While 76ers President Pat Croce is saying Philadelphia
will host the '99 NBA All-Star Game, officials in Portland
"say that's news to them." Raad Cawthon of the PHILADELPHIA
INQUIRER notes that since the Rose Garden was built before
the CoreStates Center and because Portland was passed over
for the '98 game for N.Y., "the folks in Portland figured
that they were at the top of the NBA's list." Blazers VP
Harry Hutt: "If Philly got the game, Croce has done an
incredible job of backroom politicking" (PHILADELPHIA
INQUIRER, 2/23)....In S.F., David Steele notes the
indictment of NBA ref Mike Mathis on tax-evasion charges:
"The league is short enough on quality veteran officials,
and they can't afford to lose many to this scandal. It will
be felt the worst in the postseason" (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/25).
In N.Y., the POST's Lyle Spencer calls the investigation
"even more damaging to the league than allegations of heavy
wagering by Pete Rose, Lenny Dykstra and Albert Belle were,
and are, to baseball" (N.Y. POST, 2/23)....In Philly, Edward
Moran profiles NHL Oiler Mike Grier and Flame Jarome Iginla
under the header: "Can the NHL Find a Tiger in its Rinks?
Iginla, Grier Show Ability to Interest Blacks in Hockey"
(PHILA. DAILY NEWS, 2/25)....In Indy, John Bansch notes IHL
owners, "facing the prospect of only one or two teams making
money this season, talked far more about stability than
expansion in meetings surrounding the All-Star game last
week" (INDIANAPOLIS STAR-NEWS, 2/22).
