The Orlando Sentinel from Orlando, Florida • Page 27

i lillM The Orlando Sentinel FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 1,1996 Inside, C-2 Molitor stays with Twins; Rodriguez voted AP's player of the year. Solar Dears, C-6 METRO hearts JUL If Magic get Seikaly, write off November Landing Rony Seikaly would significantly move the Magic closer to joining the cut of contenders, although they'd still likely go through the year like a first alternate in a beauty, pageant Seikaly, Golden State's estranged cen Post-Shaq era begins with key players ailing WHO: Washington Bullets vs. Orlando Magic. WHAT: NBA season opener. By LC.

Johnson OF THE SENTINEL STAFF ter, is no doubt on the NBA's undisclosed list of the greatest players from Lebanon. He would be an ideal complement to Fel-ton Spencer in that he not only can score, but doesn't deem it necessary to use WHEN: 7:30, WHERE: Orlando Arena. BROADCAST: TV Sunshine Network; RADIO Magic Network, 580 AM (WDBO) in Orlando. TICKETS: 300 left. THE SPORTS COLUMN Play time.

More preparation time would be the answer to the prayers of coach Brian Hill (right), but tonight his Magic open the season with returning players, including Horace Grant (below), playing an increased role in the offense to compensate for the loss of Shaquille O'Neal. I 12 RED HUBERTHE ORLANDO SENTINEL 1.1 a Brian Hill still could use a little help as his Orlando Magic prepare for tonight's season opener with the Washington Bullets. He could use a healthy Penny Hardaway. The All-NBA point guard has been bothered by hamstring and knee problems, and his status remains in question. He could use a healthy Dennis Scott.

The sharp-shooting forward also has developed a hamstring problem and is even less likely to play than Hardaway. He could use another week of preparation. Training camp and eight exhibition games were not enough for him to get the new-look Magic acclimated to his new system. Instead, what he can expect at Orlando Arena is a Bullets team that is looking to knock the Magic off their Atlantic Division pedestal. The Bullets re-signed free-agent forward Juwan Howard after his contract with the Miami Heat was voided by the NBA.

Chris Webber returns after sitting out last season with a shoulder injury. The Bullets also added point guard Rod Strickland and forward Harvey Grant in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers. "When they're healthy, from top to bottom, they are as good and as deep as any team in the Atlantic Division," Hill said. "This is going to be a tough opener for us." Hardaway and Scott were the only two players to start all 82 games for the Magic last season. Both might be watching this game from the sideline.

"We did play every game last year, but injuries are just one of those things that you have to deal with," Hardaway said. "I'm feeling a little better, but I'm going to have to wait and see how it feels. I Please see MAGIC, C-6 See today's Sentinel, section for 26 pages on the Magic's transition without Shaquille O'Neal. The section includes a look at the NBA's 50th anniversary celebration, team-by-team previews for this season, schedules, predictions and a page for children. Just in time for the Magic's season opener, today's Living, section rates Central Florida sports bars on such things as food, atmosphere and number of big-screen TVs.

RED HUBERTHE ORLANDO SENTINEL Lights camera Shaq Atlanta Hawks at Miami Heat 7:30 Chicago Bulls at Boston Celtics Cleveland Cavs at New Jersey Nets 7:30 his nightly allotment of fouls. No question that the Magic want Seikaly, who is more agile than hostile at 6-11, 253 pounds. When so moved, he is capable of providing a double-double (points, rebounds) on many an occasion. Before Los Angeles became a dirty word around here, only those registered in a fantasy basketball league ever would dream there'd be live water-cooler and call-in debates involving Spencer and Seikaly. Together, they'd provide the Magic with just enough force, finesse and straight free throws, their two halves filling up a hole left by the not-so-dearly departed Shaquille O'NeaL Orlando might not have to blow on the dice so hard as it rolls into the postseason.

But the way things apparently stand now, if the Magic want to make a trade for Seikaly, the Warriors insist they must give up Spencer, along with Donald Royal, another warm body, Disney passes and something even costlier. November. The Magic also would have to throw in other past considerations, namely October. They'd unravel all they've done since training camp if they package Spencer for Seikaly. The Magic have adjusted to playing with Felton, delighted in the fact that he doesn't even need to see if the ball is round or oblong.

Seikaly might want the Spaulding a little too much to suit players who've served the last four years as official dunk-counters. Losing Spencer also means the Magic would have to write off the first month of the season with stand-in centers while Rony learns the playbook and rounds into shape. Until Seikaly could remain upright for major minutes, Orlando would start Danny Schayes, 37, or David Vaughn (if he hadn't been included in the Golden State deal), followed by various tag-team combinations (including Derek Strong or rookie Amal McCaskill). Given Spencer's history of foul trouble, you may see backup centers making more than cameos anyway. The Magic, gimpy physically and lame offensively this preseason, might not be up and running full-out for weeks as it is.

Penny Hardaway has a suspect knee, and Dennis Scott, modeling street clothes tonight, has a tender hamstring. The Magic would be tickled to embrace both centers, obviously, and thrilled for Seikaly to join them in progress. The Magic have had to restart the franchise since Shaq's departure. They don't want to restart the seasonwhich will go on as scheduled, beginning tonight at the O-rena against the Washington Bullets. Orlando is looking to wait out Golden State in this transaction standoff, believing it can acquire Seikaly without surrendering Spencer.

