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Refund, please Sprewell thinks Knicks' fines will be rescindedPosted: Friday October 25, 2002 9:02 PMUpdated: Friday October 25, 2002 10:47 PM EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- Latrell Sprewell thinks an arbitrator will force the New York Knicks to refund at least some of his $437,000 in fines and lost salary when his grievance against the team is heard. "I'll be fighting for all of the money back," Sprewell said before Friday night's exhibition finale against New Jersey, which the Nets won 106-77. The game was the first Sprewell attended since the Knicks allowed him to rejoin the team on Wednesday. Sprewell has a broken right pinkie finger and isn't expected to play until at least a week into the regular season, which begins Oct. 30 at Detroit. Sprewell seemed at ease in the visitor's locker room, sitting in a gray suit, with a stocking cap on his head and a blue towel draped over his legs. He sat on the bench during the game. Sprewell said that losing the money didn't bother him as much as being kept away from the team for most of camp. The team allowed him to attend practice for the first time on Wednesday. However, Sprewell wants the money back, and he filed a couple of appeals through the players' union on Thursday. "I always felt like the fines are something the arbiter is going to have to decide on, ultimately," Sprewell said. "That didn't bother me as much. To be honest, they came down so hard, I don't think there is any way I don't get some of that money back." The Knicks fined him $250,000 early this month for failing to promptly inform the team about his injury. He was given a one-game suspension -- costing him another $137,500 in lost pay -- on Monday after failing to follow the team's rehabilitation instructions. He was fined another $50,000 for missing a private workout at the team's practice facility. While most people who follow the league don't give the Knicks much of a chance this season, Sprewell said that can motivate the team. "You always want to use stuff like that as motivation," Sprewell said. "As an athlete, that's what you try to do to get yourself ready. You want to prove people wrong. You want to show people that you're better than what they say, especially if it's something negative." With Allan Houston and Kurt Thomas, Sprewell said the Knicks have talent. "To me, we have to play well to win, everyone, not just myself and Allan," Sprewell said. "Kurt, he had a great year, he's going to have to do that all over again, if not exceed what he did last year. I mean, it's going to be a lot of pressure on guys to perform."
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