Detroit Free Press from Detroit, Michigan • Page 88

4C DETROIT FREE PPESS TUESDAY. OCTOBER 13, 1992 I 11 No medal for Dream Team book IMF' Rmm pan studed ray We know this already. Do not trust political publicists. We should know this, too, if we spend any Hoc Tw. W4 Tlw.

Frt UL ii if" li "Is Que. fm 7 40 7 40 rv TV ii irV'fl. Pit. St.L 7.40 7 40 8 40 TV CTV CTV CKARUE VfflCENT fan time in bookstores; Do not trust publicists for Pocket Books. They got my attention awhile back when a press release, heralding the release of a book about the Dream Team, landed on my desk.

The release promised that the book "The Golden Boys, the Unauthorized Inside Look at the U.S. Olympic Basketball Team" would give readers "a behind the promotional department weren't willing to accept that "I started out to do more about the Olympics," Stauth said, "but part of the problem was there wasn't enough time. They really wanted to hurry this thing out" I asked some people associated with the Dream Team people who uvrr inside the locker room if there were any unreported controversies. "Yeah," I was told, "some of the guys didn't want to autograph basketballs because they figured people would just make money off them." Maybe I'll write a book. If I do, I won't tell my grandchildren, because it seems you have to use grown-up words in books.

In the first sentence of "The Golden Boys," Stauth graphically refers to Barkley's grabbing a part of his I asked about that. "Yeah," Stauth said, "if you're going to write books, you have to let the reader know right away this is more than just another Sports Illustrated profile." Stauth did his homework and his research. "The Golden Boys" is a nice little look at the 12 men who made up the best basketball team of all time and bored a world of basketball lovers in the process. If you want that, buy the book; it's not a bad read. But don't expect an inside look at the Olympics.

Stauth was never inside. I know Cameron Stauth; he wrote a book on the Pistons a couple of years ago. I never saw him in La Jolla. Or in Portland, where the USA won the Tournament of the Americas. Or in Barcelona.

But Pocket Books' promotional material clearly said he was there, not only there, but in the locker room, privy to secrets that the publicists insinuated most other journalists and I had simply missed. I was about to be scooped two months after the fact by a man I hadn't even seen during the six weeks the U.S. Olympic basketball team was together. Either I had spent too much time eating paella, or something was dreadfully wrong. Since I ate paella only once, I thought I knew.

And a quick read of the book proved me right. Only the final 40 pages of the 286-page book deal with the Olympic Games. The controversies alluded to were the well-covered squabble over the reluctance of some players to wear Reebok uniforms for the medal-awards ceremony and Charles Barkley's well-documented boorish behavior. None of it is new or insightful. But the most dishonest presentation in the book's publicity release was the insinuation that Stauth had concrete information that Johnson's silence sealed Thomas' exclusion from the team.

Nowhere in the book, though, does Stauth offer proof. I called him over the weekend to ask about that. "I know," he said, "I didn't have any substantiation. I didn't say in the book that he did anything against him, but it appeared he didn't help him. What I heard was Magic was so powerful he probably could have helped him." That rumor has been in newspapers coast to coast Stauth, who is basically a nice man, probably just got caught in promotional hocus-pocus.

And his work must have been handicapped by his lack of press credentials to cover the Olympics, which means he had no access to the players. He bought tickets and sat in the stands but could not attend interview sessions. "The big guys at USA Basketball weren't very nice to me, but some of the other people helped me get in places or helped get me notes from press conferences," Stauth said. And that makes the Detroit News look ridiculous. On the back cover of the book is this endorsement by the News; "Stauth had what appears to be total access and made the most of it." Instead of documenting what happened in Barcelona, the book profiles all 12 members of the U.S.

Olympic team, a task that took him about a year. "My book," he said, "is more character-driven. I was just trying to show the guys as people and not get caught up in the event. I knew by the time the book came out everybody would know everything that happened." Apparently the people in Pocket Books' scenes, fly-on-the-wall look" at the best basketball team ever assembled. It said author Cameron Stauth went "inside the locker room to reveal the heated omission of Isiah Thomas that Magic Johnson could have prevented if he chose to the real story behind the controversies that plagued the team in Barcelona incidents that were largely ignored by the sporting press during the 1991-92 season." I covered the Olympics.

