The NBA : Clipper Apology May Have Fallen on Deaf Ears

In an unusual move, General Manager Carl Scheer of the Clippers recently wrote to season ticket-holders, apologizing for the club’s poor play and vowing that many changes will take place in the off-season.

For emphasis, the word many was underlined.

An excerpt from the letter, dated March 12:

“There is no denying that we are extremely disappointed in the performance of the team. Our responsibilities to you, the season ticket-holder, and to all our fans, dictates our making significant changes to bring about a competitive club.

“I promise you, this move is the first of many changes; and that we will not be detoured in any way in bringing about better results for the Clipper franchise. Your patience during this transition period is appreciated and hopefully will be rewarded.”

When asked about the motives behind the letter, Scheer said it was something he owed the fans after making bold pronouncements of success when the season began.

“I’ll tell you one thing: I’m not satisfied and I want to let the fans know that,” Scheer said. “The fans need to know you’re working to make things better. One of the things that helped us make the decision on Jimmy (to fire coach Jim Lynam) so abruptly was to demonstrate to the fans that we aren’t standing still. That wasn’t the only reason but a consideration.”

Scheer said that, during his 10-year reign as general manager of the Denver Nuggets, he sent such a letter to fans once. That was in 1978, when the Nuggets won only 30 games.

So far, there has been little reaction to Scheer’s letter. Scheer said he doesn’t know whether to take that as an indication that people accepted his apology or simply that no one cares.

“We do get a regular stream of letters to the office,” Scheer said. “Those range from people telling me what to do with the players to who to get for a new coach. I try to answer them personally.”

A true story, honest: Last Wednesday night, when Chicago played San Antonio at the HemisFair Arena in San Antonio, guard Quintin Dailey of the Bulls played the first half despite nagging back spasms. The pain became intense at halftime, and Dailey put on his sweats and sat on the end of the bench for the second half.

During a timeout midway through the third quarter, a ball boy approached Mark Vancil of the Chicago Sun-Times at the press table. The ball boy said that Mr. Dailey wanted to borrow $5. Curious, Vancil looked to the end of the bench and, sure enough, Dailey was waving his arms and nodding his head.

So, Vancil forked over a $5-bill, which was relayed to Dailey. Moments later, Dailey called over a vendor and ordered a basket of nachos, a slice of pizza, a bag of popcorn and a soda. According to witnesses, Daily polished off the food before the next timeout.

It isn’t known, though, whether Vancil was paid back.

The NBA Players Assn. recently raised the mandatory per diem for players on road trips to $39 a day. It had been $34. Since the raise was made retroactive to the start of the season, each player will soon receive a $600 check.

Dallas Guard Rolando Blackman has suggested that all players donate the $600 to famine relief in Ethiopia. No response yet from the players’ union.

This from Chicago forward David Greenwood on Michael Jordan, the Bulls’ fabulous rookie guard: “If he doesn’t win the MVP award, there’s no justice.”

If Jordan does win the Most Valuable Player award, it will be an injustice. Certainly, he is deserving of the Rookie of the Year award, which he will probably win over Houston’s Akeem Olajuwon. But the MVP? No way.

It was a rough week for the Philadelphia 76ers. Without four regulars, most notably Moses Malone and Andrew Toney, the 76ers were blown out by Cleveland Tuesday and were edged by Kansas City Wednesday.

Malone and Toney returned Friday, but it didn’t prevent Philadelphia from losing to Milwaukee. In that loss, the 76ers’ third straight, Coach Billy Cunningham vented his frustrations with 10 minutes to play by kicking the ball into the stands just as referee Bruce Alexander bent over to pick it up.

Alexander looked like a holder and Cunningham a placekicker. Phil Jasner of the Philadelphia Daily News wrote that Cunningham’s field-goal try was wide to the right. Cunningham didn’t stay around long enough to try again. He was immediately ejected.

The 76ers, however, ended the week by beating the Denver Nuggets Sunday, led by the first triple-double of Toney’s career--28 points, 12 assists, 11 rebounds. In that game, Denver Coach Doug Moe was ejected.

“We weren’t here today,” Moe said. “I wasn’t here. I just did it (got tossed) so I could watch the North Carolina (NCAA tournament) game on TV.”