June 14
Please, please, please ... let's stop all the lunacy. There are still people out there talking insanity and questioning whether Phil Jackson is a sensational coach.

	Jackson

I get tired of hearing people question Jackson's coaching ability. On talk shows and in columns, people say that Jackson wins because of the stars on his roster -- Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen with the Chicago Bulls, Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant with the Los Angeles Lakers.

The bottom line is simple ... the Zen Master has been amazing. Any time you can win nine championships -- count 'em, nine world titles -- you're an elite coach. Hey, he's running out of fingers to put the rings on, baby!

Anytime you can blend players together and have them function as a team, playing to the best of their abilities, you're an exceptional coach. If I had to define coaching, it is the ability to maximize your talent and to understand the strengths and weaknesses of all your players.

It takes more than mere talent to win three consecutive championships. Lots of teams have talent, but not all of them win titles.

Former New York Knicks coach Red Holzman played a major role in Jackson's life. Holzman was a master tactician, and you know he's smiling down from heaven. A Hall of Famer, Holzman coached the Knicks to the franchise's two NBA championships in 1970 and 1973. Players on those teams included Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Earl Monroe, Bill Bradley, Dave DeBusschere ... and Jackson.

Those Knicks were a great example of what Jackson's Bulls and Lakers have been about. They played as a unit and knew what a good shot was. There was an understanding of who the stars were and what the other players' roles were.

Speaking of great coaches, here's my coaching Fab Four -- gentlemen that I would want to be the head of my corporation as a CEO, baby!

The bottom line is simple: Any time you can win nine championships, you're an elite coach.

I start with King Phillip in L.A. (after all, Jackson has those nine rings). Then there's Detroit Red Wings coach Scotty Bowman, who just won his ninth Stanley Cup championship. He retired on top -- what a way to go out!

Next on the list is Yankees manager Joe Torre. He knows how to handle people and gets the most from his personnel. He has those four World Series titles. Finally, Mike Krzyzewski, Duke's big-time basketball winner with his three national championships.These are my super four in coaching today.

Put to rest any question about whether Jackson can coach. Now comes the debate whether Jackson is the greatest hoop coach of all-time. I can hear people in the East talking about what Red Auerbach accomplished with the Boston Celtics. But there's no doubt that Jackson is one of the best to pace the sidelines. Congrats to Jackson and Bowman for winning championships again, adding to their already impressive resumés.

Luck is when preparation meets opportunity. That saying applies to Jackson and Bowman, both big-time winners.