Hickman Says He Received Threats

CNN/Sports Illustrated anchor Fred Hickman said he’s getting anonymous threats of bodily harm because he was the only person not to vote for Laker center Shaquille O’Neal as the NBA’s most valuable player.

Hickman’s vote, one of 121 cast by media members, kept O’Neal from becoming the first unanimous MVP selection in the 45-year history of the award.

Hickman said he received the threats on his voice mail at CNN’s headquarters in Atlanta.

*

Pat Croce fired back at Philadelphia 76er fans who threw drinks and other debris onto the court this week during the final minutes of the team’s playoff loss at home to the Indiana Pacers.

“I was angry. I’m still angry,” the team president said. “I’d like to get these individuals before the police get them, because it puts a taint on us.”

On Wednesday night, rowdy fans pelted the court with cups full of beer, juice and soda, including a full can of beer that landed at the heels of Philadelphia forward George Lynch.

Philadelphia police said they tried to apprehend two of the fans after the game. One got away; the other was a season-ticket holder who was thrown out of the game. The person wasn’t identified because he wasn’t arrested.

*

Coach Tom Izzo of NCAA champion Michigan State will decide by today whether he will take the Atlanta Hawks’ coaching job.

The Hawks reportedly have offered Izzo a five-year contract worth more than $15 million if he takes the job left vacant by Lenny Wilkens last month.

“I won’t lie,” Izzo said of the amount of the offer. “That was a little mind-boggling to me. That piqued my interest.”

*

Wilkens, meanwhile, clarified his position with Michael Jordan--the Washington Wizards’ president of basketball operations--admitting he “might have been a bit exuberant” when he indicated he had been offered the team’s coaching job.

“Michael has not made any offers to me--or to anybody,” Wilkens told The Associated Press from his home in Seattle. “I might have been a bit exuberant about the facts of my meeting with him. I knew he was going to interview other people too.”

In an interview with Fox Sports Net Thursday, Wilkens said of the Wizards: “They said they would like to have me, no question about it. . . . I told Michael I’d get back to him, which I will.”