Because A Steering Wheel Didn't Tilt

Chones himself also indicated that the possibility of an injury induced him to take the Nets' offer. He unquestionably needs the money, since his father died two years ago and his mother has been supporting her five other children on a $1.85-per-hour job as a "salad lady."

But even in these turbulent days it is surprising for a college player to quit an undefeated team. The Nets claim Chones contacted them first. Having lost the opportunity last spring to get Julius Erving, another college dropout—he now stars for the Virginia Squires—because of a team policy against signing undergraduates, the Nets were loth to pass up a second windfall.

However, a Milwaukeean close to Chones tells a different story. The ABA will hold the opening rounds of its draft March 2, and New York was awarded a special first-bonus pick because it lost Erving. The Nets informed the other ABA members it intended to draft Chones, but only if he could be signed ahead of time. Chones' lawyer offered a verbal guarantee that Chones would sign as soon as his season ended, but the Nets rejected it, taking the position that since they were prepared to shell out so much money they didn't want to take the risk that Chones would change his mind. At 8 a.m. on Feb. 17, New York made its offer and told Chones he must accept or reject it by 6 p.m. The pressure brought about by the ABA's insistence on holding its draft while the college season is still on brought Chones to the point of crunch before he was ready to arrive there. But the collision was sweet. "When I signed," Chones said, "I heard angels singing and water running off a mountain."

Be that as it may, Chones cannot play anywhere until next season. By signing he is ineligible for college ball, and the ABA has a rule that prohibits a man from competing in both college and pro ball in the same season.

McDaniels' status is less clear. "No way," is the manner in which Seattle Coach Lenny Wilkens describes McDaniels' chances of significantly helping the Sonics this year. Wilkens plans to spot him against weaker teams and then urge him to work on his defense and rebounding during the off season.

"Sam's got a new toy," is how one Seattle reporter described the signing of McDaniels. Schulman may not be the only pro owner with a new plaything in the months ahead. "Until Congress passes the necessary legislation, the intense competition between the ABA and NBA for star players must continue," Boe sophistically intoned last week. But the players are hardly blameless. As the man said, money is the root.