Jordan lucky to have wizard of a head coach.(Chicago Tribune)

WASHINGTON _ It's still the mark of infamy in the NBA, the Philadelphia 76ers' 9-73 record during the 1972-73 season. That earned the 76ers the No. 1 pick in the draft, and one day the 76ers' personnel chief was conferring with an old buddy, John Bach, who had been an assistant on the previous year's Olympic team.

The 76ers were going to select Jim Brewer, the tough forward who went on to a solid NBA career. But Bach suggested they reconsider. There was this Collins kid from the Olympic team out of Illinois State. He wasn't that big, fast, strong or athletic. But he hit what should have been the winning free throws in that controversial 1972 basketball final. Whether it was through force of personality, determination or spirit, Bach wasn't sure. But wherever this kid went, success followed.

"I've never started in a good situation," said Collins, who opened training camp Monday for his third NBA coaching stint, last season's 19-63 Washington Wizards. "I went to the 76ers when they were 9-73, and four years later we were playing Portland for the championship. I went to the Bulls [to coach] when they won 30, and three years later we were in the sixth game of the Eastern Conference finals. I've come in and put my heart and soul into letting players know you have to be accountable and responsible, develop a trust in one another. Those words are hollow unless you live them and hold people accountable and responsible."

Doug Collins will do that. But it will help that Michael Jordan is around to take that last shot and to assure Collins if he misses it that harshly disciplining his guards isn't the only option. If the Wizards are successful this season, the credit will go to Jordan and the legend will grow.

But if the Wizards are successful_and I believe they will make the playoffs and perhaps even advance a round_a considerable part of the reason will be Collins.

He may not make it to a third season, not that Jordan expects to either. But for a two-year span, Collins may be a great coach. He's Bobby Knight with some compassion for the media. Players don't have fun playing for him_until they check the scoreboard.

Collins would be the ideal college coach: Get a kid, drive him, teach him, drive him, get in his face, push him, demand, demand, demand. Then the player leaves after two seasons. In the pros, it's the coach who goes.