MAGIC'S REVERSE DISCRIMINATION LAWSUIT UPDATE

     Opening statements got underway Wednesday in the reverse
discrimination lawsuit brought against the Magic by former
employee George Scholz, who says he was fired to make way for a
black assistant coach.  According to the ORLANDO SENTINEL, a main
point of contention is whether Scholz was actually an assistant
coach for the team.  Magic officials argue Scholz was not an
assistant, and thus could not have been fired to bring in a black
coach (who later turned out to be Tree Rollins).  Scholz attorney
Bernard Dempsey says his client was "an active, real assistant
coach," who sat on the bench during Magic games.  Dempsey, who
cited NBA rules which permit only the head coach, assistant
coaches, trainers, and players to sit on the team bench, said he
had video tapes of Magic practices and games to prove his point
(Gene Yasuda, ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/11).