brown in place of their two missing stars. Still, Chicago led 42-29 at halftime after trailing 7-4.
However, the French team never looked outclassed and were within six points several times late in the game.
The NBA is 15-0 in this event and only one NBA team has ever lost to an international team.
A McDonald’s of its own
NBA commissioner David Stern hopes to add a women’s game to the McDonald’s Championships and eventually start its own event.
“I think we have the capacity to have some game at the next McDonald’s and then a tournament shortly thereafter,” said Stern. He envisions an exhibition game between a group of WNBA all-stars and a European all-star team at the next McDonald’s Championship in two years.
Allergic to Nike
Shaq doesn’t care to strut in a swoosh. Joe Dumars says he must be allergic to the ubiquitous Nike logo.
Shaquille O’Neal is putting tape over the Nike logo on his Los Angeles Lakers warmup suit because he is under contract with rival Reebok and doesn’t want to appear to be endorsing a rival’s product.
Dumars has developed a rash while wearing the Detroit Pistons’ new practice shirts and game uniforms, which are designed by Nike. “I think I’m allergic to the swoosh,” said Dumars, a long-time Adidas endorser.
Heat do time-warp
Because of the World Series game, the Miami Heat have moved today’s game against New Jersey to 1 p.m. PDT.
xxxx COMING UP Tuesday: The Portland Trail Blazers and Golden State Warriors will play an NBA exhibition game at the Spokane Arena at 7:30 p.m. For tickets, the Arena box office is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. To charge by phone, call 325-SEAT or (800) 325-SEAT.