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

Sprewell Enough To Make Warriors Gag

Associated Press

A lawyer for the Golden State Warriors has issued a gag order for all team employees about guard Latrell Sprewell’s suspension - including the team’s broadcasters.

With Sprewell’s one-year ban from the NBA on appeal, Warriors lawyer Robin Baggett has instructed everyone in the organization to keep quiet about the player’s attack on coach P.J. Carlesimo.

Announcers are allowed to speak about the incident in general terms and refer to published reports, but are forbidden from offering opinions or revealing facts that might be known only to members of the organization.

“It’s blanket for all employees,” Baggett told The San Francisco Chronicle. “I do understand the broadcasters are in a difficult situation, but the rule applies to them, too. We told them not to engage in opinions, and to attribute everything. It’s very delicate; we’re encouraging them to walk a fine line as best as possible.”

But announcers are having a hard time explaining events to listeners.

“It’s a restriction, especially on talk shows like the ‘Warriors Roundtable,”’ radio play-by-play announcer Tim Roye said. “Talk shows are a form of opinions and feedback. I understand the directive, but that makes it difficult.”

Roye and Warriors TV analyst Jim Barnett work for the team. Two other broadcasters are contracted for part-time work, Warriors spokesman Eric McDowell said Friday.

“I’ll do what they tell me to do because they pay me well,” Barnett said.

Suns’ Johnson out six weeks

Phoenix Suns guard Kevin Johnson underwent surgery Friday on his right knee and is expected to miss at least six weeks.

The surgery removed loose cartilage and repaired a torn lateral meniscus, a team news release said.

Johnson is averaging 13.7 points, 5.3 assists and 4.6 rebounds per game. He had said he planned to retire after last season, but was persuaded to return and signed a one-year contract for $8.4 million.

Bulls lose on the road again

In Charlotte, N.C., Dell Curry’s 18-foot jumper with 5 seconds left lifted the Hornets to a 79-77 victory over Chicago on Friday night as the Bulls lost for the eighth time in 12 road games this season.

Glen Rice had 21 points for the Hornets, who snapped their five-game losing streak against the Bulls by holding Chicago to its lowest point total of the season.

The Bulls, held to a combined 27 points in the second and third quarters on 9-of-33 shooting, failed to hit the 100-point mark for the seventh time in eight games.

Michael Jordan, who had 11 points on 5-of-6 shooting in the first quarter, missed 11 of his last 18 shots and wound up with 28 points.

Jazz, Mavs in snoozer

In Salt Lake City, Karl Malone scored 23 points as the Jazz survived the Dallas Mavericks’ excruciating slow-down offense for a 68-66 victory in the lowest-scoring NBA game this season, and fifth-lowest ever.

Utah set a franchise record for fewest points and fewest field goals (23) in a game, and only a layup by Erick Strickland as time expired prevented Dallas from setting its own record for fewest points.

The Mavericks played stall-ball the entire night and kept it close, but a shot-clock violation by Dallas with 10 seconds to play helped give Utah its seventh consecutive home victory.