Trying to Put a Finger on Jackson’s Situation

The Lakers won, but the news wasn’t good for everyone.

As you know, Phil Jackson has won nine championship rings as an NBA head coach, and he told the media Saturday night he has had the rings sized individually to fit different fingers on his hands, while ruling out his thumb and his “maligned” finger.

I asked a Laker spokesman to check with Jackson later about a better explanation for his maligned finger, and Jackson passed word that his ring finger -- you know, wedding bells and all -- is all messed up at the knuckle and joint.

The spokesman, quoting Jackson, said: “I can’t fit any kind of ring on that finger.”

No word yet on how Jeanie Buss took the news.

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AS FOR the basketball game, we somehow got past the fact that Kobe Bryant took only one shot again in the first half, which helped explain why it was such a sluggish game. The highlight came in the third quarter with the crowd pleading for action and chanting: “Kobe! Kobe!”

It was also the perfect opportunity for everyone in Staples Center to come to their feet and check out the reaction of his teammates, and maybe determine who was the guilty one for saying earlier in the week that they’d never be able to forgive Bryant.

Two three-pointers in Portland, however, seem to have taken care of that situation, and now it’s time to remind Shaquille O’Neal that we’re never going to forget what he has consistently told us: When he has to make his free throws -- he will.

So far, he’s done just fine, making four of 14, which I’m sure he would tell you was just enough for a one-point win over Houston.

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DENZEL WASHINGTON arrived a moment before tipoff and just as he was about to sit down, a little girl waylaid him and asked for an autograph. Washington not only obliged, he sat next to the girl and also gave an autograph to what appeared to be her brother. I noticed Washington wasn’t wearing his Yankee baseball cap, as he does for most Laker games. I’m not surprised he’s given up on them.

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SYLVESTER STALLONE had a courtside seat, and he was wearing a Laker championship ring from their 2002 title. I have no idea who Rambo strong-armed to get it.

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I KNOW the depths to which XTRA Sports 690/1150 will sink to fill airtime -- I appear mornings on Tony Bruno’s Show and evenings with Hacksaw Hamilton -- but even Bruno can’t match the mindless chatter of Vic “The Brick” Jacobs and Joe Grande on their Laker show every Saturday morning.

This week the duo opted to give everyone a journalism lesson, which was interesting because in the course of the conversation the Brick mentioned that he had slipped an “enlightenment package” into Bryant’s locker this past week, which most would consider bad journalism manners. The Brick explained to their audience that he wanted Bryant to know it was “mu time. That’s m-u,” he said. “No self, no ego.”

I ran into Bill Walton in the Lakers’ locker room and asked whether knew about “mu,” and he said, “Sure, I think it’s some place in upper New York, nice lake.”

The Brick was also in the locker room, and when I suggested the Lakers probably wouldn’t take kindly to spotting a journalist putting something in a player’s locker, he said, “I gave it to an official who I’m sure put it in the right hands.”

How do you know he didn’t put it into the hands of “The Big Bootylicious,” as the Brick calls Shaq?

“Couldn’t hurt,” he said.

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THE BRICK also told Grande, who claims the Dallas Cowboys are his favorite team on Power 106’s website, that “there ain’t no more tomorrows.” That doesn’t explain why both of these teams will meet again Monday.

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HOW ABOUT starting your day with the Brick on radio and ending it on TV with Van Earl Wright? Only in L.A., baby.

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IN TODAY’S Real Estate section in The Times there is a report that the Boston Parking Lot Attendant who owns the Dodgers has purchased a Holmby Hills home for close to $25 million.

I would have preferred to read that he had paid $25 million for a couple of more players to take root in Chavez Ravine.

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WHAT A nice change to see No. 27 pitching well for the Dodgers and having a good time.

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IT’S NEARING the end of the meet, but Santa Anita made no announcement that service would be discontinued in the Frontrunner Restaurant a few days early. A trip to the restaurant, which is usually the best place to spend a Friday afternoon, was as big a disappointment as most of the wagers made. I can say this, after complaining to VP Chris McCarron and to the track’s food and beverage guy, service improved almost immediately with the prompt delivery of the check.

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DENNIS DODD, a CBS.Sportsline.com college football writer, took a look at spring developments, and has pronounced Georgia the No. 1 team going into the fall followed by my Trojans and UCLA ... well, sort of.

USC is No. 2 behind Georgia, and the Bruins follow the Trojans somewhere down the line although Dodd doesn’t mention them among the 34 teams he discusses. He has Cal ranked No. 20, Washington State No. 21 and urges folks to keep an eye on Oregon.

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TODAY IS National Columnist’s Day, but I don’t want anyone to feel as though they have to send a gift.

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TODAY’S LAST word comes in e-mail from Mike Dennis:

“I just read your article where you call someone gutless. How does it make you feel to publicly call someone gutless? Are you arrogant? What proof do you have that any Laker player actually said what you accuse them of saying? I hope you find some peace for your soul.”

Maybe in the next e-mail.

T.J. Simers can be reached at t.j.simers@latimes.com. To read previous columns by Simers, go to latimes.com/simers.