Menino - C's Battle Over WNBA Franchise

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

Boston mayor Tom Menino is trying to bring a WNBA franchise to
Boston, but the C's are resisting his efforts on account of
profibility... Or is it fear that a successful WNBA
franchise will draw away interest from the lackluster Celtics?     

Menino, Celtics split on WNBA franchise here
by Rachelle Cohen
Boston Herald 
Wednesday, April 26, 2000

Even as the Women's NBA was holding its draft yesterday, Boston Mayor
Tom Menino was readying a two-by-four for the Boston Celtics, who are
apparently the major stumbling block to getting a WNBA franchise.

The Celtics, who couldn't get anything right on the court this season,
are proving to be as hapless off the court. Playing the heavy in city
efforts to acquire a WNBA franchise isn't the smartest political move.

Boston is, after all, the only major media market without a WNBA team
and yesterday Menino wasn't shy where he stood.

``We believe Boston should have it [a franchise],'' he told a luncheon
designed to drum up support for women's athletic events.

The mayor's clearly on board. FleetCenter President Richard Krezwick is
also clearly on board. Acknowledging that most arenas which host a WNBA
team are owned by the local NBA franchise, he said he has tried to level
that playing field by offering the FleetCenter rent-free for WNBA games
(making a buck on just the concessions).

Krezwick noted that for the Celtics, whose participation is critical to
acquiring a franchise, the decision is largely economic.

``The Celtics need to make that [economic] decision, and we need to help
them do that,'' Krezwick said.

The Celtics have reportedly produced balance sheets during private talks
showing they can't possibly make money from women's basketball.

Donna Lopiano, executive director of the Women's Sport Foundation and a
guest speaker at the same luncheon, said she's heard it all before.

``It took 22 years for the NBA to get 10,000 spectators to fill their
seats for a game,'' Lopiano said. ``It took the WNBA just two years to
do that. All we need is a little public push here.''

And that seems to be what the mayor and Krezwick have in mind.

Negotiations have been going on rather quietly for the past year and a
half without much in the way of results. But in recent months they've
``gotten really ugly,'' according to one party to the talks.

When they ran out of economic arguments to make, the Celtics insisted
that they really couldn't commit until they knew whether Rick Pitino was
staying or going. What would another coach, say Larry Bird, think of
hosting a WNBA franchise?

Did the genius who raised that issue not know that Indiana was among the
cities getting franchises this season as the league expands to 16 teams
this year? Oh, and Bird personally bought the 5,000th season ticket.

But, hey, let's not let facts get in the way of yet another reason to
duck the issue.

Along with Indiana, Miami, Seattle and Portland, Ore., are adding WNBA
teams this year while Boston remains perpetually behind the curve.

All is not lost. Krezwick said the bid package for the 2006 women's NCAA
Final Four is currently on the desk of the FleetCenter's general
manager. Why 2006? Well, the event comes with a women's collegiate
basketball coaches meeting, attended by some 6,000 coaches, which
requires a convention center the size of the one planned in South
Boston. That won't be done until 2003.

It's nice to know that some folks in town are thinking ahead. That is,
even if the Celtics can't see beyond their noses.

But, hey, what can you expect from folks who thought Rick Pitino was the
answer to their prayers?