No Slam Dunk for the Games or Promotions

Not that there isn’t a hungry audience for that exhibition locked-out NBA players will play in Atlantic City, N.J., but the Philadelphia Daily News’ Phil Jasner notes that one in Houston, sponsored by former Rocket Kenny Smith, drew 3,500 people and another in Miami, sponsored by the Heat’s Tim Hardaway, drew 2,200.

Of course, players have their own ideas on promotion.

The Miami Herald reported that Hardaway and nearly two dozen players refused to appear on camera for the local NBC outlet, WTVJ.

Hardaway turned down WTVJ’s requests, saying the union has a policy against cooperating with NBC and TNT, which are making payments to NBA teams during the lockout.

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Next mess: We don’t even have the NBA lockout resolved and already people are looking forward to the next blowup, baseball in 2001, when the current deal runs out.

Despite the luxury tax, begun in 1995, the chasm between haves and have-nots is widening. The Oriole payroll may hit $90 million this winter, with the Expos still below $10 million. Ten small-market teams haven’t signed a free agent.

“It’s obvious that what’s in place is not having a deterrent effect,” San Francisco Giant Vice President Larry Baer said. “It’s put a huge premium on teams like the Giants doing things the old-fashioned way, basically re-signing our own players and developing players.”

And losing players.

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Trivia time: What are the six college bowl games that will be played on New Year’s Day?

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Submariners: When is a $53-million roster not good enough?

When other teams are spending 150% of that or more. The Seattle Mariners started the free-agent season talking about Todd Stottlemyre and Jose Offerman but settled for Jose Mesa and Mark Leiter, after which outfielder Jay Buhner ripped General Manager Woody Woodward.

“In fairness to Woody on the payroll, we should be higher, maybe a lot higher,” Buhner said. “Maybe $10 million higher.

“I know $53 million is a lot, but these days it isn’t enough. It isn’t the Mariners’ fault, but the bar was raised and our owners have decided they won’t jump for it.”

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Ticket, please: Nor do Twin Cities writers think much of the Minnesota Twins’ prospects for next season.

“Gone are the days of Harmon Killebrew and Bob Allison, Kent Hrbek and Kirby Puckett, even Chuck Knoblauch and Paul Molitor,” wrote Scott Miller in the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

“The biggest attraction now would be if the Twins started selling tickets for peeks at vice president Puckett’s office. It would be like the lines that form every day to tour the White House. Line ‘em up and file ‘em right past Puck’s office.”

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Trivia answer: Rose, Sugar, Cotton, Citrus, Gator and Outback.

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And finally: Seattle Seahawk Coach Dennis Erickson, thought to be on his way out, on replacing quarterback Warren Moon with Jon Kitna: “It’s not Warren’s fault, by any means, but in this business it’s either the quarterback or the coach.”

Or both.