|
 |   |
|
EVENTS Fantasy Central Inside Game Multimedia Central Statitudes Your Turn Message Boards Email Newsletters Golf Guide Cities Work in Sports
CNNSI.com GROUP
COMMERCE |  |
Tricky Ricky Pitino could end up with the Nets
Posted: Saturday April 08, 2000 08:20 AM
When it comes to Rick Pitino, what you hear isn't necessarily what you get. Three seasons ago when Pitino joined the Celtics, he promised to return the franchise to the prominence it once enjoyed. But he hasn't done so. Recently, after his players argued with one another during a timeout, Pitino promised major fines and suspensions, but did nothing. Now there's been word that Pitino might be heading back to the college ranks. That may not be the case, either. In fact, there's a chance he could end up with the New Jersey Nets. With Don Casey's exit expected by the end of the month, league sources have confirmed that Pitino has been reaching out to the Nets for weeks, making overtures through Yankees owner George Steinbrenner. Pitino and Steinbrenner know each other through the horse-racing circuit. How well? Only time will tell. Trouble in SeattleLast Sunday I reported on "This Week in the NBA" that Paul Westphal tried to tap into Vin Baker's religious beliefs to motivate the Sonics forward. Westphal denies that ever occurred. "Whatever I did," Westphal told me, "I did it in the best interest of the player, my team and this organization. I don't need to use religion to do that." Point taken. But Westphal has a lot of problems in Seattle these days, and it appears he'll need a higher power than himself to solve them. Baker left the shootaround and nearly refused to play last Friday because he felt he had been publicly criticized by Westphal. He may want out. All-Star guard Gary Payton has hinted several times that he'd actually demand a trade if changes don't occur. And forward Horace Grant, a Westphal supporter for most of this season, was said to be growing increasingly frustrated with the way things have gone lately. "We have problems like a lot of other teams," Westphal said. "But it's nothing we can't solve." He must be alluding to next year because if the regular season ended today, the Sonics would play the Lakers in the first round of the postseason. Quote of the WeekMy quote of the week comes from Orlando center John Amaechi, who needed eight stitches after taking an elbow from Miami's Alonzo Mourning: "I didn't see any stars," Amaechi said. "We don't have any stars on this team." Still, the Magic are playoff bound. Stephen A. Smith covers the NBA for the Philadelphia Inquirer and is a regular contributor to CNNSI.com.
| ||||||||||||||||
