The NBA "took a step closer to big-time involvement in
women's basketball" yesterday when Commissioner David Stern said
the league would examine "whether the time is right" for starting
a U.S. women's league. Stern, in Paris for the European Final
Four for men's club champions: "If we get involved, we would get
involved in a substantial way. ... This is a subject that
deserves a great deal of attention because it will bring numerous
people to basketball and we encourage growth in our sport"
(AP/Mult., 4/11).
FULL MOON SEASON: Lakers guard Nick Van Exel's shoving of
referee Ronnie Garretson (which got him a seven-game suspension
and a $25,000 fine) joins a growing list of disciplinary
incidents in this NBA season, according to several columnists
this morning. In Washington, Tony Kornheiser writes, "The NBA
was graced this year by the return of its most valued
ambassadors, [Magic] Johnson and [Michael] Jordan. But what kind
of league did they come back to?" (WASHINGTON POST, 4/11). USA
TODAY's Bryan Burwell writes, "The crisis of attitude in sports
is growing every day" (USA TODAY, 4/11). NEWSDAY's Shaun Powell:
"Can anyone in the NBA find another obscure rule to violate or
anthem to protest or head to butt?" (NEWSDAY, 4/11).
STARTING FINE-UP: Total fines for '95-96 -- 51; total
amount collected -- $341,500; number of players suspended --34;
number of games missed -- 49 ("SportsCenter," 4/10).