Clipper Picture Remains Fuzzy

Nine days before opening one of their most anticipated seasons since arriving in Los Angeles from San Diego in 1984, the Clippers are still without a cable television deal. Talks with Fox Sports Net continue, the team and the cable network say, but there is a distinct possibility that the season will begin without a resolution.

The Clippers’ growing legion of fans figures to be the big loser if that’s the case.

As it stands now, fans will have only 25 opportunities to watch the team on Channel 5. The Clippers also are scheduled to appear six times on national cablecasts on ESPN and four on TNT. Three games will be shown in Spanish on the Telemundo network, but those games also will be aired by Channel 5.

Last season, the Clippers disappointed many local fans without cable by failing to secure an over-the-air deal when negotiations broke off with Channel 9.

Between them, Fox Sports Net and Fox Sports Net 2 showed 40 of 82 games last season, when the Clippers went 39-43 and finished ninth in the Western Conference, their best season since posting a 41-41 mark in 1992-93. They were 45-37 in 1991-92.

“We haven’t made much progress lately, but we’re still talking,” said Andy Roeser, Clipper vice president. “We’ve enjoyed a great relationship with Fox and hope to continue it.”

Neither the team nor officials from Fox wished to comment further on what could turn out to be the worst TV package offered by any team in the NBA. Most NBA teams have all of their games televised, either over the air or on cable.

Fox Sports Net outlets around the country show all but a few NBA teams’ games. The Portland Trail Blazers are on Action Sports Net, the Philadelphia 76ers and Washington Wizards are on Comcast and the New Orleans Hornets and Phoenix Suns are on local cable outlets.

Considering that the Clippers ended last season with 16 consecutive sellout crowds at Staples Center, and a franchise-record 25 overall, the opportunities for fans to see the team will be limited if a cable deal is not completed.

As ever, money appears to be an issue, but it’s apparently not the only holdup. The Clippers are believed to be seeking a Laker-like deal, with all games on Fox Sports Net 2 except those shown by Channel 5, ESPN and TNT. Officials at Fox Sports Net would like to complete a deal similar to the one that just expired -- with about 40 games available to cable viewers this season.

The Clippers are attempting to secure a bigger and better deal with Fox Sports Net based upon their potential as a team they feel could challenge the Lakers, Sacramento Kings and Dallas Mavericks for Western Conference supremacy. Officials at Fox are believed to have focused on the Clippers’ track record as also-rans.

The youthful Clippers last season gained a national following with the determined play of power forward Elton Brand, the outside shooting of Quentin Richardson and Eric Piatkowski and the high-flying dunks of Darius Miles.

The Clippers during the off-season traded Miles, 20, to the Cleveland Cavaliers to get point guard Andre Miller, the NBA’s leader in assists last season. Some observers believe Miller to be the final piece of a puzzle that could have the Clippers winning as many as 50 games and traveling deep into the playoffs. Less optimistic forecasts have the Clippers posting a winning record and advancing to the playoffs.

Complicating matters is the NBA’s new $2.4-billion deal with AOL Time Warner, parent company of TNT, and the Walt Disney Co., which owns ESPN. The new contract allows competition in local markets, which figures to dilute ratings. That means local rights on Fox Sports Net would not be worth as much as in the past.

Last season, for example, a Clipper game on TNT would be blacked out to Southland viewers if it also was shown on Fox Sports Net. Now, games will be available on both networks.

That would be a win-win situation for Clipper fans, who turned out at Staples Center in record numbers last season. The average attendance of 18,053 was a franchise record, topping the previous record of 14,621 set in 2000-01.

The Clippers’ attendance increase per game was the third-highest in the NBA last season, trailing only the 5,097 for Michael Jordan and the Washington Wizards and the 3,743 for the rejuvenated Detroit Pistons.