Birdman flew over Jack’s nest

MIAMI – It was the Jack Nicholson incident all over again after 16 years. I will always remember Nicholson’s rudeness when I asked to interview him about an hour before the NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden in New York City in 1998.

Nicholson, wearing his trademark shades even if he was indoors and it was nighttime, walked towards his front row seat at courtside. A swarm of photographers crowded around the actor who was in town to cheer for the four Los Angeles Lakers who made it to the West squad – Shaquille O’Neal, Kobe Bryant, Eddie Jones and Nick Van Exel. Nicholson, of course, is a Lakers diehard, to this day.

When the photographers left, I went up to Nicholson with TV producer Jeff Manibay holding a video camera. I introduced myself as coming from the Philippines, hoping to impress on the actor that I flew 10,000 miles just to be at the event so give me some time. Nicholson curtly remarked, “Congratulations.” My stomach turned. But I tried to keep my composure. Hoping to save what looked like a distasteful experience, I asked if Nicholson could spare a few words for his millions of Filipino fans. Again, the curt remark, “I don’t do interviews.”

That was it. I walked away. Moments later, an NBC-TV crew showed up at the scene and Nicholson obliged with an interview. That’s just the way he is, I guess. I decided to focus on interviewing basketball players instead.

Last Monday, about an hour before the Miami-Toronto game at the American Airlines Arena, I walked into the Heat dressing room to compile comments from players on coach Erik Spoelstra’s relief drive for Typhoon Yolanda victims and the Philippines’ return to the FIBA World Cup after 36 years. NBA Asia’s Philippine country manager Carlo Singson, Sheila Rasu and Roger Ong arranged for game tickets and media credentials.

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I spoke with Shane Battier and Michael Beasley. Greg Oden walked in but it didn’t look like he was in the mood to talk. He was about to miss his third game in a row with a lower back injury. Two games back, the 7-foot Oden started for Miami and was thoroughly outclassed by Indiana’s Roy Hibbert. Oden was the NBA’s first overall draft pick in 2007 but never enjoyed success in his pro career because of recurring injuries. He sat out his rookie season, played 61 games in 2008-09 and 21 in 2009-10 then was unheard of until Miami gave him a chance this campaign. So far, Oden is averaging 3.0 points and 9.0 minutes in 22 games this season.

Then, the Birdman flew in. He was fresh from taking warm-up shots on the court and went straight to his lockerroom cubicle beside Rashard Lewis who was gulping down a plate of pasta. Chris Andersen is the new Dennis Rodman of the NBA, his body littered with tattoos, his disposition a little crazy. His hair is jelled to a sharp top like one of those Hershey’s chocolate kisses.

Like my introduction to Nicholson, I told Andersen I’m from the Philippines. His reply was “Congratulations” just like Nicholson 16 years ago. I couldn’t believe the coincidence and wondered if he ever read what I wrote of the incident. I pushed my luck and asked if he knew about Typhoon Yolanda or the Philippine league. Again, just like Nicholson in 1998, he said, “I don’t do interviews.” This was déjà vu, Nicholson part 2. Anderson flew over the cuckoo’s nest or was it Nicholson’s nest?

This time, I wasn’t ready to give up that easily. I had just spoken to Beasley who sat in a cubicle beside Andersen’s, flanking the Birdman with Lewis. I thought Beasley could put in a good word. Curiously, not a single reporter bothered to speak to Andersen. Maybe, they knew something I didn’t. I was about to plead my case when someone from the Heat organization tapped me on the shoulder to say Heat Charitable Fund executive director Steve Stowe was outside the dressing room waiting. I met Steve during one of Spoelstra’s visits to Manila. Steve joined Spoelstra in three of his four trips.

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As I was led out of the dressing room to meet Steve, I was greeted with “how’s your arm?” Steve remembered when we met in Manila, I had a sling on my arm to immobilize my fractured left wrist. That was also when I interviewed Spoelstra in my car driving from the Marriott Hotel to the Manila Peninsula. Steve recalled the car interview and how I did it without a tape recorder or taking down notes.

Steve said I couldn’t speak with the coaches before the contest but he would arrange for an interview with Spoelstra after the post-game conference. As it turned out, I unfortunately missed the conference as I was in the Toronto dressing room talking to assistant coaches Bill Bayno and Jama Mahlalela. Heat vice president for sports media relations Tim Donovan said he would ask Spoelstra to answer my questions via email. I didn’t bother Tim to ask if I could shoot questions for Andersen, too.

Andersen, 35, has attitude, that’s for sure. Maybe, that’s why he’s still in the game. The Birdman provides energy, intensity and a feisty behavior on the floor. Undrafted after playing a season at Blinn College in Texas, Andersen played in China to start his pro career and worked his way to the NBA, first with Denver then New Orleans, back to Denver and finally Miami last season. Against Toronto last Monday, the Birdman collected 13 points, seven rebounds and two blocked shots in 25:12 quality minutes off the bench. Even Nicholson would’ve been proud of that effort.