by Ron Murphy

All of the flash and glitter time is past for the NBA Free Agent sweepstakes
of 2000, and the Orlando Magic have put together the team picture they were
looking for.  An All-American Grant Hill, standing beside the star of the
future, Tracy McGrady.  Beside them the multi-millionaire Amway
co-founder/team owner Rich DeVos, GM John Gabriel and millenium proto-type
coach "Doc" Rivers.  Throw in some good young supporting players and all
that's missing is an NBA championship trophy.

Well, if that trophy gets to Florida after this season, it's going to be a
few more miles south of Orlando.

While the "glitz and glamour" Magic used their salary cap room, Disneyland
and the exclusive athlete community nearby, the "house of pain" Miami Heat
came out the winners of the off-season, with their addition of Eddie Jones,
Anthony Mason and (soon) Brian Grant.  And, if the Pacers go ahead with a
Dennis Rodman experiment, the Magic may have to settle for being third best
in the East.

The big news, however, is going to be the Heat.  I can already hear the
cheers of sportswriters around the county as they anticipate a Miami-Laker
finals, hoping for a seven game beach-to-beach brawl.  Zo vs. Shaq.  Eddie
vs. Kobe.  Brian  Grant vs.???.  Mace vs. Gill (perhaps).  Riley vs. Jackson.  This is
what a finals should be about.

If Shaq learns how to shot put a basketball 15 feet from a standing position
(what the rest of us call free throw shooting) and the Heat players survive
team practices, we could see an epic battle at the conclusion of this next
season.  Break out the VCR and the old "Miami Vice" tapes, because the Heat
looks to have a grip on the Eastern Conference ticket to the dance.

So where does that leave the Magic.  The team that couldn't win a
championship WITH Shaq, Penny and Horace Grant thought that adding Grant
Hill and Tracy McGrady would get them over the hump.  Grant Hill hasn't
shown any spectacular leadership of the Pistons during his playoff career
and McGrady is now the number two to another great player, but one who may
no longer be as good as Vince Carter.

Oh well, there's always the idea of getting out the Rolodex, calling up
Jerry Krause and saying, "We're better than you!" and hanging up real fast.
For the Magic, being the second best team in the state may be a hard pill to
swallow, but maybe living in  the entertainment capital of Florida will ease
the pain.  

Grant and TMAC got their lifestyle and Eddie Jones got his.  Eddie's,
however, may just include a ring.

- Ron Murphy
   Belvidere, IL
   idlehands@sltic.com

8/10/2000
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