News
Email
Print
Sports Briefs - Johnson: I won't sell Bobcats even if team loses millions
ADVERTISEMENT
Published: October 21, 2008
CHARLOTTE -- The first black majority owner of a major professional sports team is not interested in selling, even as he loses millions.
Bob Johnson said yesterday that he remains committed to the Charlotte Bobcats, who have struggled to win and attract fans since he paid $300 million for the expansion franchise four years ago.
The Bobcats have laid off nearly 40 employees in the past month to save money. But in an interview with The Associated Press, Johnson said he has no intention of unloading the team, and remains committed to spending what it takes to get the Bobcats to the playoffs for the first time.
Johnson said that the basketball operations will not be affected by his recent cost-cutting. The team has committed $63 million in player salaries this season.
"I'm not selling the team," Johnson said. "We have had calls from people wanting to know if they would want additional investors in the team. But there have been no discussions and I'm not interested in selling the team."
At the recommendation of a consulting firm, Johnson gutted the business and marketing departments, leaving just a skeleton crew and plenty of empty cubicles.
The team re-signed forward Emeka Okafor to a six-year, $72 million deal this summer and hired Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown to replace Sam Vincent. Charlotte's player payroll of about $63 million this season is above the NBA's $58.7 million salary cap.
"Part of that study was focused on if you're able to put together a winning combination on the court, it's going to have an impact on your ability to sell tickets, attract sponsorships and advertisers," Johnson said. "So we're doing the things we believe are most critical to drive the value of this team and to demonstrate to the community that we are committed to winning with our basketball product."
More basketball
■ The Boston Celtics waived forward Darius Miles, who missed the past two seasons with knee injuries and who was suspended without pay for 10 games this season for violating the NBA's anti-drug program.
Boston signed Miles as a free agent Aug. 22, and he averaged 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds in six preseason games. His suspension will begin with the first regular-season game for which he is eligible and physically able to play.
■ Antawn Jamison of the Washington Wizards practiced without a protective sleeve on his banged-up right knee and expects to be at 100 percent for the start of the regular season next week.
"No pain at all. No stiffness or anything like that," Jamison said after practice. "I feel pretty good."
He bruised the knee and left in the first quarter of Washington's first exhibition game, at Dallas on Oct. 7.
Jamison, a former star at North Carolina, sat out the next three outings before playing 29 minutes -- shooting 4 for 14 -- in a 102-80 loss to the New Orleans Hornets in Barcelona, Spain, on Friday. He wore a sleeve on his right leg in that game.
"I'm glad that everything worked out pretty well, and it wasn't as severe as they thought it was going to be," Jamison said. "No lingering effects."
■ Utah's Deron Williams will miss at least two weeks with a sprained left ankle.
Williams had an MRI yesterday, two days after he was injured in a preseason game at Chicago. Williams rolled his ankle when he landed on Chicago rookie Derrick Rose's foot on a 3-pointer in the first quarter and was carried off the floor.
The Jazz say the MRI results showed no damage to the bone and tendons around the ankle, but the second-degree sprain will keep him out of the lineup for a minimum of two weeks.
Utah will open the season at home on Oct. 29 against Denver.
■ Baron Davis learned yesterday his injured finger does not need surgery, and the Los Angles Clippers guard might be ready to play in the season opener.
Davis has a partial tear of the ulnar collateral ligament in his left ring finger, but is expected to resume basketball activities in a week. The Clippers will open their season against the Los Angeles Lakers on Oct. 29.
Davis, who signed a five-year, $65 million contract in July, was originally diagnosed with a sprained left ring finger after falling on his hand during practice last Friday.
Hockey
■ The Carolina Hurricanes have returned their No. 1 draft pick this year to his junior hockey team.
The team said yesterday that forward Zach Boychuk would return to the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League.
Carolina took Boychuk with the 14th overall selection in the June draft, and he had hand surgery before the season. He made his NHL debut at Los Angeles on Friday and also played Sunday at Anaheim.
General manager Jim Rutherford said that Boychuk will benefit from another year of development in junior hockey.
■ Bobby Holik, a New Jersey Devils center, will be sidelined three to four weeks with a broken pinkie.
He was injured Saturday night in Washington and is scheduled for surgery today, general manager Lou Lamoriello said.
The Devils recalled left wing Pierre-Luc Letourneau-Leblond from Lowell of the AHL to take Holik's roster spot. He is expected to play Wednesday against Dallas, skating with Mike Rupp and David Clarkson.
Miscellaneous
■ Marcus Vick, a former Virginia Tech quarterback, has pleaded guilty to drunken driving and other charges, and a spokeswoman for the Norfolk (Va.) Commonwealth's Attorney said that Vick also was convicted yesterday of eluding police and driving on the wrong side of the road.
Vick, 24, was arrested in June after fleeing an officer who saw him involved in a dispute with a woman. A Norfolk judge suspended a 12-month jail sentence on the DUI charge, but Vick must pay fines and lose his license for a year.
Email
Print
