NEW YORK -- So, how will the Knicks top the Rangers? Or, more to the point, how will the NBA top the NHL? Bet you never thought you'd hear that question, but hey, when fans riot in Vancouver and not New York, the world is upside down. The NHL isn't about to wrestle supremacy from the NBA, but only in the post-Jordan era could the hockey postseason be a greater artistic success. Everyone knew the NBA had reached a crossroads when Jordan retired. But no one imagined the league would become so painful to watch, so quickly. These NBA Finals offer a marquee matchup -- Hakeem Olajuwon vs. Patrick Ewing, the first showdown of dominant big men since Kareem Abdul-Jabbar vs. Moses Malone in 1983. An interesting pairing, and one with a history -- Olajuwon first met Ewing in the '84 NCAA championship game. But watching these two go at it, is anyone reminded of Chamberlain-Russell? The NBA transformed itself into the most popular league in the world by marketing its star power -- Magic and Bird, Jordan and Isiah. Now, for the first time since 1979, none of those players is in the Finals. Meanwhile, younger stars like Shaquille O'Neal seem as obsessed with their commercial portfolios as NBA titles. O'Neal, at least, can draw a crowd -- unlike, say, Derrick Coleman. But clearly, this is a time of transition, a time to shift the emphasis back to the product. n While trying hard not to jinx the Rockets in the NBA Finals, Houston officials are quietly putting together a downtown celebration in anticipation of the city's first major sports title. The city council on Wednesday created a loophole in city bylaws to allow midweek parades in downtown Houston. A parade is planned regardless of whether the Rockets beat the New York Knicks in the best-of-7 finals. Parade plans have been in the works for days, but officials are mum on what exactly they have in mind. n The NBA relocation committee turned down a New Orleans group's $152.5-million offer to buy the Minnesota Timberwolves on Wednesday, a move that is expected to tip off a round of lawsuits. Starting it, the league filed an action in federal district court in Minneapolis, where it is assured of popular support, asserting its right to set criteria for prospective buyers. Commissioner David Stern said Top Rank of Louisiana failed to furnish enough data pertaining to its offer, so the Timberwolves will stay in Minnesota for the 1994-95 season. Stern said he expects Top Rank to sue. (Baltimore Sun, AP, LAT)
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