Speaking with the media for the first time in more than a
week regarding the NBA's rejection of the Heat's deal with Juwan
Howard, an "emotional and irate" Pat Riley "lashed out" at Howard
and his agent, David Falk, for "turning their back" on the Heat.
Riley also claimed the NBA and its union "conspired" against the
team. Riley: "We are very, very, very, upset. We did not make
one mistake. [The NBA] didn't want Juwan Howard in Miami. They
wanted him in Washington." Riley added the "only people who broke
the rules" were the NBA and the NBPA. Riley said the team
decided not to pursue arbitration because he believed Howard
wanted to return to DC. Riley: "I never got a telephone call
from him or David Falk. All I needed was an answer. If we are
going to fight this war for you, will you come? He never called
back and gave me that answer." Riley, on whether he believes the
NBA has it out for him: "We were treated totally unfairly in the
whole process. We are supposed to be partners in the NBA. [Heat
Owner] Mickey Arison is one of the gentleman who pays the
commissioner's salary." Riley said he has not spoken with
Commissioner David Stern, but added, "Some day, I will sit down
with him and ask him why" (Barry Jackson, MIAMI HERALD, 8/13).
Riley: "We did not forget how to add. ... The only thing we
miscalculated was somebody's animus for us" (Roscoe Nance, USA
TODAY, 8/13). The league had no response to Riley's charges
(N.Y. TIMES, 8/13).
OUCH -- HOW WAS YOUR WEEKEND? Riley, speaking with
reporters via conference call: "I spent the weekend at my
proctologist's trying to remove the NBA's 17-foot pole out of my
rear end" ("SportsCenter," ESPN, 8/12).
GREETINGS FROM THE BIG APPLE: In New York, Mike Lupica
writes Riley "has turned out to be a complete amateur when it
comes to the salary cap" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 8/13).