I covered the Dream Team from the time it assembled in La Jolla, until gold medals were handed out in Barcelona. Shcppard out at least through the weekend By Keith Gave fm Prrs Sports Wntrr Doctors told Red Wings right wing Ray Sheppard to stay off his sore knee for a while, meaning he will miss Thursday's home opener against Quebec and Saturday's game against Edmonton at Joe Louis Arena. "They recommended we keep him out through the weekend so he can rest it and get proper rehabilitation." coach Bryan Murray said Monday. Sheppard suffered a strained right knee in the exhibition finale at Chicago, missed the opener at Winnipeg but returned more quickly than expected and played Thursday at Los Angeles. Friday morning, the knee was swollen and sore.

Surgery on the knee two years ago to repair a tear in the medial collateral ligament kept Sheppard out for six weeks. Another key injured forward, Gerard Gallant, can resume skating today after suffering a hip injury from a spill in Saturday's victory at San Jose. He is listed as questionable for Thursday. PERSONNEL MOVES? Talks between Los Angeles and the Wings on a deal involving Jimmy Carson and Marty McSorley apparently are dead. Murray said he had not talked with Kings general manager Nick Beverly in nearly a week since the teams were on the brink of a five-player deal.

"There's nothing happening right now," Murray said, adding that the only talks he had recently involved an inquiry by Calgary regarding Sheldon Kennedy. Calgary is offering Todd Harkins, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound minor league center. But after seeing Kennedy score two goals against San Jose, the Wings are a bit reluctant to part with him. Mike Sillinger doesn't say much, but his frustration is obvious as he watches games from the press box. He wants to play, and Murray says he will.

Eventually. "Mike Sillinger will play lots of hockey here before it's over," Murray said. "He'll get his ice time." Of greater priority, Murray said, is getting veteran left wing John Ogrodnick and rookie right wing Martin Lapointe into a game. "They haven't been able to get in yet, and we have to address that issue this weekend," Murray said. "We have to do what's right for the team as far as winning and losing, then worry about certain individuals." CASE FOR THE DEFENSE: As much as he likes pairing veterans Mark Howe and Brad McCrimmon, Murray said he likely would continue mixing and matching his defensemen in an attempt to stabilize things.

"I thought they played really well," he said, "and I can play them together in a pinch. But I think the need may arise to move them around to help the younger guys because of their experience." RED WlHGS STATISTICS PLAYER OP A PTS PM PP SH GW SHTS Mahom sprung before spring? In this space last week I told you about Rick Mahorn, and how the Pistons are interested in bringing him back for perhaps more malice at the Palace. But I also told you that if Mahorn did return, it probably wouldn't be until just before the start of the playoffs in April. Well, there has been a development. Probies reign not over yet A longtime enforcer, a heavyweight of some repute, suggests it's far too premature to say Bob Probert is on the decline as the NHL's premier fighter.

Probert, a Detroit right wing, has come in second in more bouts than he has won lately. At times, his apparent Keith Cave nhl A rather curious development. On the day that column appeared, last Wednesday, Mahorn was kicked off his Italian team, II Messaggero, for having a fit in the office of head coach Paolo Di Fonzo. In a letter which informed Mahorn of his suspension, the club's general manager, Stefano Flammini, described the incident this way: "(Mahorn) repeatedly shouted against the Head Coach and the team to which you belong, using expressions such as 'bleeping team' and 'bleep and immediately after (he) took up a chair and threw it against a locker, which is property of Corky Meinecke NBA JUANA ANDERSONPhiladelphia Daily News Philadelphia's Eric Lindros, who has two goals and an assist, plays tonight in Quebec. He refused to play for the Nordiques last season.

