Scott Tells Magic Not To, Uh, Worry

Dennis Scott, who threatened during a rambling speech at a Virginia summer camp to sit out next season, told the Orlando Magic on Monday he wants to honor the final year of a $9 million contract.

With arms flailing and explicit rap music blaring from the back of a sports utility vehicle he backed onto a basketball court last week, the veteran of seven NBA seasons told a group of bewildered children that he could retire if the Magic “don’t start treating me right.”

“Don’t ask me for my autograph, because 28 years ago, I was broke. You ask for my autograph now because I’ve got millions of dollars. Do not ask me for my autograph. Ask me to explain the rage that exists inside of me,” Scott said in a scene caught on videotape at his youth basketball camp in Sterling, Va.

General manager John Gabriel said he spoke with Scott by telephone on Monday and the Magic forward told him he wants to remains in Orlando.

“I’ve only seen bits and pieces of the video. But what he said is unacceptable. He told me he felt it was something he needed to make a statement about. But this obviously wasn’t the proper forum,” Gabriel said.

“I’m concerned about my player. If he’s having problems, or if he doesn’t want to play here, or he’s unhappy, I want to know about it. But I didn’t hear any of those things from Dennis (on the phone).”

Arson ruled in Miller house fire

For all his wealth and fame, Reggie Miller sounded like any other victim of a vicious crime.

“It saddens and amazes me that anyone could do such an ugly and hateful thing,” the Indiana Pacers guard said as investigators announced that a $2 million fire that destroyed his home in Fishers, Ind., was the work of an arsonist.

Calling the May 15 fire a “twisted act,” Miller offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to $7,000 already offered.

“No amount of money can ever right this wrong, but bringing the guilty to justice will allow my wife and I the chance to put this matter behind us,” Miller said.

Sgt. Eddie Moore of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s epartment said evidence sifted from the ruins of the 14,000 square-foot home indicated an arsonist set the early morning blaze.

The ruins were searched by specially trained dogs, and debris collected over several days was tested by a private laboratory. The results confirmed the fire was set, but Moore and other officials declined to say whether an accelerant was used or where the conclusive evidence was found.

Neighbors in the affluent neighborhood reported hearing the sound of a vehicle leaving the area at a high rate of speed shortly before the fire was spotted.

Sportswriter sues Nets coach

The Nets may have thought coach John Calipari’s apology for making an ethnic slur to a Mexican-American reporter last March was enough. Newark Star-edger sports writer Dan Garcia didn’t.

And Garcia, whom Calipari called a “bleeping Mexican idiot” during an argument at Ramapo College on March 10, filed a $5 million civil suit against Calipari and the Nets, seeking punitive and compensatory damages for alleged harm to his reputation as a result of Calipari’s remarks.

However, the Nets appeared to be bracing for a court battle, saying in a statement: “Mr. Garcia’s threat of legal action is nothing more than an opportunistic ploy to extract money for absolutely no legal reason.”