Jim Baker: Heinsohn & Wilt Critical Of Lockout

[Way Of The Ray <wayray@ix.netcom.com>]

              Cross: Coaches'                    
              impact overrated
              by Jim Baker
              <snip>
              10/25/98

                            
              Heinsohn unhappy
              With no end to
              the NBA lockout
              in sight, Celtics
              play-caller (Ch.
              68) and analyst
              (FSNE) Tom
              Heinsohn is
              sounding off
              about the unhappy
              multimillionaire
              players.

              "These kids don't
              have a clue," he
              said Friday.

              "I'll give you a
              stat. The current
              Celtic payroll
              for one game is
              more than the
              team's entire
              player payroll
              for the nine
              years I played.
              Bill Russell
              never made more
              than $101,000,
              the most Bob
              Cousy made was
              $35,000 and I
              topped out at
              $28,500."

              Heinsohn pointed
              out: "There's
              more than enough
              money to go
              around, but these
              players have no
              idea of
              proportionality.
              They have a
              pension plan
              second to none,
              severance pay for
              each year on the
              roster and
              deferred
              compensation so
              they never have
              to work a day in
              their lives after
              they retire."

              Don't talk to
              Heinsohn about
              Michael Jordan
              and Patrick
              Ewing's union
              roles, either.

              "The players
              could have used
              Jordan 10 years
              ago, but he was
              too busy making
              millions," he
              said.

              "The owners are
              not blameless,"
              he added, noting
              they far overpaid
              for potential
              instead of
              results. "It's
              true that 20
              percent of the
              players are
              making 80 percent
              of the money. But
              these kids are
              going to blow
              it."

              Heinsohn, who
              sees no break in
              the stalemate
              with more
              canceled games
              expected this
              week, sees allies
              for the owners
              hiding in the
              wings.

              "They're domestic
              court judges (who
              he sees ruling in
              favor of gal-pals
              suing for child
              support)."

              Wilt: NBA out of
              touch During a
              midweek "Later"
              show on NBC, Wilt
              Chamberlain gave
              Ahmad Rashad this
              eyebrow lifter
              when asked to
              compare NBA
              stars' salaries
              with those of his
              day.

              "Patrick Ewing
              makes more in 10
              games than I made
              in my career --
              $1.4 million," he
              said.

              Chamberlain also
              cited another
              huge NBA problem.
              When he played,
              the everyday fan
              who was the
              league's backbone
              could get a good
              seat for a short
              price.

              "Now a courtside
              seat (at Madison
              Square Garden)
              can cost more
              than $1,000 and
              they (management)
              don't want you
              down there," he
              said, indicating
              they want to put
              the camera on
              celebrities
              seated there.
              <snip>