lack of interest in dropping the gloves has cost him in stitches. Sometimes, the fire dies just a little bit, Pro-bert's respectful adversary said. That's when it's important for teammates to get involved. What Probert needs, this combatant suggested, is someone to Ywmfln 3 3 Federov 3 1 Carton 3 2 2 5 2 3 4-1 1 3 1 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 11 2 0 1 13 2 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 -2 4 2 0 Occwea 3 2 Radna 3 1 Kennedy 2 2 3 0 3 1 1 0 -1 0 -3 2 -1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Bun- KoDov Sheppard Chanson 3 0 Gatant 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Yaebaart Drake Ubtrom good he's made us." The Nordiques were tied with Buffalo for the Adams Division lead going into Monday's games. SKY KINGS NO MORE: On the same day the Wings traveled from Winnipeg to Los Angeles on their private jet, the Kings took a commercial flight home from Calgary.

The Kings' $5-million plane a luxurious Boeing 727 that Bruce McNall bought two years ago has been grounded by the boss. Air McNall won't be flying anytime soon, saving the Kings million in travel expenses. The reason: McNall says his players don't deserve it after their 15-20-5 road record last season. "I wouldn't mind spending the extra money if it got us anywhere," McNall told the LA Daily News, "but it didn't. We'll wait and see how it goes, but if they win 1 0 in a row it'll prove we don't need it.

And I'm not going to reward them for losses. Well, maybe if we lost 10 in a row I'll give them the plane without pilots." In their first full season with Red-bird One, the Wings improved from one of the worst road teams to one of the best last year. Their .575 winning percentage on the road led the NHL. PUCK SOUP: Just a hunch, but don't expect Wayne Gretzky to be out as long as the Kings suggest. Publicly, they're saying his bad back should keep him out most of the season and that any games he plays before the playoffs will be a bonus.

Betcha a nickel he's back by the All-Star break, and maybe much sooner. And if the Kings can keep their record around .500, there won't be as much pressure to make a major deal, such as the one involving Wings center Jimmy Carson that fell through. What must Mike Sillinger be thinking these days? He has been good enough to play in the playoffs the past two springs, but can't seem to crack the Wings' regular-season lineup. At 21, Sillinger is in his fourth year in the organization after the Wings made him their No. 1 pick (11th overall) in 1989.

Can you blame him if he's keeping his ear tuned to the rumor mill with his fingers crossed? When new St. Louis coach Bob Plager pinned the on Bret Hull's sweater, he warned him, "That stands for captain, not coach." Which coach will be the first to be knocked off the merry-go-round this season? The smart money's on Roger Neilson of the New York Rangers. He won't survive a rough start, especially if news resurfaces of a rift between him and captain Mark Messier. Montreal coach Jacques Demers, the former Wings coach, acknowledges he blew it by not giving Adam Gates a chance to blossom in Detroit. "I didn't give Adam as much ice time as I should have," Demers told the Boston Herald.

"I look at him today and I feel bad. Really bad. What could I do? We were winning with Steve Yzer-man as our top center. In that situation, it was tough getting ice time for a second offensive center." If Quebec nationalists succeed in separating their province from the rest of their country, what nickname will Montreal's hockey team take? 0 0 Rondeau 3 0 Sanger 3 0 Cnevetfae 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Probarl 1 0 McCrimmon 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 Konslantlw 2 0 crank him up a bit, to stoke the flames and make him hot enough to want to punch somebody's lights out. And even more important: "Do his teammates appreciate what he's doing for them? Do they let him know?" the guy asked.

"Or do they just look down the bench and say, 'Hey, Probie, it's your They've got to let him know what it means to them. That's a hard job and not very much fun. But it's an important one, too. And he still does it better than anybody." QUEBEC VS. UKDROS: The Flyers were exploring strict security measures for their visit tonight to Quebec, where Eric Lindros was expected to get a rude welcome.

Lindros shunned the Nordiques after they took him first overall in the 1991 draft, forcing his trade to Philadelphia. A news conference involving Lindros and NHL president Gil Stein was scheduled for Monday night in Quebec. Quebec defenseman Tony Twist suggested the Nordiques fans were missing the point. "They're going to give it to Lindros all right," Twist said. "But I don't think he can fill the shoes of the four Fivers we got for him.

