Mouthing Off Costs Rodman Record $50,000

He’s butted an official, kicked a cameraman, slapped an opponent in the groin. And now Dennis Rodman, the Chicago Bulls’ bad-boy rebounder, has been punished again for his boorish behavior.

This time it was for making derogatory comments about Mormons while the Bulls were in Salt Lake City for the NBA Finals.

Rodman even apologized Thursday. But it was too late. He got no forgiveness, just a record fine of $50,000 from the NBA.

“I have indicated in previous actions that insensitive or derogatory comments involving race or other classifications are unacceptable in the NBA,” commissioner David Stern said. “Dennis Rodman’s comments were exactly the kind of offensive remarks that cannot be tolerated or excused.”

The fine, which followed the public apology, was the largest in the history of the NBA and the third time this season the league has lightened the bank account of its biggest troublemaker.

Rodman, the man of many hair colors, tattoos and body piercings, was fined a then-record $25,000 - and suspended 11 games - in January for kicking a courtside photographer. He was fined another $7,500 in March for striking Joe Wolf of the Milwaukee Bucks in the groin.

Earlier Thursday, Rodman apologized for the comments he made during the Bulls nearly weeklong stay in Salt Lake City, insisting he didn’t mean to insult an entire religion.

“That was a bad action on my part. So we retract that,” Rodman said.

Rodman’s apology was made on the Chicago Bulls’ practice court as they prepared for tonight’s Game 6 against the Utah Jazz.

“Like I said, I would have said it if we were in Houston or anything else,” Rodman said. ” … But if I knew it was like a religious-type deal, I would have never said it. I’m sorry about that.”

Rodman said he was unhappy with Jazz fans in Salt Lake City, not the Mormon religion that is prevalent in Utah.

“The people were giving me the finger and things like that… . I think it’s kind of screwed up the league has to get involved, and everybody is putting pressure on them to fine me,” he said.

Over the weekend, Rodman used an expletive in describing Mormons, then added another vulgarity when asked about the subject on Monday and Tuesday. He refused to apologize - until Thursday, when a penalty was pending.

“To Dennis, a Mormon may just be a nickname for people from Utah. He may not even know it’s a religious cult or sect or whatever it is,” Bulls coach Phil Jackson said Thursday.

In three games in Utah, two of which the Bulls lost, Rodman had two points and 16 rebounds.

Timely timeouts

Bulls coach Phil Jackson is expecting Michael Jordan to be OK to play tonight but says his star guard will be sluggish.

Despite a stomach virus, Jordan played 44 minutes in leading the Bulls to their Game 5 victory. He skipped Thursday’s practice.

“I think it will affect him. He’s got to get through a discovery day and maybe Friday he’s going to be weak. We’ll still have to watch him closely,” Jackson said.

What helped the Bulls on Wednesday night were the TV timeouts that allowed more rest for Jordan.

“Forty-four minutes is definitely overdoing it in the kind of situation he was in. He played through it. Fortunately with NBC games, we have extra timeouts and we were able to milk those timeouts,” Jackson said.

No time to quit

Karl Malone isn’t expecting a letdown, despite the Jazz’s tough Game 5 loss and the prospect of having to beat the Bulls twice on their home floor to win the NBA title.

The MVP promises to be an example for his teammates, in both performance and effort.

“If I come out playing aggressive, then they’ll do the same,” Malone said Thursday, referring to his teammates. “I’m not going to turn into a bull in a china closet, but I’ll come out a little bit more aggressive.

“If you can’t get that kind of effort at this level, and you lose and go home … I think some guys should say, ‘Hey, maybe I don’t belong in this.”’ Utah coach Jerry Sloan said one of the Jazz’s biggest problems in Game 5 was spacing that allowed the Bulls to easily double-team Malone and John Stockton.

“I told them today that, ‘I can’t drag you out there and put you in your spot for every possession,”’ Sloan said.

All-nighter

The Bulls flew home after Game 5 and didn’t get in until 3 a.m.

“I’m sure most of them got to bed after 4 like I did when the dawn and the birds were waking us up,” coach Phil Jackson said.

Jackson said he doesn’t think the Jazz will be better rested after staying the night and practicing in Salt Lake City before flying to Chicago on Thursday.