Magic executive denies drunk-dialing Howard
The Magic's retiring chairman and chief executive officer, Bob Vander Weide, said Wednesday that his decision to step down had nothing to do with a late-night phone call he made recently to Dwight Howard and that efforts to keep the Magic all-star continue.
The Magic's retiring chairman and chief executive officer, Bob Vander Weide, said Wednesday that his decision to step down had nothing to do with a late-night phone call he made recently to Dwight Howard and that efforts to keep the Magic all-star continue.
However, general manager Otis Smith said the Magic won't acquiesce to every request Howard might have should he decide to test the free agency waters next summer.
Vander Weide, 53, will stay on in a consulting role, but will hand off the chairman duties to his brother-in-law Dan DeVos. Team president Alex Martins is taking over as CEO.
Vander Weide sought to clear up reports that he may have been intoxicated when he spoke to Howard this week.
He said he had two to three glasses of wine over a three-hour period and wanted to return text and phone messages Howard left for him. He denied being drunk when he spoke to Howard.
Adelman names staff
Rick Adelman is bringing plenty of familiar faces with him to the Minnesota Timberwolves coaching staff.
Adelman announced on Wednesday that Terry Porter, Jack Sikma, T.R. Dunn, and Bill Bayno will join him as assistants on his staff.
Porter interviewed for the head coaching position in Minnesota before it was given to Adelman. The former point guard played for Adelman with the Portland Trail Blazers and served as an assistant on his staff in Sacramento.
Sixers ticket deal
The 76ers announced that for all 13 home games in January, tickets in the mezzanine level will be $17.76 or less, with no online ticket fees if purchased on Sixers.com.
Additionally, all season-ticket-holders who bought tickets in the mezzanine above $17.76 will be upgraded to seats in the lower level for all home games in January.
AP and NBA ref settle
The Associated Press and an NBA referee have reached a settlement in a lawsuit against the news agency and one of its writers over a Twitter message suggesting the referee intentionally made a bad call to make up for another.
Referee William Spooner agreed to drop the suit pending removal of the Jan. 24 tweet from Jon Krawczynski's Twitter account and a payment of $20,000 for Spooner's litigation costs.