The fans shouldn't boo him. They should cheer him. Look how W-L-T 10 OA SH SV 00 ALES OP MM AVO 1 60 3.00 1-04 29 .037 120 aso 1-1-0 70 .900 ChavaJda 1 180 ill 1-1-0 0 10 Ml IIHL Standings Campbell Conference NORMS CP PTS LAST 10 GF-QA AWAY the Company, damaging it. Do that in the NBA, and it's maybe a small fine or brief suspension. Or maybe the whole thing is forgotten the next morning provided the coach wasn't in the chair when it was thrown.

Flammini figures Mahorn has violated the "honesty, fair play and sportsmanship" clause of his contract a contract Flammini now considers void. Mahorn's agent, Alton Waldon, figures FTarnmini is just trying to weasel out of a hefty guaranteed salary ($1.9 million). An arbitrator will determine the settlement. If he or she rules in favor of Mahorn, that's great news for the Pistons, As Waldon put it: "If we get the money that is owed Rick, we certainly wouldn't be as demanding. All it would take is something that shows respect." Assuming Mahorn gets all or most of his money, the Pistons could probably land him for the league minimum ($140,000) and the promise of an assistant coach's position upon retirement.

The Pistons can't say so publicly, but they privately acknowledge they would sign Mahorn, 34, in a heartbeat. Except for youth, he has everything the Pistons need toughness, character, championship experience. "My desire is to put Rick in a place where he could flourish after his career is over," Waldon said. "There are places where that could happen, and one of them is definitely Detroit." MONEY IS EVIL John Salley's contract extension (four years, $10 million) could end up being just as damaging to the Miami Heat as Orlando Woolridge's contract extension (two years, $5 million) was to the Pistons last season. Consider this bizarre statement from Heat forward Grant Long, a restricted free agent who has been waiting since July 1 for a new contract: "Maybe I should go out and get caught carrying a handgun or transporting drugs or creating some ruckus.

Those guys always seem to be getting big contracts not the guys who just work hard. It doesn't pay to be a nice guy, I guess." Get a grip, Grant Salley, on his role with the Heat: "I want to be what Bill Laimbeer was to the Pistons when he was 28 and I first came in: A hard-nosed bad-a-." Barring a personality transplant, that just isn't possible. In other money matters, Magic Johnson has some advice for Los Angeles Lakers' third-year forward Eldon Campbell: "We need him to come in, block shots and rebound. He's got to get out of trying to score, and worry about blocking shots and getting rebounds. If he can do that, he can make three or four million dollars.

If he concentrates on scoring so much, he's only going to make one or two million." BULKINC UP: In their last two trades, the Los Angeles Clippers added guard Mark Jackson and 600 pounds (Stanley Roberts and John Williams) to their frontoourt Think about that. Two players, 600 pounds. Roberts and Williams have talent, sure, but not since Roseanne Arnold has so little been done with so much. The Clippers should be coached by Richard Simmons, not Larry Brown. Former Pistons center William Bedford went to Washington in the deal, but the Bullets took him only on the condition the Clippers kept half his salary ($450,000) on the salary cap.

Even at that, Bedford isn't likely to stick with the Bullets. Mark Macon (Saginaw Buena Vista) was considered one of the nation's best shooting guards two years ago at 2-1-0 2-1-0 1-1-1 1-1-1 1-2-0 1 0 1 0 1 1 1 1 2 0 2 1 12-10 11- 9 10-11 12- 9 8-12 10-12 2-1-0 0-1-0 0-1-0 0-1-1 0-1-0 0-1-1 Detroit Minnesota Chicago Tampa Bay Si Louis Toronto 1 0-2-1 SMYTHE OP PTS LA8T10 QF-GA AWAY Vancouver Lot Angeles 2-O-0 2-1-0 2-1-0 1-1-0 1-2-0 Calgary Lightning strikes late for tie Avith Hawks 10-6 14-12 14-9 7-9 10- 11 11- 20 1-0-0 1-0-0 0-0-0 0-0-0 0-2-0 0-2-0 San Jose Winnipeg Edmonton 1 0-3-1 Edmonton 3, Toronto 3: Mike Fofiqno Wales Conference ADAMS OP PTS LAST 10 Gf-GA AWAY Free Prra Wire RrporU CHICAGO Chris Kontos scored two more goals against Chicago and Brian Bradley netted the tying goal with 4:13 left in regulation Sunday night as the Tampa Bay Lightning tied the Blackhawks, 4-4. Kontos, who scored four Wednesday as the Lightning routed Chicago, 7-3, in Tampa's NHL debut, tallied twice in the second period Sunday. His six scored the tying goal with 42 seconds left in regulation as the visiting Maple Leafs rallied from a 3-0 third-period deficit. Buffalo 8, Montreal 2: Bob Sweeney had a goal and tour assists for the host Sabres.

