76ers President PAT CROCE delivered the keynote address
and received an honorary degree from West Chester Univ.
Croce: "Who said dreams don't come true? You're graduating
and the Sixers are in the playoffs" (West Chester (PA) DAILY
LOCAL, 5/10)....On ESPN.com, Mitch Lawrence reported that
ELTON BRAND has "decided to go" with attorney LON BABBY, who
Lawrence calls "the hot agent who charges by the hour."
Also, former Wizards coach BERNIE BICKERSTAFF is "dabbling
in the agent business" with agent TODD ELY (ESPN.com,
5/10)....In S.F., Matier & Ross reported that 49ers co-Owner
EDDIE DEBARTOLO and his "right-hand man" ED MURANSKY are
"selling" their CA homes and moving, because "one theory has
it that they need the money. And indeed, there is a money
squeeze." Matier & Ross add that DeBartolo also "has been
amassing huge legal bills" from attorneys that include the
firm of DC-based WILLIAMS AND CONNOLLY (S.F. CHRONICLE,
5/10)....In N.Y., Jennifer Tung examines MARY PIERCE's use
of Creatine as part of her training "regimen." Trainer MARK
VERSTEGEN: "I am aware of the controversy surrounding
creatine, but she only ever used it as part of a nutritional
routine worked out by food scientists" (N.Y. POST, 5/11).
...UPN will premiere "POWER PLAY," a one-hour drama about a
pro hockey team, on June 14. It will run for a "13-episode
tryout" on Monday's at 9:00pm (ATL. CONSTITUTION, 5/10).
