Latrell

On the pages of the tabloids, he was referred to as "Hoop Thug," "Sports Goon" and "Choker." But upon his arrival in New York, Latrell Sprewell was immediately embraced by fans, who saw him not as the symbol of what was wrong with professional sports -- but as a talented player who could make the Knicks a championship contender."

Terps football Weatherly's status for opener unknown Maryland receiver Drew Weatherly wore a boot on his right foot at practice yesterday. Coach Ralph Friedgen withholds injury information during game weeks and declined to answer what the injury was and whether Weatherly would play in Saturday's season opener against William and Mary. ... Friedgen declared kicker Dan Ennis the starter for Saturday, saying that Obi Egekeze will be used for kickoffs. Heather A. Dinich College football Ex-Sooner Quinn enrolls at Montana Former Oklahoma offensive lineman J.D. Quinn enrolled at the University of Montana with plans to walk on to the Division I-AA football team if the NCAA reinstates him, school officials announced.

OAKLAND, Calif. -- As P. J. Carlesimo approached the microphone at the end of the Golden State Warriors' holiday party for the homeless, it seemed that the club finally -- after two weeks of intense media scrutiny -- was going to get through a public event without hearing about Latrell Sprewell.But seconds after Carlesimo thanked the more than 500 people in attendance, a chant was starting in the back of the room: "Sprewell, Sprewell." Carlesimo later said he didn't hear it. However, it was a sign that the Warriors' scars are far from healed.

Few things in life are harder to shake than a reputation, and since the Sacramento Kings have carried the rep of a showboating team for whom the 24 seconds spent on defense were just a brief layover before taking another shot, it's been a little difficult for many to take seriously their run near the top of the Western Conference this season. But with half a season in the books, the Kings are giving every impression that they intend to change the way they're viewed, not to mention foul up the conventional wisdom that Portland, the Lakers or San Antonio will rule the West.

t Golden State Warrior Latrell Sprewell won the fight but lost $25 mill. That's the boxing game for you.In the name of adding stops, the MTA made light rail service worse. That's the real news.City shelters are swamped and turning away folks even before the cold weather hits. Your welfare reform at work.Cheer up. Cuauhtemoc Cardenas has been installed as mayor of Mexico City.Pub Date: 12/08/97

IN THE WACKY world of sports, anything is permissible these days -- even attempting to kill the coach.That's the way it looks after an arbitrator ruled the National Basketball Association had punished star player Latrell Sprewell too harshly for attacking Coach P. J. Carlesimo.The Golden Star Warriors voided Mr. Sprewell's $32 million contract and the NBA suspended him for a year. Now the arbitrator says Mr. Sprewell can rejoin his team July 1.How bizarre. If Mr. Sprewell had attacked a neighbor and tried to choke him to death, he'd be charged with attempted murder.

Let's see if I get this straight. Latrell "Throat Boy" Sprewell is now a victim. Two lawyers with dollar signs where their X and Y chromosomes should be filed a $30 million lawsuit for lost wages and damages on his behalf.Sprewell and his lawyers continue to argue that he was punished "too harshly." Exactly what punishment Sprewell feels is warranted for choking his coach is not clear, but I suspect he figures being sent to his room without supper would have been too harsh. Deep down, Sprewell feels he did nothing wrong.

San Antonio Spurs vs. New York KnicksRegular-season record: San Antonio 37-13. New York 27-23.Playoff record: San Antonio 11-1 (beat No. 8 seed Minnesota, 3-1; swept No. 4 seed Los Angeles Lakers, 4-0; swept No. 2 seed Portland, 4-0). New York 11-4: (beat No. 1 seed Miami, 3-2; swept No. 4 seed Atlanta, 4-0; beat No. 2 seed Indiana, 4-2).Season series: Teams did not meet.Last NBA Finals appearance: San Antonio is playing in the NBA Finals for the first time. The New York Knicks lost in seven games to the Houston Rockets in the 1994 Finals.

PURCHASE, N.Y. -- In fulfillment of pessimistic prophecies that Latrell Sprewell was bad news about to happen, the New York Knicks learned last night that their controversial new headliner will miss from three to six weeks of this 12-week NBA season with a stress fracture in his right heel.Team physician Norman Scott said that after X-rays and a CAT scan failed to show a break, an MRI late yesterday revealed a "microscopic fracture of the heel [calcaneus bone]." Scott said no surgery is required, but Sprewell will be fitted with a removable cast called a "walking boot."

THE OUTRAGEOUS behavior of too many players led the National Basketball Association to suspend Latrell Sprewell, the Golden State Warriors all-star who assaulted his coach. But the NBA undercut its own decision by not allowing Mr. Sprewell to be heard. The league subsequently lost the earlier support of the NBA Players Association for sanctions against Mr. Sprewell. It also opened the door for a possible reversal of its action by an arbitrator.Not even Mr. Sprewell has said he should be let off without punishment for trying to choke Coach P.J. Carlesimo.

