LOS ANGELES – You know you have a ton of NBA Championship rings when you don’t feel it necessary to attend a victory parade. That’s exactly what LA Lakers coach Phil Jackson did; he skipped the festivities while opting to go to a doctor’s appointment he had scheduled earlier.

Well, okay, but let’s face it, with his stature in L.A. any doctor’s office would be expected to bow to his wishes to push back an appointment for a day IF he requested.

Regardless, the man has won a 6-pack of rings with the Chicago Bulls and after this year’s victory in Game 7 against the hated-rival Boston Celtics; he has another five with the Lakers—the parade thing may be getting old.

Jackson, 64, is said to have bypassed the celebration to keep medical appointments he had scheduled that could not be changed, according to a statement made by the Lakers front office.

Jackson, who has been behind the Lakers bench for the most coaching wins in Lakers history, banked $12 million for the 2009-10 season and is pondering his next move. A decision is expected soon but sources say Lakers owner Jerry Buss might ask his guru to take a large slash in pay.

Lakers executive VP Jeanie Buss, who is Jackson’s girlfriend, told ESPN:

“Phil was already watching the ESPN highlight show when we got home. I think that is a good indication of where his heart is. It’s his hips and his knees that we need to worry about.”

L.A. CABBIE GIVEN $10,000 COMPENSATION BY STAPLES CENTER FOR BURNED CAB

In other news around the Staples Center, the CEO of the arena presented a $10,000 check to a cabbie whose taxi was trashed during the raucous party following that Game 7 win after a mob of “happy” fans decided to burn the dude’s wheels.

The CEO had this to say to the cabbie while presenting the check

“On behalf of all the knuckleheads, we apologize and hopefully that helps you get on your feet a little bit.”

The cabbie who is a 41-year-old Ethiopian immigrant responded:

“I was thinking they can kill me. That’s all I was thinking. They burned the car.”

The financial gesture reminded many of us of the Lakers’ 2000 NBA Championship celebration when the team and Shaquille O’Neal each gave about $43K to the city of L.A. to replace two police vehicles that were also torched during another violent post-game party.

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