Believe it or not, he grew up here in L.A., white dude neighborhood of Pacific Palisades. Grew up to hate the Lakers as I watched a KTLA intermission one night years ago and they were interviewing him and Cooper from the 80’s Showtime Lakers.
The late, great coach Chuck Daly once said “Laimbeer never started a fight by physically hitting you. He just says something in the other guy’s ear and they are the ones who go nuts.” But I do miss those Rodman vs Pippen highlights.
But he learned. The next time, first tipoff of the game, Pippen elbowed one of the Pistons in the ribs, knocked the wind out of him. The refs said nothing. Message sent. I think the Bulls went on to win that one. The refs remember, too.