GO BACK TO THE BUTT-HUGGERS? SHORTS SNAFU SNARES STARTER

          The NBA fined the Timberwolves $25,000 Friday and fined
     five of their players another $2,500 each for wearing their
     shorts too long, according to Steve Aschburner of the
     Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE.  League rules say that shorts must
     be no lower than one inch above the top of the knee and the
     league had a representative check the team's shorts before
     Thursday night's game.  But Coach Flip Saunders said that
     Starter, which provides the Wolves' uniforms for the first
     time this season, "should be responsible" for the low
     shorts.  A Starter rep had met with the team for "another
     fitting" of shorts.  Saunders: "We've had Starter in, the
     league in.  It's not like we're trying to be defiant."  But
     an NBA spokesperson said, "Every other team has managed to
     find a way to comply with this rule, including teams
     outfitted by Starter" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/15). 
     But team rep Doug West said an NBA official had cleared
     players for Thursday's game and that the union would file a
     grievance over the fines (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/17). 
          GET SHORTY: Saunders brought a tape measure with him on
     the floor for Saturday night's game and Wolves VP Kevin
     McHale called the fines "ridiculous."  McHale: "I'm sure one
     of our white, upper-middle class people decided it was a
     gang thing.   Because they're pretty hip with the gang
     scene" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/16).