In a rapid-fire blaze of volatility, Jackson already has written off Nelson, the organization and his teammates. He's out, long gone, a man apart. The public has escaped his wrath, but only because the season hasn't started. Golden State fans are a forgiving lot, out there to have a good time, but Jackson will hear scattered booing and some nasty wisecracks. He has stated, quite clearly, that he doesn't regret going into the stands with Ron Artest during that ugly brawl in Detroit five years ago. He'd have no problem going after a fan in Oakland; not if a certain line is crossed.

Even if Jackson wins an Oscar by playing out the string in tranquility, he's a dead man. Running. Every conversation about the Warriors , every single day of the week, will center around him. Is a trade happening? Might the Warriors send him home with pay? Did you see him glower at Nelson? Can Monta Ellis really lead this team with Jackson hovering about? Jackson, Jackson, Jackson, Jackson.

Credit Nelson for staying above the fray - he has to do that, to avoid a total collapse of the team - but did you hear him on KNBR on Thursday? He loves Stephen Jackson. Loves him. "I actually hope we don't trade him," Nelson said, "because I think he can be a bit part of what we do here."

What

In other words, Nelson is willing to completely write off a season, one devoid of a present tense, while hoping the Warriors can trade Jackson without losing a first-round draft pick or acquiring some really awful contracts.

If I were a fan, I would choose not to live in Nellie's dreamland. I'd follow the team on television, just out of morbid curiosity, but I wouldn't pay one dime until Jackson is gone. Only then will the Warriors , as a team, actually exist.

The 3-Dot landscape Heard this from Herb, a 3-Dot regular: "I've got this recurring image of Al Harrington laughing so hard, he has to stuff a pillow in his face to keep from awakening the entire neighborhood. He got his revenge on Nellie by getting inside of Cap'n Jack's and Monta's head this summer." ... It says here Jackson winds up in Dallas, where Nelson's son, Donnie , is general manager and president of Basketball operations. ... Can't believe Joe Torre 's inexplicable burst of kindness in Game 1 of the NLCS - and this was a first guess, not some after-the-fact lament. Clayton Kershaw needed just one more inning to qualify for the win, and his spot was due up second in the bottom half of the inning, but he had completely lost it in the fifth: three walks including four straight balls to pitcher Cole Hamels , three wild pitches and Ryan Howard coming up with two on. Sorry, but this is the postseason, and that's departure time. ... Really tired stuff from everyone who ever screwed up: "I want to apologize to anyone who might have been offended." No, you apologize to everyone who was offended. And stop reading that statement. Look people in the eye. ... We'll have more on the Robert Allenby - Anthony Kim story in a future column, but Jim Rome summed it up beautifully on ESPN: "How very golf of you, Robert." ... People on the outside were shocked at the timing when Dodgers owner Frank McCourt and his wife, Jamie , confirmed that they have separated. It was taken for granted in L.A., where sources say the couple routinely stage vicious, appalling arguments in public, including stately baseball affairs. No way that was going to remain a secret. ... Al Davis undoubtedly tunes out all the fans and media suggesting he relinquish control of the Raiders. It means a bit more when the respected Tony Dungy says, on NBC television, that "Al Davis needs to cede this over to someone else." ... You're not going to believe this, but the nickname for the Giants' Double-A affiliate, relocated in Richmond, Va., will be the Flying Squirrels. Apparently, the name was a narrow winner over the Leaping Communists.