Several Hundred Mourn Hornets’ Phills at Service

The 3-year-old son of Bobby Phills walked up to the podium, hand in hand with his mother. She picked him up and he spoke into the microphone.

“Tell everybody where Daddy is,” Kendall Phills said.

“In heaven,” Bobby Phills III said. Then, he added, “With the angels.”

The boy then ran off the stage and hugged his 1-year-old sister, Kerstie.

Phills’ two children were among several hundred mourners who gathered Friday in Charlotte, N.C., at a memorial service for the Charlotte Hornet player.

Phills, 30, was killed after practice Wednesday in what police suspect was a drag-racing accident with teammate David Wesley near the team’s arena.

Phills’ casket was surrounded by floral arrangements, one in the shape of a basketball hoop and ball, and two poster-size photographs of him on the court.

Wesley spoke of his close friend and struggled for composure in the service at Central Church of God. He made no mention of the accident.

The NBA postponed Charlotte’s Friday night home game against the New York Knicks, but the Hornets will play the Knicks tonight at New York.

*

The league office would be receptive to Michael Jordan returning to the NBA as a part-owner and director of basketball operations for the Washington Wizards. “We’ve made it clear that we think it’d be a terrific thing to have Michael Jordan involved in the NBA in whatever capacity he wants to be involved in. That’s no secret,” Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik said. “That would be wherever and whatever he was interested in doing.” A shroud of secrecy continued to hang over negotiations between current Wizard owner Abe Pollin, minority owner Ted Leonsis and Jordan. The Washington Post reported that an agreement in principle had been reached for Jordan to take over as president of basketball operations. . . . The Phoenix Suns said that Penny Hardaway, who has sat out 18 games because of a foot injury, could be back with the team in seven to 10 days. . . . Ross Perot Jr. and Mark Cuban signed an agreement on the proposed sale of the Dallas Mavericks. The sale will be complete upon formal approval by the NBA. Cuban, co-founder of broadcast.com, has offered $280 million for controlling interest and a majority share of the club.