In Minneapolis, Dan Barreiro nominates T-Wolves
Assistant Dir of Media Relations Jim LaBumbard as the "NBA
Man of the Year" for telling agent David Falk "to buzz off"
after Falk "demanded that LaBumbard not put any pressure" on
former T-Wolves G Stephon Marbury to go through with a
planned interview with NBC's Peter Vecsey last Wednesday,
before his trade to the Nets. It got to the point were Falk
was "shouting" that if LaBumbard "forced Marbury to go
through with it, Falk would call Wolves Owner Glen Taylor
and have LaBumbard's job." LaBumbard told Falk to "buzz
off. In language far more vivid" (STAR TRIBUNE, 3/16).
OTHER NOTES: Former Penguins Development Dir William
Craig said in a deposition that Penguins co-Owner Roger
Marino "began overtures to other cities last March and
instructed Craig to keep 'quiet' about the effort"
(PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 3/16)....The Thrashers announced a
multi-year lease agreement to use the Atlanta IceForum as
the team's practice facility. To go with the announcement,
ground was broken on a 15,000-square-foot, expanded training
complex that will be completed in August (Thrashers).
