Judge Dismisses Sprewell’s Lawsuit

A federal judge in San Francisco dismissed Latrell Sprewell’s lawsuit against the NBA and the Golden State Warriors, challenging his 68-game suspension for choking Warrior Coach P.J. Carlesimo in 1997, and said it was so worthless that Sprewell must pay the franchise and league’s court costs.

Sprewell, whose original one-year suspension was cut to the remaining 68 games of the 1997-98 season by an arbitrator, claimed in his $30 million suit that the punishment still exceeded the arbitrator’s authority and that he was a victim of racial discrimination.

Sprewell will appeal to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, attorney Robert Thompson Jr. said.

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Michael Jordan wasn’t saying much about his possible 50% ownership of the Charlotte Hornets, although he did confirm that he has been in touch with the team and NBA officials.

“In response to reports, I can confirm that I have been contacted by George Shinn and [NBA Commissioner] David Stern regarding co-ownership of the Charlotte Hornets,” Jordan said in the statement issued through agent David Falk’s office in Washington.

“At this stage, however, the discussions are very preliminary and I am unsure whether I will be able to make an investment on terms that are acceptable to me,” Jordan said.

Hornet officials said that no firm dates had been set for the two sides to meet again but that both parties had agreed to stay in touch over the coming weeks.

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Sacramento King forward Chris Webber, who did not play in Sunday’s loss to the Houston Rockets, was released from a Sacramento hospital after being treated overnight for flu.