The Magic, whose $43M payroll was the third-highest in
the NBA, said that they "lost money for the second
consecutive year," despite making the playoffs this season,
according to Tim Povtak of the ORLANDO SENTINEL. Magic
Owner Rich DeVos: "Our costs are too high, and we can't keep
losing money like we are. We've got to get our costs
reasonable. Maybe we don't need an All-Star [Penny
Hardaway]. We've got some great hustle guys, guys who
really want to play in Orlando. Maybe we should build like
that." DeVos was not happy with comments made by Hardaway
about the team's management and coaching staff. DeVos: "I
think we have a great organization with some great people in
it. It's a crime when Penny takes shots at them. It's just
not appropriate anymore. ... It just seems like we can't
please him. I don't even know who he's mad at" (ORLANDO
SENTINEL, 5/20). In Orlando, Dan Tracy reports that
although Magic attendance "fell by fewer than 600" per game,
the "average amount spent by" fans on concessions increased
by "more than" $9,000 per game (ORLANDO SENTINEL, 5/20).
