Mcilvaine Becomes Rookie’s Inspiration

Tue., March 25, 1997

From Wire Reports

Rookie Travis Knight, spurred by a pregame chat about being the “next Jim McIlvaine,” had the type of game Monday night that can make him millions in the future.

Knight had 18 points, 14 rebounds and four blocked shots to break out of a recent funk and the Los Angeles Lakers avoided their first three-game losing streak of the season by beating the host New Jersey Nets 109-84.

Knight is aware of the seven-year, $33 million free agent deal McIlvaine got last summer from the Seattle SuperSonics, and he was pleased to hear he’ll be the youngest free agent and one of the few available centers next summer.

Calipari apologizes for ethnic slur

New Jersey Nets coach John Calipari apologized on Monday for calling a beat writer a “Mexican idiot,” insisting his comments were an ill-advised attempt at humor rather than a racial slur.

Calipari’s public apology to Dan Garcia of The Star Ledger of Newark came four days after the rookie NBA coach argued with the writer following a practice at Ramapo College in Mahwah.

Notable

An NBA spokesman said no disciplinary action was planned against Dennis Rodman for pushing Detroit’s Grant Hill to the floor in Saturday’s game. … Fila USA and Washington Bullets forward Chris Webber have reached a three-year endorsement deal, after Webber bolted from arch-competitor Nike while criticizing the shoe giant for targeting expensive shoes to poor inner-city communities… . Phoenix Suns guard Tony Dumas will be sidelined the rest of the season after undergoing arthroscopic surgery on his right knee Monday.

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Mcilvaine Becomes Rookie’s Inspiration

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

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