Parish Mourning Celtics from Afar

6/14/97

In what may have been his career swan song, Robert Parish didn't play a single minute for the Bulls during their six-game conquest of the Utah Jazz.

So with Chicago's 90-86 victory in the bag, he had plenty of time to look east to the Celtics and what he hopes will be a successful rebuilding project.

Unlike most C's fans, the 43-year-old Chief is preaching patience. He is impressed by new coach Rick Pitino and a bit surprised by the scope of the change in the organization, but he knows the main factor in determining the club's return to prominence.

"They got themselves the best coach available. Everyone knows that," Parish said. "But it won't really mean anything as far as wins and losses until they get the talent they need."

As for the organizational sweep, Parish said: "I think we knew they were going to clean house, but I was definitely surprised so many front office people were let go. It didn't surprise me that there was a coaching change, but it looks like they changed almost everyone."

M.L. Carr, removed as coach and director of basketball operations and given a job in corporate development with the C's, has said he tried to keep Parish from leaving the team as a free agent, but the Chief said staying wasn't really an option.

Remaining with the Bulls may be a similar situation. Parish played in just two postseason games - a total of 18 minutes in the second round against Atlanta - and there was talk that coach Phil Jackson kept him on the pine because he disagreed with Bulls general manager Jerry Krause's decision to keep the Chief on the playoff roster.

"No, that's baloney," said Krause, a Parish fan since trying, unsuccessfully, to get him to leave Centenary early. "I'd call it another word, but we're in a family situation here."

Parish saw it as a team situation that he didn't want to upset.

"The last thing you should do is second-guess the coach, because he has a lot on his mind," he said.