J.R. Rider seems to be a tough fellow to forget.  Steve Aschburner of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reminisces about J.R.'s days with the Wolves and several other teams.

A Denver basketball writer thought he had been inducted into an exclusive club last week when Isaiah Rider, freshly cut by the Nuggets, gave him the Mike Tyson stare and ominously hinted that their paths would cross again.

Back in his Timberwolves days, the tempestuous one told a St. Paul scribe that he knew "people who can take you out." By that, he didn't mean dinner and a movie.

This time, Rider hissed at the reporter on the way out of the Pepsi Center on Tuesday, after being dumped by his fifth NBA team. Glancing back while walking away from the questioner, Rider stumbled on some steps, nearly turned an ankle, got mad and began cursing the fellow.

He ended with: "It's a small world. I'll see you around." But before rolling away in his SUV, Rider stopped and glared at the reporter for about 15 seconds. The guy felt special, until the Lakers press corps came to town a day later and shared their tales of various threats and stare downs.

The Nuggets' bosses covered for Rider during his 10-game stay, claiming he was mostly on time, always professional and so on. But insiders say Rider constantly was late, needed to be in better shape, lashed out at assistant coach Louie Dampier one night -- after a victory -- and would vent over his playing time even after the team had won.