Sweeney, 28, obtained Friday on waivers from Boston, has three goals and four assists in two games after getting 20 points in 63 games with the Bruins last season. NHL summaries, Page 6C. 2-0-0 2-1-0 1-0-1 1-2-1 1-0-0 0-3-0 1-0-0 1-O-0 0- 0-0 1- 2-0 0-0-0 0-1-0 14-6 17-9 6- 5 13-17 7- 12 5-13 Quebec Buffalo Boston Montreal Ottawa Hartford goals in three games are two short of his career high from seven previous NHL seasons. The Blackhawks went ahead, 4-3, at 1:08 of the third period on their third power-play goal, a 55-foot slap shot from the left point by Jeremy Roenkk. Roenick, a 53-goal scorer last season, got his first goal of 1992-93.

PATRICK OP PTS LAST 10 Of -OA AWAY 2-0-1 2-1-0 1-0-2 1-1-0 1-2-0 13-9 12- 11 13- 9 6-6 10-13 9-14 1-0-1 0-1-0 00- 1 1- 1-0 1-0-0 0-2-1 Philadelphia Now Jersey Pittsburgh NY Rangers Washington NY Islanders No Rodman, but Pistons aren't worried 1 0-2-1 Top lour teams In each division make the playoffs MONDAY'S RESULTS Ottawa at Boston, Inc. Hartford at NY Rangers, he. Wash, at New Jersey, ha Winnipeg at Vancouver, Inc. SUNDAYS RESULTS BUFFALO 8, Montreal 2 CHCAGO 4, Tampa Bay 4 EDMONTON 3, Toronto 3 TODAY'S GAMES Buffalo at Pittsburgh. 7:40 Philadelphia at Quebec, 7:40 Tampa Bay at Si Louis, 8:40 Calgary vs.

Minnesota at Saskatoon, 9.40 San Jose at Los 10:40 WEDNESDAY'S GAMES Ottawa at Hartford, 7:40 New Jersey at Rangers, 7:40 Edmonton at Winnipeg, 8:40 three teams, using six-minute quarters. Tonight's scrimmage "will be more like a 48-minute game," Rothstein said. "WeU have two teams, and the coaching staff and I will have to figure out how to split them up." Rothstein said hell probably reduce the roster to 15 on Wednesday or Thursday. Counting Rodman, the Pistons have 17 players. By Cork Meinecke his old coach, Chuck Daly.

Wilson had hoped to talk with Rodman's agents, Bill Poflak and Neal Draddy, but neither returned calls. "How can you be off on Columbus Day?" Wilson said, smiling. The only scrimmage open to the public will be at 5 tonight at Saginaw Valley State's Ryder Center. A crowd of about 2,000 is expected. Tickets are $8.

Pistons have scrimmaged with university Center Still no Dennis Rodman, and still no panic on the faces of Pistons president Tom Wilson and coach Ron Rothstein. "Nothing yet," Wilson said after practice Monday evening. "But I think he'll be here by the end of the week." And maybe he won't The Pistons open their preseason Friday against the Hj Jersey Nets. It could be that Rodman doesn't want to play against Temple, but the numbers just don't add up. He was a career 42-percent shooter at Temple, then shot 37 percent in his This summer, he 1 Fi (Home teams In CAPITALS) rookia season with the Denver Nugge shot faX 20 percent in rookiefree a fcent camp..