He Won’t Think Much of These Items

In a new series titled “Iconoclasts� that makes its debut on the Sundance Channel tonight at 10, actor Samuel L. Jackson spends time talking with basketball’s Bill Russell.

Jackson visits Russell’s home in Seattle, they play golf, and they go out to dinner with members of Russell’s family.

Russell is a nonconformist who claims to not care what people think of him, and at dinner his daughter Karen says, “Isn’t it hard not to think about what other people think about you?�

“No it isn’t -- just be a jerk,� Russell responds with that cackling laugh.

Trivia time: Where does Russell rank among NBA players for most rebounds in a career?

Dress code: In the show, Russell tells Karen, “Your sweet mother once told me, ‘The only concession you make to conformity is you wear clothes.’ �

This explains it: Russell, on his often grumpy disposition: “If people think you’re nice, they’ll try to abuse you.�

Rich in other ways: Russell, on his youth: “We were never poor, we just didn’t have money. We were broke, and that is temporary.�

Advantage of age: Russell, 71, says, “I’m all grown up now. I’m a genuine, certified old person. It gives me the right to be cranky.�

Crystal ball: Some NBA predictions, from Bernie Lincicome of the Rocky Mountain News:

* “I will win the office pool for the date (March 6) that Carmelo Anthony passes the ball back.�

* “As part of the ever-expanding All-Star game festivities, Earl Boykins will climb Yao Ming.�

* “Dirk Nowitzki will play defense just as soon as pigs radio for landing instructions.�

Son trumps dad: Clemson Coach Tommy Bowden, before the Tigers’ game against Florida State on Saturday, told the Palm Beach (Fla.) Post that he called his father, Seminole Coach Bobby Bowden, to wish him happy birthday.

“I decided to cover all angles,� Tommy Bowden said. “I sent him chocolate-covered prunes and a box of Depends.�

The icing on the cake for the younger Bowden was a 35-14 Clemson victory.

For what it’s worth: “The NFC North took a combined record of 12-20 into its Sunday games,� wrote Ron Rapoport of the Chicago Sun-Times, “and emerged as the only division in which every team won.�

Looking back: On this day in 1968, NBC began showing the movie “Heidi� and cut off an Oakland Raider-New York Jet game in the final minutes, leaving viewers in the dark and unaware that the Raiders scored two touchdowns in the last minute for a 43-32 comeback victory.

Trivia answer: Second with 21,620. Wilt Chamberlain is first with 23,924 and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar third with 17,440.

And finally: Reader Joel Rapp, speculating on a possible headline had Kim Ng been named Dodger general manager, wrote, “NEW DODGER GM NG -- [which stands for no good] just like the last few.�

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Larry Stewart can be reached at [email protected].