Chicago Bulls coach Phil Jackson was surprised his comments about referee Hue Hollins cost him a $10,000 fine.
"I've seen guys bump officials and not get quite this kind of call. . . . Maybe I said something worse than I thought," Jackson told WGN-TV before the Bulls' 94-92 victory at San Antonio on Wednesday night."My wife is always on me about spending money. I just hope something good comes out of this. I hope they're taking $10,000 out of Hue's pocket."
The NBA fined Jackson earlier in the day for his remarks about Hollins following the Bulls' 124-120 overtime loss to Dallas on Saturday night.
Jackson said Monday that Hollins, who made a controversial call against the Bulls in last season's playoffs, came into the game with an attitude problem and that his performance was "brutish" and "irresponsible."
"Coaches and players are not permitted to make derogatory comments about officials," Rod Thorn, the league's director of operations, said before reviewing Jackson's remarks.
According to Jackson, Hollins let Dallas forward Jamal Mashburn foul Scottie Pippen in the opening minutes of the game, then called a technical foul on Pippen when he complained. Three times Pippen was called when Mashburn should have been assessed with offensive fouls.
Jackson said the calls demoralized Pippen and left him unsure how to defend Mashburn, who scored 50 points.
"I have no idea why Hue took it out on Scottie," Jackson said.