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Tickets at Ticket Master
It was much ado about a typographical error.
Warning flags went up Thursday afternoon when Timberwolves guard Latrell Sprewell
didn't show up for the team's mandatory media day.
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Is Sprewell going to be distraction this season? Is he going to have a problem following directions? Will the Wolves ticketmaster have to monitor his every move?
It turns out Sprewell missed Thursday's festivities because of the wrong day
and date on the itinerary sent to him from his agent.
He arrived late Thursday night.
"My itinerary had Friday, Oct. 2," he said after taking part in the
team's first practice Friday. "So that was the problem. I thought yesterday's
stuff was going on today, basically."
The Wolves, who opened training camp at St. John's University, aren't going
to fine Sprewell for the mixup between ticketmaster him and his agent, Robert
Gist, who didn't return phone calls Friday.
"Basically it was a whole miscommunication," Wolves coach Flip Saunders
said. "As people know, Spree is pretty tough to get in touch with during
the summer. So we communicated with his agent. His agent sent him a letter.
He actually faxed the letter to us that basically said he was to be here on
Friday, Oct. 2. He got one thing right, Friday. Oct. 2 was on a Thursday."
Sprewell, who came to the Wolves from the New York Knicks in a four-team trade
in July, was driving from Milwaukee, his hometown, about the time the team was
holding its annual photo and interview session Thursday at the Target Center.
"Obviously I wanted to be there," Sprewell said. "I'm disappointed
I missed the team dinner and stuff like that. Fortunately, I was able to be
here today."
The Wolves were relieved to hear Sprewell's absence was simply a mixup. Considering
his past, some wondered if he was up to his old tricks.
Sprewell choked then-Golden State coach P.J. Carlesimo after a practice during
the 1997-98 season. He was fined in April 2002 after missing a morning shoot-around
in Miami. Last season, Sprewell showed up at the Knicks' training camp with
a broken hand. He missed the first eight games of the season because of the
injury. Plus, he has a reputation for showing up for games too close to tipoff.
The Wolves say they did a thorough background check on Sprewell before trading
for him.
"We talked to people that coached him, and they were very complimentary
of him," Wolves general manager Kevin McHale said. "Teammates love
him, and he's professional, and he comes out and does his job. I ticketmaster
told him I'm glad we have him. It was a mixup, and that stuff happens. There's
no conspiracy theory, and I know everyone likes to think that way. He didn't
miss any practice. No harm, no foul."
Sprewell raved Friday about the Wolves' organization and how excited he is to
start the season.
"I think two things," he said. "The talent level; on paper it's
a nice team. I feel like this is a playoff team. And the other thing is the
management is solid from top to bottom; there's some stability within the front
office. That means a lot as a player."
On the court, the Wolves have in Sprewell a player who is a bit past his prime
but who plays with the same passion and determination as all-star forward Kevin
Garnett. Sprewell has averaged 19 points during his 11-year career, and he still
has the ability to shut down opposing players with his defense. He will move
back to shooting guard after playing small forward, where he usually was outweighed,
with the Knicks.
"He came into this league, and I think he first established himself as
a defensive player with his high energy and competitiveness," Saunders
said. "As he's gotten older, he's probably not as quick as he used to be.
He's smarter and understands more. As (former Knicks coach) Jeff (Van Gundy)
told me, he will do whatever you ask him to do."
At this point, the Wolves just want Sprewell to be on time.
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