PRO BASKETBALL : Can Oregon Afford to Battle NBA’s Ninja Lawyers?

The next crashing sound that will be heard in the Pacific Northwest will be a bunch of lumberjacks being brought to their knees by the NBA Ninja Lawyers.

It will not be a pretty sight--column after column of Ninja Lawyers filing lawsuits that will seek more money than the Oregon state treasury will produce in the next millennium.

NBA Commissioner David Stern has promised legal action that will prevent the Oregon State Lottery from allowing betting on NBA games, and, to use a phrase not currently popular in the NBA office, it is a safe bet the commissioner will ask for enough money to dam the Columbia River.

The strategy will be so simple that it is tempting to ridicule those who have not anticipated it, but that, of course, would be in bad taste.

Oregon State Lottery officials say their very popular NFL lottery has produced $5.5 million this season with $1.9 million of that going to the very worthwhile cause and reason for which the lottery was created--athletic programs at seven Oregon colleges.

But that is a very small return on something as radical as legalized betting. The NBA simply will force Oregon officials into the courtroom, and legal fees obviously will be large. At what point will the average Oregon lumberjack figure it is not worth it to fight a legal battle that could cost more than the $3.5 million officials project will be produced by the NBA lottery?

What if legal fees threaten to increase taxes? Oregon voters have been reluctant to approve any tax increase, which is one of the reasons the lottery exists. The original plan to aid state college athletic programs was to add a one cent tax to beer and cigarettes, but voters rejected that proposal. Too expensive. So the lottery was instituted. Some things are sacred in Oregon--particular reasonably priced beer and smokes.

The NBA will do a lot of posturing, saying that by spending a large amount of money, it has marketed the game and made it popular and that it is illegal for Oregon to profit from the NBA’s investment. And that may be true.

Oregon will counter by pointing out the NBA is not bothered by the high rollers gambling on NBA games in Nevada, and has never instituted legal action to prevent that type of gambling. And that is a legitimate point.

But the real issue of whether Oregon has a right to sponsor a lottery that allows betting on NBA games probably will not be addressed because the simple fact is the NBA is determined to make it unprofitable for Oregon citizens to bet on NBA games. The Ninja Lawyers are poised, ready to attack. It will not be a pretty sight.

Rocket Coach Don Chaney is not happy with Sleepy Floyd, who continues to pout about Chaney’s decision to switch him from point guard to shooting guard. Floyd played so poorly (two of nine from the field, four points, six rebounds, four turnovers) in the Rockets’ 99-94 loss to the Nets last week there were some suggestions in Houston that he went in the tank to make the Rockets look bad against Net Coach Bill Fitch, who was fired by the Rockets two seasons ago. Floyd’s only comment when talking about the situation: “I’m a point guard.”

That irritated Chaney, who said, “If you put a guy into the lineup and tell him to play center, he should play it hard. I don’t want to hear this stuff about how you belong in another spot. This is a golden opportunity. Most guys would love to be in a position where they can just go in and shoot the ball.”

Chaney has made it clear that when Mitchell Wiggins, who is on the injured list with a sprained knee ligament, returns in the next four to six weeks, Floyd will return to backup shooting guard. The Rockets probably would be willing to trade Floyd. But he is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season and, because of his poor play, his trade value is down.

Celtic center Robert Parish offered the first backhanded compliment Patrick Ewing has received this season. “He’s improved,” Parish said. “He’s got a lot more confidence. But he’s shooting every other time down the court. So of course his numbers are going to be better.”

It seems Parish has missed the point. Not only is Ewing shooting more, but he’s also converting 56 percent. Parish probably would like to see Eddie Lee Wilkins shoot more often, but it doesn’t seem that would be the best way for the Knicks to win. Of course, Parish probably isn’t that interested in devising a plan to help the Knicks win.

Rumors have begun in Sacramento that King Coach Jerry Reynolds may be replaced. Gregg Lukenbill, one of the owners, said that is absurd at this point. The Kings have been battered by injuries, most notably to Pervis Ellison and Ralph Sampson. Lukenbill said those two need to recover. “We can’t even form a judgment about what kind of team we’ve got until we get Ralph and Pervis back,” Lukenbill said. “Even then, it would take 15 games or so.” Fifteen games? Reynolds has to be pleased with that overwhelming vote of confidence.

It has become popular for players to wear those nylon shorts under game shorts, and, technically, the reason is the shorts keep hamstring muscles warm. But that is not the only reason. Some players say they wear them to be fashionable. Maverick forward Adrian Dantley says he accepts neither reason. “The only reason guys wear them is because they have a fat butt or their thighs aren’t real toned,” Dantley said. “Rick Mahorn used to wear them in Detroit because he hoped it would compress his rear end a little. It’s just like a lady wearing a girdle.”