Bulls Can’t Keep Quiet

All this talk of Michael Jordan’s retirement has gotten under Jerry Reinsdorf’s skin. The Bulls’ owner issued a statement that said discussions about retirements and roster changes are premature. Reinsdorf said he kept this team together to win a championship, and he expects that to be the focus.

“I agree with Jerry 100 percent,” said coach Phil Jackson, who a few days earlier hinted he would come back if management wasn’t so dead set against it. “Let’s just play it out and see what happens. We’ll just all keep quiet until then.”

The plan worked for 24 hours. That’s how long Scottie Pippen waited before saying he doesn’t see himself signing with the Bulls next season and would like to play on the West Coast.

Postage due

Utah’s Karl Malone dropped the not-so-subtle hint during All-Star Weekend that New York is one of the places he would consider playing once his contract with the Jazz expires at the end of next season. The Mailman loves the area and playing with John Stockton and for coach Jerry Sloan. But proclamations of management that it must reshape this team for the future, lead Malone to believe changes are in the air.

Heat is on

The Heat begin their most significant week of the season eager to learn the results of today’s surgery on forward Jamal Mashburn.

The Heat should know by late afternoon how long it will be without Mashburn, who fractured his right thumb Friday.

With Mashburn out indefinitely, Miami will intensify efforts to acquire a proven scorer by Thursday’s 6 p.m. deadline.

Oakley suspended

Forward Charles Oakley of the New York Knicks was suspended for one game by the NBA on Saturday for a flagrant foul against Orlando’s Bo Outlaw.

Oakley struck Outlaw across the head with 3:03 remaining in Friday night’s 99-83 New York victory over the Magic.