http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basketball/knicks/story/277359p-237594c.html

From Down Under,
Phil says it's over with L.A.

BY MITCH LAWRENCE
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

Phil Jackson gave it serious thought, but the Zen Master turned down a chance to immediately return to the Lakers, opting to stay in Australia on vacation. So his former team, reeling from Rudy Tomjanovich's sudden resignation yesterday, was forced to scramble and install assistant Frank Hamblen as its new head coach on an interim basis.

The Lakers' push for Jackson's return came after Tomjanovich rocked the organization by revealing to GM Mitch Kupchak that he needed to resign because he was worn down, physically and mentally, by the pressures of the job.

Jackson told the Los Angeles Times in yesterday's editions that he was approached about returning to the city where he started his five-year tenure with three consecutive titles, and that he was "mulling that over in my mind." But in the end, he saw the Lakers as substantially worse off than the team he left last June after its loss to Detroit in the Finals.

Kobe Bryant reportedly gave his blessing to the Lakers to try to save their season by luring Jackson out of retirement. But persons familiar with Jackson's thinking said that he was still leery of working with Bryant, his chief nemesis, in addition to having reservations about taking over what is essentially a .500 team devoid of a second superstar. However, the Lakers will consider rehiring him this spring.

Tomjanovich's departure, coming with the Lakers (24-19) struggling to hold onto seventh place in the West, means that Los Angeles and the Knicks could be in direct competition for a coach this spring. Both franchises are likely to pursue marquee coaches who have been successful, with Detroit's Larry Brown already linked to both jobs despite having 31/2 seasons left on his contract.

Brown has L.A. connections: He owns a home in Los Angeles, and his wife, Shelly, is from there. He led UCLA to the NCAA championship game in 1980 and he coached the L.A.Clippers for 1-1/2 seasons. As for being a fit with the Lakers, Brown passes the most important test. Bryant has always spoken highly of Brown, while Brown has made it known that he holds Bryant in high regard. If the Pistons decide to let Brown out of his contract, they will seek compensation, in the form of draft picks or a player.

In his half-season in L.A., Tomjanovich had a few run-ins with owner Jerry Buss involving personnel matters and the team's perimeter-oriented style. But during his news conference, Tomjanovich said, "This is all about me and how I'm wired." He revealed that he had been constantly taking antibiotics over the past month to treat infections brought on by low resistance, and cited mental exhaustion resulting from the never-ending grind.

"I have dealt with all kinds of stress and tough situations," said Tomjanovich, a bladder-cancer survivor who has also battled alcohol problems. "I went from this energetic, pumped-up guy, to all of a sudden being sapped of a lot of energy. Why this happened now, and why my body couldn't take it now, I don't have the answer."

Tomjanovich, 56, who was in the first year of a five-year, $30 million deal, will stay on in a consultant role, which will primarily entail scouting.

Originally published on February 3, 2005

thats the thing.He wont return....this is all media babble