But the Warriors, who desperately need somebody with a pulse at center besides rookie Todd Fuller, also can bide their time. It isn't costing them anything to stay tethered to Seikaly, who isn't in California and hasn't reported to even say how much he hates the state, Golden or otherwise. The Magic say they'll diligently push on with Spencer. For all his blue-collar virtues, Felton gets most of his points by accident There might be, if there isn't already, growing concern that the Hardaway customized offense can't subsidize O'Neal's 27 points per game, accelerating a need for Seikaly. Of course, if the Magic continue mishandling the ball and gumming up the works, not even Shaq could bail them out They may well get off to a limping start For a franchise that couldn't get to the Finals fast enough, it might take some patience to watch the Magic, circa '96-97.

True, they turned in a 17-5 record when Shaq missed the first 22 games last year. But they also knew he would eventually rejoin them. They weren't on their own for an entire season. The Magic will be now, unless a care package arrives one day soon from Golden State. Columnist Brian Schmitz welcomes your questions and suggestions.

Regular mail: The Orlando Sentinel, MP-8, P.O. Box 2833, Orlando. 32802-2833. E-Mail: ososchmitz(aaoLcom Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers 7:30 The Hollywood premiere of Los Angeles' newest celebrity takes place tonight at the Forum. By George Diaz 7:30 Indiana Pacers at Detroit Pistons New York Knicks at Toronto Raptors 8 fright as he prepares for his inaugural Hollywood Minute against the Phoenix Suns tonight To paraphrase a consummate pitchman for the Pepsi Generation: Marked by the usual courtside celebrities and an overflow media contingent at the Forum, O'Neal begins his career San Antonio Spurs at Minn.

Timberwolves 8 OF THE SENTINEL STAFF Sacramento Kings at Houston Rockets 8 Dallas Mavericks at Denver Nuggets members of the front-office staff, and it has evoked a sense of betrayal from many fans. "It is a new start for me," O'Neal said Thursday. "My family is going to be here. A lot of friends are going to be here, and a lot of colleagues are going to be here. I want to come in and give them a good show." And it should be, thanks to an enthusiastic mix that includes a sellout crowd of 17,505 and a national television audience on TNT.

"You think this place is going to be rockin'?" rookie Kobe Bryant said. In a city of stars, O'Neal quickly has emerged as one of its largest for reasons other than his staggering size. His playful, engaging manner has won over teammates whose roles will be significantly diminished by his presence. O'Neal has taken a mentor's Please see SHAQ, C-6 9 Seattle SuperSonics at Utah Jazz O'Neal Phoenix Suns at LA Lakers LA Clippers at Golden State Warriors 10:30 LOS ANGELES The silhouettes of two basketball jerseys are framed in a black background. The numbers have a distinguished historical perspective for the Los Angeles Lakers.

No. 33 belonged to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. No. 13 was worn by Wilt Chamberlain. The 24-year-old guy in the foreground sits with his hands crossed, a smile on his face.

Despite the demanding implications conveyed on the Lakers' media guide, Shaquille O'Neal isn't likely to be consumed by stage Portend Blazers at Vancouver Grizzlies 10:30 as the centerpiece of a franchise that wants to re-establish an identity as a prime contender for an NBA title. It also defines a new beginning for O'Neal, whose departure from the Orlando Magic has taken on the feel of a nasty "he-said, she-said" divorce between certain teammates and INSIDE Portland's J.R. Rider busted for marijuana possession, C-6 Florida's Super Bowls: Miami '99, Tampa '01 Ex-UCF rusher back on feat after almost losing leg 1 ilk The battle is not over, although the danger of amputation has passed. For the past month, Smith has had a tube inserted into his arm that travels to an artery near M. Smith great commitment to the Tagliabue said after the decision to award a third Super BowL Originally, the owners planned toj name only the hosts for the 1999 and; 2000 games but added the third ti accommodate Atlanta and Tampa.

To win the game, South Florida' had to fight off a strong challenge from Atlanta, which sought to stage the game, Super Bowl XXXIII, at the Georgia Dome, site of Super Bowixxvm. "It's terrific because everybody! wants the game, and the owners like to move it around," Miami Dolphins owner H. Wayne Huizenga "Broward and Dade worked together to get the game last time, 1995 and they worked together again." I "It's an economic bonanza for South Florida More important it's an opportunity for South Florida to Please see SUPER, C-5 The Carolina Panthers' Marquette Smith takes antibiotics intravenously to try to fight a post-surgery infection. By Jerry Greene OF THE SENTINEL STAFF "Amputation was a concern." Now that he is recovering, Marquette Smith can say that without a shiver in his voice; But he spent more than one sleepless night looking into the abyss and wondering about life as a running back with only one leg. Smith, who spent the past two seasons at the University of Central Florida, expected to be at least a support player this fall for the NFL's Carolina Panthers.

An exhibition season knee injury robbed him of his rookie season in the pros, however. Then a staphylococcus infection nearly cost him his leg. The NFL also announced that Atlanta would be the site of the title game in 2000. COMPILED FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS NEW ORLEANS The Super Bowl took on a distinct southern flavor Thursday as Miami, Atlanta and Tampa walked away with the NFL's title game for 1999-2001. NFL owners agreed that Miami will be the site of the 1999 game.

Atlanta will have the 2000 game and Tampa, which had essentially been promised a Super Bowl by Commissioner Paul Tagliabue after agreeing to build a new stadium, will get the 2001 game. "I think Tampa made the owners aware that the city had made a his heart. He carries a bag of antibiotics strapped to his side so that the bacteria-destroying medicine constantly trickles into his bloodstream. He has two more weeks of living with the tube and bag. "I've bonded with this bag," Smith said, seeking humor in a grim situation.

"Hey, we sleep together." Smith, who starred at Lake Howell High School and played at Florida State before transferring to UCF, said he turns to his parents for the inner strength and conviction to deal with his setback. They took time off to take turns staying with him when he was too sick to care Please see MARQUETTE, C-5 I.I-.-.