Cheap Seats
Welcome to the NBA, kid
Toronto Raptors rookie point guard Damon Stoudamire has been drawing rave reviews around the most notably from Michael Jordan, who Stoudamire recently torched for 22 points.
But the former University of Arizona star didn’t fare so well in a loss last week to Utah, when the opposition was John Stockton, Gonzaga’s own. The seven-time All-Star burned Stoudamire for 29 points and 12 assists, with just one turnover. Stoudamire checked in with seven points, nine assists and six turnovers.
Explained Stoudamire: “He did me bad. Nobody’s ever done me as bad as he did.”
With the possible exception of his college English professor.
Fantasy football redefined
When Texas football player Mike Adams filled out the personality questionnaire given to players for the team media guide, he never expected his little joke to be taken seriously at the White House.
On his questionnaire, Adams indicated First Lady Hillary Clinton was the person he’d “like to be stranded on an island with.”
Word filtered back to the Clintons, and Adams soon received in the mail an envelope with a Washington, D.C., postmark and the White House Seal. The word “personal” was stamped on the envelope’s front.
“I had no idea what it could possibly be,” Adams told the Dallas Morning News, adding that his hands were trembling when he went to open the envelope. “I thought maybe they wanted me to make an appearance on the White House lawn.”
Inside was a personal letter from Hillary, wishing Adams and the Longhorns a successful season.
“I thought it was cool of her to take the time to do something like that,” Adams said. “I’m sure she gets all kinds of letters and comments. For her to take the time and write back was great. I know she’s got a lot of other things to do.”
Like listening to Elton John’s “Island Girl,” perhaps?
A friendly little spat
Sounds like Miami Heat coach Pat Riley has found his Anthony Mason. Or maybe his John Starks or his Greg Anthony. Miami forward Keith Askins spit at Magic coach Brian Hill when the teams played last week.
Askins termed the incident a misunderstanding, even claiming his little expectoratory offering was designed to prevent injury. “If I was trying to spit on their coach, I would have done it,” Askins said. “I’m pretty accurate when I spit. My mouth got filled up, and I didn’t have time to run to the sideline to get a cup. I spit on the sideline because I didn’t want to have anyone slip on the floor.”
Orlando players weren’t convinced. “Riley brings about that mentality,” charged Magic guard Donald Royal, “and Keith plays it to the fullest.”
The last word …
“Two weeks and seven games, that’s all Eric Lindros missed after he sustained a slight tear of the medial collateral ligament in his left knee. For Lindros, it was like waiting for the next presidential administration to come to power. His team was reduced to non-essential employees.”
Michael Arace, Hartford (Conn.) Courant
, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo