Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Cheap Seats

Must be those Air Ferries

Friday night’s Cavaliers-Pistons game was delayed 7 minutes in the second quarter due to moisture on the court. The problem was first thought to be condensation from the Detroit Viper ice rink underneath the hardwood, but it turned out to be a leaking inner sole on the shoe of Cleveland forward Danny Ferry.

“I better get a refund on that pair,” Ferry said. “I’ve never had a problem like that. All the shoes have that syrup in them, but I just got a lemon.”

We’ve always thought Ferry played as if his feet were stuck in syrup.

Can the Heat take Willis much longer?

Kevin Willis has long been known around the NBA as a malcontent. Just last year, Willis held out, demanding more money from Atlanta - and vowing he wouldn’t return until the Hawks caved in. Six days later, it was Willis who gave in, contract unchanged.

Soon after, the veteran power forward was shipped off to the Heat. Now come reports out of Miami that the Heat aren’t interested in resigning Willis at the end of the season.

Willis can’t believe it.

“I hope everyone critical of me would talk to all of the coaches I’ve ever played under,” Willis barked. “If one of them says Kevin Willis was not a hard worker, I will give them $1 million in cash. If you can find that someone, come back and I will give you my checkbook.”

None of Willis’ former coaches would comment.

They’re holding out until Willis ups his offer, no doubt.

She’s got kitchen eyes

Ross Atkin’s story on Oksana Baiul for the Christian Science Monitor said the Ukrainian figure skater speaks English much better than when she moved to the United States a year ago. Still, some expressions are lost on her, Atkin reported.

Oksana: “I cook a lot. I love to cook.”

Reporter: “What is the specialty of the house?” Oksana: “I don’t know. Probably my bedroom, which is where I keep all my stuffed animals.”

All that cooking could make for a steamy bedroom.

They can only hope to contain him

In his first week of big-league duty, Philadelphia phenom Jerry Stackhouse averaged 25 points, shot 51 percent and made 41 percent of his 3-point tries.

Said Stackhouse matter-of-factly: “The thing that has surprised me the most about the NBA is how easy it has been. I thought it would be harder. Nobody has been able to stop me one-on-one.”

He said that includes Michael Jordan, whom he has played in pickup games at North Carolina.

A close-knit group

Miami Dolphins quarterback Dan Marino, who on Sunday broke Fran Tarkenton’s all-time record for passing yardage, has thrown passes to 54 receivers. At least eight of them have spent time in jail, and one is dead. How many could Marino name? “Maybe half,” he said.

The last word …

“The Bruins’ defense treated the Huskies like environmentalists treat an endangered species.”

- Michael Ventre, Los Angeles Daily News, on the UCLA-Washington football game won by the Huskies 38-14

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo