The Indianapolis Star from Indianapolis, Indiana • Page 74

SUNDAY. FEBRUARY 10. I98S THE INDIANAPOLIS STAR Dominique dandiest of day's dunkers. Larry Bird (33) arid Isiah Thomas Minor business conducted at NBA governors meeting Sports Over Zj Lightly By BOB COLLINS Reliving high times in low gear YOU'VE been on a fast track for the past half-century you should have been in Market Square Arena Saturday. You could have watched your past in slow motion.

The elephant dance that sometimes resembled a basketball game was called the Schick NBA Legends Classic. And it was a fun afternoon here in the land where we take basketball right serious. Some of the old timers were in good shape for the shape they were in. But what they had lost in reflexes, they absolutely did not make up for in speed. However, most of them had no trouble finding their spot on the floor and sweating there.

The East, featuring a tremendous half fast break, whipped the West. 63 53. Most of the other thunder was provided by feet paddling overweight bodies down the court. But the full house of 16.665 was treated to some enlightening moments. Like thus: They saw Tommy Heinsohn and Bed Kerr dueling four-on four.

Everywhere they went the other competitors, showing they still have professional minds, stayed out of the way. And they watched Mel Daniels and Zelmo Beatty shoving each other around and laughing. Ten years ago they started riots together. People who believed the Van Arsdale twins were ageless watched them grow old together on the floor. Asked if he noticed that the court had been lengthened since his retirement.

Tom replied, "By about 10 yards." Tom said the first problem is with the old windpipe, then the legs start to go, but, other than that, it "was fun." Sure. The Big 0 still has the moves, they just take longer. As always, though, he was able get where he wanted to go and stay there with effortless grace forever. Somebody asked Oscar a hilariously premature question; asked him how he would compare Michael Jordan to Oscar Robertson. It's only about 20 years too soon.

The 0, basketball's Renaissance Man, is all over the record book; Michael is a rookie. Oscar shrugged off the question with, "Michael Jordan is a great player and he's going to get better." What's a man supposed to say in a situation like that, "I'd eat the clown alive." The 0 in his prime was the best, bar none. Jordan will build his reputation a year at a time. The dressing rooms were a bundle of laughs between gasps. Asked for an estimate on his gross weight, Kerr said, "You gotta talk to my attorney.

I probably go somewhere between 200 and 270." Tip to folks who like to risk a bob or two: bet the over. Still, Kerr and Heinsohn have maintained their ability to move a crowd. Every time they got in the same corner the first three rows of the grandstands tilted. The two happiest people had to be Mel and Roger Brown. After all, the contest was billed as an NBA event.

They're our guys. From the old ABA. Mel got the first two baskets for the West team and Roger connected for a couple of three-pointers. So there were moments when the old timers played like turkeys. So what.

There was a time when they soared with the eagles. That's why 16,665 people were in MSA to see them one more time. The Vans. Dave Bing and Walt Frazier looked like they still were near playing weight. Some of the others, though, would draw a fine at a highway scale.

Every so often one of the old stars would put it together for a second make the move or fire the shot that still was filed in the memory books of basketball fans. And there were moments when you would see the old competitive instincts flash in the eyes. The spirit was willing, but the body was complaining, "Hey, dummy, try that again and I'll guarantee you a pulled hamstring." There were gray and nude heads. And there was enough good life hanging over some to the trunks to feed Central Ameri- ca. i But the people would paid to iet in weren't expecting anything more, than 3 good time and an opportunity to spend an afternoon with their memories.

So there probably were few By MIKE CHAPPELL STAR STAFT WRITER Tom Heinsohn and Johnny Kerr gathered up their respective waistlines and ambled toward the Market Square Arena lockers. Oscar Robertson and Connie Hawkins, their egos sufficiently stroked and their storied pasts intact, followed close behind. The onetime headliners of the National Basketball Association were finished. Literally. A pause.

Then, as if on cue, the crowd announced at 16.665 and eagerly drinking in every bit of nostalgia which flowed its way got its second wind. The buzz was back. Old timers out, show timers in. With Mick Jagger. Aretha Franklin and the Pointer Sisters setting a breakdancing backdrop as they poured musically out of MSA's public address system, Saturday afternoon's headliners the hang gliders, the skywalkers.

the Doctors of Dunk came strolling to center stage. Phoenix's Larry Nance was there to defend his NBA Gatorade Slam Dunk Championship, but his competition would be fierce Indiana's Terence Stansbury, Port land's Clyde Drexler. Utah's Darrell Griffith, Atlanta's Dominique Wil-kins. Michael Jordan and Orlando Woolridge of the Chicago Bulls, and the Sultan of Slam himself, Philadelphia's Julius Erving. Things began innocently enough.

A few soft jumpers from the perimeter followed by slow, casual, muscle-loosening warmups. But enough was enough. Jumpers gave way to windmill dunks. Layups which earlier kissed glass before falling were punctuated with the forceful snap of a wrist. Ka thump it was slam time.

"We were out there to give the fans some thrills and let the guys have some fun," explained Wilkins. who added a few more frames to his renowned "Human Highlight Film" annals when he outdunked Jordan in the finals. "It's like an art; it's what the fans come to see." Jordan wasn't about to disagree. Given an opportunity to strut his stuff in front of nearly 17,000 people eager to be entertained he ignited the lights, camera, action fires which burn just below the surface. "How much of this was showing off?" Jordan thought aloud, a smile creasing his face.

"All of it. It's creativity and showmanship. You want to show what natural ability you have; you want to use your mind to create new dunks." So create they did. There were the (ho hum) usual array of dunks which fans have come to expect a double-pump here, a 360 there, an 80 foot comin'-at-ya drive by Dr. but there were enough creatures of invention to stir even the most demanding fan.

And that, insisted Jordan, is what the afternoon was all about. "It was very competitive, but it was just fun," he said. "I think we tried to give the fans the creativity they wanted. Each time I tried to create something new." Does he bother to give his dunks pet names? Portland's Clyde Drexler slams in TV "No." Jordan laughed. "I leave that up to the media and the fans.

Like I said, I was just out there to enjoy myself." Enjoying the competition the most, though, was Wilkins, Atlanta's streamlined 67 forward who continues to defy the laws of nature and Newton. When he leaves Mother Earth, the question isnt when he'll return, it's if. "I look at dunking as an art," he said. "It's what the fans come to see." Saturday, they saw the best Wilkins, Jordan et al doing what comes natural. Soaring.

For his stirring efforts. Wilkins returned home 12,000 richer. Jordan, meanwhile, received $7,000 worth of consolation for finishing second best. "That's more than I came here with," he said, again flashing a contagious grin. "I'm not going to get greedy." For good reason.

Had.it not been for a dunk-off with Stansbury, Jordan wouldn't have even survived the first round. Refusing to peel off his warmups "I wanted to keep my legs warm," he said and appearing a bit tentative at the start, Jordan found himself in a dead heat with Stansbury for the last semifinal spot after three dunks. Both were ushered into the semis along with Wilkins, Nance and Erving after a tabulating foulup. "I got new life; I was just happy to get into the final five," said Jordan. The semifinals, though, were only semi suspenseful.

Wilkins and Jordan were the dandiest of dunkers, with Jordan drawing the largest ovation when he coaxed a perfect 50 from the judges. After slapping a piece of tape on the free throw line, he retreated to the far end of the court, eyed the basket, turned on the afterburners, left the floor an inch behind the tape and soared in for his masterpiece. "I been telling reporters I could do' that," Jordan said of his glider, "but honestly, I had never done it before. This was the first time." It may have been the last time for Erving, however. A two-time slam-dunk champ and runner-up a year ago.

Dr. has hinted rather strongly that this year's competition would be his last. If that's the case, consider Saturday a changing of the guard. Out with the old sorry Doc in with the new. And if Saturday's finals are any, indication, the new is every bit as good as the old.

As the saying goes, Wilkins may not be in a class by himself, but it doesn't take long to call roll. Jordan saw the door slammed (no pun intended) in his face as Wilkins earned a 50 on his second dunk he tossed the ball off the glass, gathered it in and buried a two hander behind his head and duplicated the score on his final dunk. Both slams came after Wilkins conferred briefly with his courtside coach, Detroit's Isiah Thomas. "Yeah," Wilkins said, "he (Thomas) coached me a little. He's a guy that is very creative.

He's got a wide imagination." STAFF PHOTO two hand, behind-the-head dunk NBA Commissioner David Stern had a press conference Saturday to let everyone know what went on at the league's board of governors meeting Saturday morning. Which was not much. "I have very little of substance to report," said Stern. "If 1 had my druthers we wouldn't have had the meeting at all this weekend." There were a couple approvals of sales, a 56 percent sale of the Chicago Bulls to Jerry Reinsdorf, who also owns the Chicago White Sox and an "under 20 percent" sale of a partial interest in the Houston Rockets to Houston businessmen James Gressett and Gary Bradley. As for the move of the Kansas City Kings to Sacramento, Stern said, "I reported to the board we have an application from the Kansas City Kings to re-locate to Sacramento.

That has been a committee." Also, Stern let the owners know he is proposing a reduction in the number of games respective teams can air, a move designed as a cutback against the superstations. KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR and Julius Erving were the last to arrive for practice Saturday in Market Square Arena. West Coach Pat Riley and East Coach K.C. Jones both thought they would let fines slide since it was a first offense. Erving, also a participant in the Slam Dunk contest, is, as usual very much in demand through the weekend.

"I've got a lot of work to do warm up Saturday for today's NBA today and no time to do it," he said as he arrived in the East dressing room. All of the players were extremely cooperative with the media masses with the exception of starting East center Moses Malone, who declined to be interviewed as he has most of this IT HAS been a hectic week for members of the Pacers' staff since they are the host team. Paul White, director of public relations, says it has been like "Boston coming in, times five." THE NBA got some quality judges for the slam-dunk contest in Market Square Arena Saturday. Unlike last year in Denver, when it appeared they were paying off political debts in naming judges, there was some basketball knowledge present. Judging the contest were former Indiana basketball star Landon Turner, USA Today pro basketball writer Dave DuPree, Connie Hawkins, Pete Maravich and Turner Broadcasting Company analyst, John Andreas.

OKAY FANS, it's time to get off Clyde Drexler's back. The Portland forward has been having a hard time his last two visits to Indianapolis and it was all because some remarks he made after a Blazer victory over the Pacers were mis-interpreted. Drexler, who had started in the game, said he was was glad to have the GIANT vs RODDY PIPER: STAFF PHOTOTRANK FlSSE game start would have come against a CBA team. Some thought he was comparing the Pacers to a CBA team, which a few times hasn't been hard to Regardless, the remarks weren't in tended as a slight and the last two times he has been in Market Square Arena, the fans have booed him loudly. So, after Saturday's Slam Dunk contest, Drexler said, "I'm glad there's just one All Star game in Indianapolis." You can't blame him.

IN THE sellout MSA crowd of 16.665 Saturday was rock star Steven Stills, who helped gain some fame with guys named Crosby, Nash and Young. Stills was a guest of Indianapolis Colts' general manager Jim Irsay. DID THE Legends, men well into their middle years and not given to playing basketball, get tired during Saturday's game? Certainly. "I thought I was going to have a heart attack in the first haf," said ex Pacer Roger Brown. "But later, I got my second breath and I felt pretty good surprisingly good, In fact." "I'm still looking for my second breath," kibbitzed Johnny Kerr.

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