Barkley Says Magic Should Stop Dreaming

Has anyone wondered about Charles Barkley’s opinion of Magic Johnson’s hopes for an encore on the Olympic team next year?

Wonder no more, because Sir Charles has weighed in, and he disagrees with his Dream Team I teammate, saying he should give other players a chance.

“I don’t think he should play in the Olympics,” said Barkley, who also played on the gold-medal team at the 1992 Games. “It was one of the highlights of my life. But I just think he should let other players experience that.”

Johnson said about three weeks ago that he would like to make a second Olympic appearance. So far, however, there hasn’t been much public response from USA Basketball or ’96 Coach Lenny Wilkens.

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Trivia time: Wilt Chamberlain’s struggles at the free-throw line are legendary. What were his best and worst free-throw percentages for a season?

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Earth to Bill: Bill Walton had the basketball-speak working overtime in describing his addition to a three-man NBC broadcasting team for the Western Conference final and NBA finals.

“As a player, my goal was the championship. Now in broadcasting, when the boss looked down the roster, he’s asked me to do something. It’s my time to get it done.”

Uh, yeah, Bill. He’ll be getting it done with Greg Gumbel and Steve Jones out West and with Marv Albert and Matt Guokas in the finals.

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Shaq’s prizes: Shaquille O’Neal has a mini sports museum in his home, and the two most prized possessions in it are autographed O.J. Simpson football jerseys, obtained long before the current trial.

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Add O’Neal: In his latest commercial, scheduled to begin running this month, O’Neal will chase an elusive soft drink--Forrest Gump-like--through such classic TV shows as “I Love Lucy,” “The Honeymooners” and “Bonanza.”

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Check, please: Dan LeBatard of the Miami Herald on the Florida Marlins’ all-time-low attendance of 18,587 for their second game and the promotion that seemingly failed that night: “The executive-pen promotion was apparently not as popular as opening night’s checkbook giveaway. Perhaps, in his next attempt to lure back wounded fans, owner Wayne Huizenga should combine the two promotions--using his free pen to write fans a few checks.”

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Really, though: If you think you’ve heard it all, how about this one? B&J; Collectibles of Lakewood, N.J., according to the New York Post, lists these $75 items: yarmulkes signed by Sandy Koufax.

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Trivia answer: Chamberlain shot 61% during the 1961-62 season in Philadelphia and only 38% in 1967-68. He was a 51% career free throw shooter.

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Quotebook: Forward Mike Brown after another miserable season by the Minnesota Timberwolves: “This is an incredible place here. We have no structure. Dante’s Inferno had nothing on Mike Brown’s hell.”