This All-Star Game Is No 76er Dream

Philadelphia 76er Chairman Ed Snider said playing host to the NBA All-Star game is a “nightmare” because the league keeps most of the tickets, making the team look bad to its fans.

“If I could give the game back, I would,” Snider said. “I can tell you this for sure: We will never apply for another All-Star [game].”

Snider said the league keeps about 18,000 of the tickets available at the 20,444-seat First Union Center, leaving many of the 76ers’ longtime season-ticket holders unable to get in. The 76ers have about 16,000 season-ticket holders and Snider said many of them want to go to the game, which is scheduled for Feb. 10.

“We don’t need this aggravation with our fans that have supported us,” he said.

NBA Deputy Commissioner Russ Granik said he sympathized with the ticket supply problem. Nevertheless, he said, All-Star weekend is the league’s best opportunity to host its business partners, even if that means the local fans can’t attend.

“This is our Super Bowl,” Granik said. “It’s our chance to entertain.”

Besides the public-relations problem, Snider said the team wouldn’t make any money off the All-Star Game, either.

“It’s a league event,” he said. “The revenue goes to the NBA.”

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A time-share entrepreneur is leading an investment group that wants to buy the Orlando Magic and keep the team from moving.

David Siegel will meet with Magic officials early next week. He declined further comment.

Magic owner Rich DeVos announced Monday the team is for sale, which could lead to its relocation. Team officials say DeVos and his family are selling because they are losing about $10 million a year, and so he can engage in estate planning.

Magic officials did not return phone calls.

The Orlando Sentinel reported Friday that Siegel’s group wants to keep the team in its arena, the 17,248-seat T.D. Waterhouse Centre.

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Nick Van Exel, his jaw still visibly swollen, reiterated that he still wants to be traded away from the Denver Nuggets.

Van Exel took an elbow to the face from Utah’s Karl Malone. The pain and swelling forced him to miss Wednesday’s game against Sacramento. He had seven points in a 96-90 win over Seattle Friday.

Van Exel first demanded to be traded after a Dec. 8 loss at Cleveland. He said his agent has given him the impression that something is in the works.

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Washington forward Christian Laettner, who has missed the last 14 games because of a broken leg, was activated off the injured list and is expected to play at Chicago today.... Police in Bellevue, Wash., plan to arrest former NBA star Dale Ellis after his wife said he hit her during an argument. Ellis’ wife, Monique, sustained minor injuries, the police said, but was not hospitalized. There were no weapons involved.