Hamblen's Acting Like a Setup Man for Jackson

By T.J. Simers

March 2, 2005 12 AM PT

I watched the Academy Awards on Sunday and the Lakers on Monday, and I think the Oscarfest would be a lot better off using Frank Hamblen as emcee next year. He’ll be available, and he’s a lot funnier than Chris Rock.

In fact, ever since Hamblen took over as the Lakers’ head coach, he’s given us nothing but jokes, a barrage of self-effacing one-liners to remind everyone he’s only keeping the seat warm for the next guy.

I’ll bet that plays well in the locker room -- especially when Hamblen tells the guys they had better learn the triangle and play hard on defense, or else what? It’s hard enough to connect these days with pro athletes, but when you profess to being powerless, you might as well be coaching the Clippers.

When Hamblen accepted the post as interim coach, instead of embracing the job and maybe impressing the brass, he spoke of his desire to have Phil Jackson return. That’s when I knew Hamblen had no idea what he was talking about.

I still say Jackson was responsible for the Kobe-Shaq breakup, his own Zen-like coaching philosophy leading to the Lakers’ demise because he insisted on letting the two crybabies work things out for themselves from day one. Well, they never did, and here we are.

And now if Hamblen is preparing the team for Jackson’s return, he’s got it right where a new coach would want the Lakers -- lottery-bound. And working hard on that triangle offense. As you know, Jackson has made it known already that this group of Lakers is better-suited to running the triangle than the previous world champions.

Although that’s not believable, Hamblen chose to make the dramatic shift in strategy at this late date with almost no time to practice. He also moved Kurt Rambis and Brian Shaw to the bench, and tell me the Lakers don’t have something going already with Jackson for next season.

“Nothing has been done -- I can tell you that much absolutely,” insisted Jeanie Buss, the Lakers’ vice president of business operations and Jackson’s girlfriend. “I would not lie to you. Phil and my dad have not spoken.”

But certainly Jackson has to remain the favorite as the Lakers’ next coach?

“He’s my favorite,” Jeanie said, and she can be so clever.

But is he your dad’s favorite to coach the Lakers?

“I think if he was my dad’s favorite, he’d still be here as the coach.”

Jackson returned from an extended trip Saturday, and although I maintain Hamblen is getting things ready for him, Jeanie said, “Today, I’m not feeling very optimistic.

“Phil had a great time and was so happy to be away. He enjoyed a part of his life he’s never been able to enjoy. He’s been in the NBA his entire life, except for the year between the Bulls’ and the Lakers’ jobs, and he was going through the end of his marriage at that time.

“Now that I’ve seen him tan, fit and rested -- I don’t know about coaching again. It’s hard coaching in the NBA. All I can tell you is, he had a great time on this break, and really enjoyed spending time with Luc Longley.”

That’d be the perfect capper to this Laker season gone amok -- Jackson spending more time with Longley than with Kobe and Jeanie.

TEMPLE COACH John Chaney was suspended because he ordered a player to play the role of goon, and foul St. Joseph’s players, resulting in one of them breaking an arm. Then I read in USA Today that former USC basketball coach and current ESPN/ABC broadcaster Rick Majerus had said, “You’d want your son to play for [Chaney]. I’d like to play for him.”

I left a message for Majerus, saying I’d like to discuss his idiotic comments, and he called back to say, “I stand by them, but in context. In that same interview, I also said Chaney made a mistake, and he’s been contrite and penitent about it. He’s done many, many good things in his life, and this is like the postscript to the contents of a letter.

“I look at a person in totality, and in that context, the world is a better place with John Chaney coaching.”

At one time, maybe. But Chaney is paid to provide leadership, and is credited for holding his athletes accountable -- Majerus even telling a story about Chaney’s suspending a player this season for not wearing his hat when the weather dropped below a certain temperature.

To tell the world you’d want your son to play for someone who already has been given a second chance after threatening to “kill” another coach, and on the heels of this latest flap, is letting Chaney off the hook at a time when he should be the most accountable.

I told Majerus he’d lost the argument, and what’s one more loss when you’ve already lost 232 games in your career. I remain undefeated, of course.

I JUST love the story about Milton Bradley and J.D. Drew strolling to the outfield for a private chat, and Bradley coming back to tell everyone they’d worked it out and he’d play center. I guess Drew is serious about not getting hurt this season.

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

“I’ve been reading your references to Salma Hayek for years, but I had no idea who she was. Sunday night I happened to hear her name and looked up to see one of the most beautiful women I’ve ever seen.... I was struck speechless. It’s my pleasure to inform your readers your taste in women ranks right up there with your choice in college football teams.”

You probably heard Salma tell everyone her brother escorted her to the Oscars. It almost goes without saying, I was busy, but will begin making arrangements immediately to be free next year.

By the way, the wife just told me that shouldn’t be a problem.

T.J. Simers can be reached at [email protected]. To read previous columns by Simers, go to latimes.com/simers.