One Last Hurrah In Hyannis

First, O'Brien tapped the Knicks' articulate Michael Burke for what the commissioner termed "some opening remarks," or what Burke characterized as a "preamble." Burke, more and more resembling an artist's creation of what the Dutch Boy would look like if he lost the job as a paint company symbol and grew to middle age, set the perfect stage for Abe Pollin of Washington, ever the soft-spoken gentleman, most respected by his colleagues. Pollin spelled out yesterday's plan in this morning's language. O'Brien reminded everyone they had planes to catch, and then put it to them—"up or down." Well, since you put it that way, they voted themselves about $700,000 each by the count of 17 to one. The whole meeting took 44 minutes, and soon everybody rushed for planes, the ABA guys going first, presumably to get to the banks back home before 3 p.m. closing.

Counter-signatures aside, there are many other details, loose-endwise, to be settled. In the new divisional alignment, the Nets and Knicks will surely be placed in the same grouping, but all else depends on whether or not Paul Snyder, the abrasive Buffalo mogul, can spirit the Braves away from the loyal fans of Snowbeltia to something that sounds like a massage parlor—a new arena called the Sportatorium, said to be located in Hollywood, Fla. in the Greater Jai Alai area.

Then there is the dispersal draft. Chicago has first pick and takes Gilmore, and then the next three teams—Atlanta, Kansas City and Detroit—will presumably divvy up the three top forwards, Barnes, Lucas and the adolescent Malone. New Orleans, with seventh pick, is crazy for Malone and might seek to deal up. Portland, which has fifth pick, is being remodeled by its new coach, Jack Ramsay. Would he take a big, experienced guard, Don Chaney, to give his young, exciting team some defense and leadership? If so, the Knicks, next, could end up with Mike Green, a mobile 6'10" beanstalk who is touted as the sleeper of the lot. Or maybe the Knicks will try again to buy their way in closer to the top of the draft, passing on the Nets' indemnity down payment to indigent Atlanta.

No disposition has been made of ABA Commissioner Dave DeBusschere, his staff, or a number of unemployed red, white and blue basketballs, but, in any event....

Hurrah.