Book: Pippen Defends His Move in Playoffs

A new book about the Chicago Bulls says Scottie Pippen knew he was making a controversial decision when he decided to sit out the final 1.8 seconds of the third game of the 1994 Eastern Conference semifinals against the New York Knicks.

“I knew it as soon as I did it. I just didn’t care.” Pippen said in “Transition Game,” a book by Chicago Tribune sports reporter Melissa Isaacson.

“If I’m put in that position again and I’m still considered the team leader, and we’re down 2-0, I’m going to voice my opinion again.”

Pippen said he was angry because Coach Phil Jackson wanted him to pass the ball in bounds to Toni Kukoc for a last-second shot.

“What was going through my mind is that I wanted to be there. Not to take the last shot, necessarily, but just to be an option,” Pippen said.

“All game long I’m being utilized offensively, and now we’re taking a last-second shot and you’re going to tell me to take the ball out.”

Kukoc made the basket, and the Bulls won the game.

According to the book, Bill Cartwright, a 15-year NBA veteran, addressed the team with tears in his eyes after the game.

“Scottie, I can’t believe you would let us come so far, to bust our (tails), and then be so selfish,” Cartwright said. “I’ve never seen anything like it. It’s totally unacceptable.”

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Clifford Rozier, the 16th player chosen in this year’s NBA draft, signed a four-year contract with the Golden State Warriors and is expected to join the team Monday.

Tennis

Boris Becker, formerly the world’s No. 1-ranked player, played one of his best matches of the year in defeating top-ranked Pete Sampras, 6-4, 6-4, in the semifinals of the Stockholm Open.

Becker’s victory on the fast carpet at the Globe Arena ended a four-match losing streak to Sampras dating to 1992. In their only previous match this year, Sampras won on clay in the Italian Open final.

Becker, seeded sixth, will play second-ranked Goran Ivanisevic of Croatia in today’s final. Ivanisevic, the 1992 Stockholm winner and runner-up last year, defeated Yevgeny Kafelnikov of Russia, 7-5, 6-4.

Iva Majoli, 17, of Croatia scored her second consecutive upset in the semifinals of the Nokia Grand Prix at Essen, Germany, and will face Jana Novotna of the Czech Republic for the title.

The unseeded Majoli needed four match points before ousting defending champion Natalia Medvedeva of Ukraine, 1-6, 6-2, 7-6 (7-5).

Novotna, seeded second, rolled past Slovak Karina Habsudova, 6-1, 7-5, in 98 minutes.

Baseball

If baseball gets a new collective bargaining agreement by February, owners might vote on adding two expansion teams for 1997 or 1998. John Harrington of the Boston Red Sox, chairman of the owners’ expansion committee, said he hopes owners will make an expansion decision by December or January, then vote on teams by January or February.

Harrington’s committee will meet in Chicago on Monday and Tuesday. On Monday, it will listen to investment banker James Wolfensohn, who will give his thoughts on the price owners should charge. On Tuesday, owners will hear presentations from Phoenix and St. Petersburg, Fla.--the two front-runners--and also from two Northern Virginia groups. Orlando, Fla., will make a presentation at a later date.

The Tokyo Yomiuri Giants--Japan’s winningest team--celebrated their 60th anniversary by winning the Japan Series for the 18th time, defeating the Seibu Lions, 3-1, in the Tokyo Dome.

The Giants won the best-of-seven series, 4-2, beating their cross-town rivals for the first time in four tries. It was the Giants’ first Series victory in five years.

Figure Skating

Surya Bonaly, whose acrobatic moves often bring her trouble, capitalized on mistakes by Michelle Kwan and Irina Slutskaya to bolt from third place and win the ladies title in Skate America International at Pittsburgh.

Bonaly was third after the short program Friday but her assortment of soaring triple jumps and gymnast-like leaps boosted her past Slutskaya, who led after the short program, and Kwan, who was again good but not good enough.

Elizabeth Punsulan and Jerod Swallow, allowed to restart after a strap on Swallow’s skate came undone, easily won the dance competition.

Miscellany

Cuba dominated South Korea and Brazil edged Russia in the semifinals of the Women’s World Volleyball Championships at Sao Paulo, Brazil. The United States defeated Japan, 8-15, 15-7, 15-7, 15-7, in a consolation match.

Race 2 of the second International America’s Cup Class World Championship regatta in San Diego was abandoned because of a lack of wind.

Stephen Nyamu of Kenya set a course record with a powerful surge over the final 100 meters to win the 15-kilometer Tulsa Run at Tulsa, Okla.