SAN ANTONIO -- There's a popular advertisement airing on television stations here, a spot that points out a difference between New York and San Antonio. The punch line: We Sweep. Regularly.Well, the San Antonio Spurs will get an opportunity to bring their brooms to New York after beating the New York Knicks, 80-67, last night before 39,554 at the Alamodome.With the win, the Spurs took a 2-0 advantage in the best-of-seven series, with the next three games to be played in New York starting Monday.

San Antonio Spurs vs. New York KnicksRegular-season record: San Antonio 37-13. New York 27-23.Playoff record: San Antonio 11-1 (beat No. 8 seed Minnesota, 3-1; swept No. 4 seed Los Angeles Lakers, 4-0; swept No. 2 seed Portland, 4-0). New York 11-4: (beat No. 1 seed Miami, 3-2; swept No. 4 seed Atlanta, 4-0; beat No. 2 seed Indiana, 4-2).Season series: Teams did not meet.Last NBA Finals appearance: San Antonio is playing in the NBA Finals for the first time. The New York Knicks lost in seven games to the Houston Rockets in the 1994 Finals.

NEW YORK -- One is a slow, aging veteran whose better days are behind him. The other might one day get his wish to be a starting point guard, but these days he is plying his trade as a backup.If the Indiana Pacers advance to the NBA Finals, they can credit their two southpaw small forwards -- Chris Mullin and Jalen Rose -- for their play in the pivotal 90-78 Game 4 win on Monday that evened the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals at two games.It was a case of the Knicks getting hammered by two different styles -- old school and new school.

NEW YORK -- The New York Knicks' remarkable transformation from a team teetering on collapse a month ago to a group with a chance to turn its season into something special continued last night as they emphatically claimed Game 4 to sweep the Atlanta Hawks and take their second-round playoff series.Relentless in their barrage of the thin Hawks, the Knicks eased away for a 79-66 victory and earned the right to play the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals, with Game 1 on Sunday in Indianapolis.

Dear NBA fan:Welcome to this weekend's start of the NBA playoffs!In an effort to improve our sports product for you, we're distributing the following survey. Simply circle your answers and return it to an usher -- along, of course, with a $250 processing fee.Part of the proceeds will go into an emergency slush fund for cash-strapped owners hoping to sign this year's lottery picks. The rest will be used to persuade exciting junior-high players to skip high school altogether and join the excitement of today's NBA!

On the pages of the tabloids, he was referred to as "Hoop Thug," "Sports Goon" and "Choker." But upon his arrival in New York, Latrell Sprewell was immediately embraced by fans, who saw him not as the symbol of what was wrong with professional sports -- but as a talented player who could make the Knicks a championship contender."

NEW YORK -- One is a slow, aging veteran whose better days are behind him. The other might one day get his wish to be a starting point guard, but these days he is plying his trade as a backup.If the Indiana Pacers advance to the NBA Finals, they can credit their two southpaw small forwards -- Chris Mullin and Jalen Rose -- for their play in the pivotal 90-78 Game 4 win on Monday that evened the best-of-seven Eastern Conference finals at two games.It was a case of the Knicks getting hammered by two different styles -- old school and new school.

Terps football Weatherly's status for opener unknown Maryland receiver Drew Weatherly wore a boot on his right foot at practice yesterday. Coach Ralph Friedgen withholds injury information during game weeks and declined to answer what the injury was and whether Weatherly would play in Saturday's season opener against William and Mary. ... Friedgen declared kicker Dan Ennis the starter for Saturday, saying that Obi Egekeze will be used for kickoffs. Heather A. Dinich College football Ex-Sooner Quinn enrolls at Montana Former Oklahoma offensive lineman J.D. Quinn enrolled at the University of Montana with plans to walk on to the Division I-AA football team if the NCAA reinstates him, school officials announced.

BaseballAthletics: Named J. P. Ricciardi director of player personnel. Promoted Dave Seifert to assistant GM.Devil Rays: Agreed to terms with P Mike Duvall on one-year contract.Rangers: Signed P Derrick Cook, P Ryan Glynn, P Jonathan Johnson and IF Kelly Dransfeldt to one-year contracts.BasketballNBA: Fined Suns coach Danny Ainge $3,000 for kicking basketball into stands after his ejection Tuesday.Knicks: Placed G Latrell Sprewell (stress fracture of the right heel) on injured list.Magic: Placed F Derek Strong (bruised right foot)

PURCHASE, N.Y. -- In fulfillment of pessimistic prophecies that Latrell Sprewell was bad news about to happen, the New York Knicks learned last night that their controversial new headliner will miss from three to six weeks of this 12-week NBA season with a stress fracture in his right heel.Team physician Norman Scott said that after X-rays and a CAT scan failed to show a break, an MRI late yesterday revealed a "microscopic fracture of the heel [calcaneus bone]." Scott said no surgery is required, but Sprewell will be fitted with a removable cast called a "walking boot."