The Celtics' annual financial statement shows that the team lost $3,329,000 last year, after losing $10,099,000 in '98, the year of the lockout, according to Will McDonough of the BOSTON GLOBE. The financial statement shows that the team "took in" $81,249,000 last year and spent "just about half of that" on player salaries, the lowest percentage of the four pro teams in Boston (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/14). SHAQ-A-CLAUS: In L.A., Howard Beck wrote that the Lakers "have sold out every game this season but two," and there are less than 1,000 tickets available for the November 22 game against the Warriors and the January 15 game against the Grizzlies (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 10/14). Meanwhile, following the Lakers' signing of C Shaquille O'Neal to a three-year, $88.4M contract extension, O'Neal "celebrated" by spending $150,000 on 22 Rolex watches for teammates and support staff. He "handed them out" before Saturday morning's practice session (L.A. DAILY NEWS, 10/15). FoxSports.com's Mike Monroe wondered if the O'Neal contract could "really be a signal" that Lakers Owner Jerry Buss "is about to sell" controlling interest in the team to "one of his partners." Monroe: "Don't be shocked if Buss and [Philip] Anschutz commence negotiations in the coming months on a deal that would make Anschutz the team's majority owner" (FoxSports.com, 10/13). GRAB & GRIN: In San Jose, Ann Killion wrote that before Friday's preseason game against the Trail Blazers, the Warriors, by NBA Commissioner David Stern's "directive, stood at the entrances" of San Jose Arena and "greeted fans walking in." After the game, the Warriors attended a party "to mingle with the fans. This was the organization's, not Stern's, idea." Killion: "We've seen these kind of feel-good attempts from the Warriors before. And, in the past, they have had the whiff of desperation. ... There might be more to the Warriors than just these manufactured moments of intimacy" (SAN JOSE MERCURY NEWS, 10/14)....In Indianapolis, Mark Montieth wrote that "per league policy," the Pacers "are having selected players greet fans for a brief time" when fans arrive to games during the preseason when the Pacers are the designated home team (INDIANAPOLIS STAR, 10/15). MAY-DAY? In Boston, Peter May wrote that Olimpia Milano, the Italian League team Kobe Bryant owns, "headed into the weekend on the verge of bankruptcy" (BOSTON GLOBE, 10/15).
