Russell Might Have Worked Too Hard on His Golf Game

Many NBA observers are saying that it was only a matter of time before Bill Russell, one of the hardest-working players in league history, was fired as a take-it-easy executive by the Sacramento Kings.

There is no proof that it led directly to his dismissal, but a recent incident epitomized his decreasing fondness for front-office work and increasing love of golf.

It seems Russell accepted a call from someone claiming to be Ron Rothstein, coach of the Miami Heat. Russell said he was offered a deal of Glen Rice and a player in the Italian league whose rights were owned by the Heat for the Kings’ Wayman Tisdale.

Russell apparently was not curious that Rothstein, rather than a member of the Heat front office, would be calling about a trade. Russell checked the trade with Jerry Reynolds, the Kings’ coach, then called Rothstein back. Rothstein told Russell that the caller had been an impostor.

Center Greg Kite, who has been with the Kings less than a month, has his own Russell story. The day the Kings flew him into Sacramento, Kite had the impression he was going to be given a physical, signed and in uniform for that night’s game. But Russell was nowhere to be found.

“They were supposed to put Ralph (Sampson) on the injured list and waive someone,” Kite said. “Instead, I get there and they still have 12 players in uniform. So I had to wait three more days.”

Add NBA: From Peter May of the Hartford Courant: “This Tuesday is one of only six times this season the Clippers and Lakers play at home on the same night. And with Boston as the attraction in the Sports Arena, vs. Sacramento in the Forum, which ticket do you think will be in greater demand?”

Trivia time: What do former Miami Dolphin running back Larry Csonka and Oakland Athletic outfielder Rickey Henderson have in common?

A Grinch exacta: Paul Moran of Newsday captures the spirit of racing in New York this winter: “The Aqueduct clubhouse is decorated for the holidays, but the mood is like Russian winter with stale air. Dining-room tables stand empty, row upon row, day after day. ARA Services, the New York Racing Assn.’s caterer, has laid off dozens of people just in time for Christmas. The flinty hard-core crowd of winter has taken over. It requires no dining room reservations and no linen, preferring hot soup in paper bowls and shirt-sleeves.”

Isolated incident: Sam Wyche, coach of the Cincinnati Bengals, was asked whether he would be uncomfortable at the spring owners’ meeting when he encounters Jerry Glanville, coach of the Houston Oilers. Wyche’s Bengals ran up the score on the Oilers, 61-7, Dec. 17.

“It will just be like it always is,” Wyche said. “Jerry and his wife will be one place, the other coaches and their wives will be somewhere else.”

Trivia answer: Both were born on Dec. 25.

Quotebook: Cleveland Brown punter Bryan Wagner on his club-record 91 punts this season: “It’s a shankless job.”