ATLANTA: The Hawks ran an ad in the ATLANTA
CONSTITUTION showing the Hawks mascot held hostage,
blindfolded and bound to a chair with a rope. The ad reads:
"Come Back. Or The Bird Gets It" (ATL. CONSTITUTION, 1/26).
BOSTON: The Celtics staged a free practice and
scrimmage Sunday afternoon in the FleetCenter and drew about
7,000 fans (Steve Bulpett, BOSTON HERALD, 1/25).
DETROIT: The FREE PRESS' Jack Saylor reports that about
6,000 showed up for the Pistons' free scrimmage at The
Palace last night and were greeted by Pistons players at the
gates (DETROIT FREE PRESS, 1/26).
MINNESOTA: The T-Wolves held a free exhibition last
night at the Target Center in front of about 4,000 people,
as players handed out autographed basketballs and interacted
with the crowd. The STAR TRIBUNE's Steve Aschburner writes,
"judging by the turnout...the healing has begun"
(Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 1/26). The price of some tickets
for the T'Wolves' first four home games has been reduced by
$9 (George Dohrmann, ST. PAUL PIONEER PRESS, 1/26).
ORLANDO: The Magic held a random drawing at the Orlando
Arena box office Monday morning for 2,000 free tickets to
their preseason game against the Heat on Saturday, according
to Javier Solano of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. By 9:00am ET, a
line of over 2,000 people had formed and by 10:30am ET, the
tickets were gone. Fans left out of the Heat game were made
first in line for free tickets to the Magic's February 3
team scrimmage (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 1/26).
PORTLAND: The Blazers' scrimmage Sunday at the Rose
Garden attracted 17,449 (Portland OREGONIAN, 1/25).
TORONTO: Raptors' fans can attend the team's games this
season at the new Air Canada Centre for $10, including their
home opener against the Grizzlies on February 21. About
1,000 "cheap seats" in the upper-level corners are available
for each of the Raptors' 22 home games at the arena. The
team has "only" sold between 8,000 and 9,000 season tickets
so far at the 19,500-seat facility (TORONTO STAR, 1/26).
UTAH: A crowd of about 15,000 "mostly enthused fans"
was on hand at the Delta Center last night for the Jazz's
free scrimmage (SALT LAKE TRIBUNE, 1/26).
