Worse than a whining athlete is a young whining athlete making $126 million. To the rest of the paycheck-to-paycheck world, it's ludicrous. To a Hall of Famer who knows what it takes to win, it's intolerable.

Jermaine O'Neal ticked off Larry Bird by saying he wouldn't have signed the seven-year deal with the Indiana Pacers for that surreal sum last month if he knew the new boss was going to fire coach Isiah Thomas. The 6-foot-11 forward-center stopped short of demanding a trade, but made it clear it was on his mind.
     
Bird, a straight shooter in a suit as he was in a uniform, suggested Wednesday he'd accommodate O'Neal if he wanted to play somewhere else ? provided the Pacers got ''something good in return.'' Bird never had much patience for whining, figuring it got in the way of winning.

At the introduction of new head coach Rick Carlisle, Bird said he hoped O'Neal would reconsider his commitment to the team and have a great year.
     
''Then if he wants to leave town next year,'' Bird said, ''we'll have to talk about it.''