By Sam Amico

PRO HOOPS AND HOPES

I love the fact that somewhere, there's a 7-foot-0 millionaire running wind sprints and working on his ballhandling.

I love the fact that somewhere else, a 6-1 guard is getting three jump shots to avoid being cut -- and he knows he had better make them all.

I love the fact NBA training camp has begun, and despite the occasional reports of players holding out or showing up late for practice, the majority are happy to be there. Most can't wait to work on their games, and most really want to get better.

And a lot of the players even dream about becoming this year's Jason Kidd, leading their team to the Finals out of nowhere.

For a lot of players, coaches and fans, training camp is the next best thing to the start of the regular season. Actually, when it comes to some of the teams I pull for, training camp is BETTER than the start of the season. At least now there's some hope.

But whether you root for the Golden State Warriors or Los Angeles Lakers really doesn't matter. I've always thought what makes the NBA great is the way the game is played. If you lose but show promise, that's fine with me. All you can ask from the guys on the court is that they try to earn their money.

Most do, and there's no better place to see that than training camp and the exhibition season. It's a time when players remember why they fell in love with the game in the first place, and when coaches have yet to develop any bags under their eyes.

It's a time when guys like new Atlanta forward Glenn Robinson shake hands with their teammates and say, "We gotta make the playoffs.''

It's a time when new Washington guard Jerry Stackhouse speaks in a cool, calm tone when talking to reporters, but knows he's not fooling anyone. He knows that everyone can see he is thinking, "Wow! I'm teammates with MICHAEL JORDAN!"

Finally, it's a time when a few of us old, short and slow guys can step onto the court and pretend we're in camp with our favorite team. Then we miss our first five shots and realize there's a reason we didn't get an invitation this year.

Yet somehow, we can still feel good about ourselves and our favorite teams. And to me, that's the best thing of all about October.

TRAINING CAMP STUFF

Some random thoughts to kick off the first week of camp:

-- I thought Dan Langhi was a decent pick-up for the Phoenix Suns. Langhi is 6-11 and can play anywhere from power forward to shooting guard off the bench. It didn't seem like he got much of a chance with the Houston during his first two years in the league -- but that could change with the Suns. Don't get me wrong, Langhi isn't going to erase any memories of Charles Barkley, but somebody has to be the 11th man. He may as well be good.

-- The Suns also signed guards Anthony Goldwire and Maurice Baker, and forwards Chris Burgess and Bobby Lazor. You may remember Burgess as the one-time high school phenom who signed with Duke, had a couple of horrible seasons, then transferred to Utah. He's a nice kid, but one who never lived up to all the hype.

-- Re-signing Lee Nailon was a great move for New Orleans, as Nailon was a big reason the Hornets were able to survive without starting small forward Jamal Mashburn in the lineup. These guys may have changed cities, but they brought everyone back -- and you have to like that if you're a Hornets fan. Everyone is signed, happy, and healthy.

-- Tim James and Joe Crispin are at it again. James, a third-year forward from Miami, is trying to hook up with his fourth team, as he's in training camp with the Knicks. Crispin is entering his second season as an undrafted guard out of Penn State. He is currently in camp with Golden State, after playing last season with the Lakers and Suns. Both are guys who I think belong in the league ... but where? And I'm not the only one who feels that way, as I've heard people who actually know what they're talking about say the same thing.

-- Tremaine Fowlkes is back in camp with the Clippers. In case you didn't know it, the 6-8 forward became the first NBDL call-up to start in an NBA game. How's that for making history?

-- Patrick Ewing? Hakeem Olajuwon? David Robinson? It's hard to believe none of three will be in the league next season. Will there ever be more than one great center at a time again?

-- Speak of greatness, did anyone else tear up as they watched Larry Bird introduce Magic Johnson on Hall of Fame night? I sure did. I also spent a lot of time this weekend wondering what would happen if Larry and Magic returned to the NBA today, but were in their prime. Could you imagine a 27-year old Bird joining, say, Cleveland? Or a 25-year old Magic going to Denver? Perhaps the real question is, do I need professional counseling?

-- Seeing Bird and Magic together, and hearing about all those great Celtics and Lakers teams, also reminded me of a time when you needed three future Hall-of-Famers just to be good. Today, it takes one, if that.

-- One thing I didn't like about NBA media day was how reporters gathered around Philadelphia guard Allen Iverson and basically said, "I know what you did last summer." Iverson was asked about his blown-out-of-proportion offseason and his spats with 76ers coach Larry Brown. And there was not one mention of new teammates Keith Van Horn or Todd MacCullouch. Then all the headlines read, "Iverson has little to say." Golly, I wonder why?

-- A few of you have e-mailed to ask if I "still think Iverson is the league's MVP?" I don't recall saying that (although I would say he's a candidate). What I did say was that Iverson is on of MY favorite players, a guy with a big heart who only wants to win. I think we'll see that again this season, as Iverson has already said he is on a mission.

-- Dikembe Mutombo is in New Jersey. Andre Miller is in L.A. Richard Hamilton is in Detroit. Jay Williams is in Chicago. Antonio McDyess is in New York. And could one of my all-time favorites, Mark Jackson, be headed for Utah? Hang on to your headbands everyone, the season is almost here!

STERN MESSAGE

Well, it appears not many of you have an opinion on NBA commissioner David Stern. And that's good, as even David Stern would rather have you care more about the game itself than the man who's in charge.

At any rate, I'll give you another week to answer last week's question -- what are your feelings about Stern, and the job he's done in his two decades running the NBA?

Those of you who have already e-mailed, don't worry. I've saved your replies and will run them next time.

E-MAIL ALONZO MOURNING

This is your final chance to send well-wishes to Miami center Alonzo Mourning through this newsletter. Mourning is expected to miss the season with a kidney ailment, and you can e-mail a message to him at amicoreport@hotmail.com. I'll pass it along to the Heat public relations department to give to Alonzo during the second week of October. The deadline is Oct. 8.

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

FROM DANIEL KNAUSER

Q: In a recent newsletter, you stated that you considered the Phoenix Suns "an offseason winner." What did they do to make you say that?

A: Dear Daniel, nothing. And that is what I like. The Suns drafted for need, getting a raw but talented power forward in Amare Stoudamire, and a crafty shooter in Casey Jacobsen. Other than that, they stayed put. And allowing a team to grow from within is a very underrated thing to do. Remember, Stephon Marbury is only the same age as Kobe Bryant (24), meaning Marbury still has a lot of time left in the league. The Suns are still building, and taking desperate measures during the summer wasn't necessary.

FROM KELLY CLARK

Q: Do you think New Jersey forward Richard Jefferson will average more than 15 points per game this season? He sure is fun to watch. Also, will the Bulls finish above .500?

A: Dear Kelly, I agree with you about Jefferson being fun to watch. As for him averaging more than 15 points, it's hard to tell. That's no knock on Jefferson, but the Nets are a team in the truest sense, and I don't think anyone averaged more than 15 per game for them last season. But if anyone can do it, it's the second-year forward, who is a great natural athlete and a smart, fundamental player. The Bulls have an outside shot at .500, simply because I think Detroit, Miami and Milwaukee will probably be worse. But don't expect the playoffs. Instead, just appreciate how fun the Bulls will be to watch.

FROM RYAN BENNETT

Q: Do you think any of the current members of the New Zealand national team will play in the NBA (other than Sean Marks, who plays for Miami)?

A: Dear Ryan, yes. Watch out for Kirk Penney and Pero Cameron. Both could get drafted next season.

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