Walter Berry surprised Olympiacos earlier this week by showing up in Cleveland for his former team’s exhibition vs. the Cavaliers. But unlike former Net Chris Morris, who won a $1.4 million judgment against the Greek team for back wages yet unpaid, the former St. John’s forward wasn’t there to serve a subpoena.
After dropping off the NBA’s round world in the late 1980s (14.1 points in 205 games for five teams), Berry competed for eight seasons in Greece, three (’93, ’94, ’95) as MVP for the strongest league in Europe at the time, two for Olympiacos.
In 1992-93, The Truth (before one particularly imaginative member of the media reassigned the nickname to Paul Pierce; which is almost as lame as those who took credit for conjuring up Magic for Earvin Johnson and Pearl for Dwayne Washington, flouting the fact both renowned handles had been attached for years to Earl Monroe) fronted the team’s first Greek championship.
Three current Olympiacos coaches were teammates during that span, provoking various stories. One remembered a Olympiacos teammate of theirs (Stavros Elliniadis; national team manager, as well as coach for Maroussi) telling Berry he looked like Sidney Poitier.
“Thank you, my friend,” Berry responded. “And you know what, you look like Danny DeVito.”
To this day, Greek basketball people refer to Elliniadis as DeVito.
Another coach recounted Berry filling up his car with Diesel because it was cheaper . . . triggering a fire that enveloped the vehicle in flames.
Berry claimed not to recall that happening.
One man who forgets nothing is Shaquille O’Neal, regardless of how slight the perceived snub, written insult, whatever, or how modest the consideration. When the Cavaliers’ newest/oldest starting center discovered before the game Berry was in Quicken Loans Arena he signaled him to come to courtside.
“MY HERO!” Shaq shouted, giving Berry a big hug before inviting him into the locker room. Turns out when Berry was playing for the Spurs from ’86-to-’88, his two best years (averaged 17.5 in 129 games), Shaq was going to high school in San Antonio and he was nice to him.
Twenty one years later, Shaq told Berry and showed him how much that meant to him.
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Larry Brown formally is in job jeopardy; ripping the replacement referees cost both him and Bobcats ownership 60-large. Robert Johnson might stand still for losing games but not money. In typical quirky fashion, Next Town recently supplied reporters with a list of free agent backup power forwards Charlotte failed to pursue last summer.
“Hey, I thought this was a free country,” Next Town probably said to any number of bosses and commissioner David Stern. “I mean, I certainly proved I can go wherever and whenever I want.”
Oh, yeah, Grizzlies coach Lionel Hollins, who cannot afford such outbursts, also was fined (25G) for publicly flogging the substitute whistle blowers.
I’m guessing the league is a bit sensitive about the impression that raw refs are giving people, not just participants.
Well, let me be the first to go off the record and say I have got no problem with their overall body of work.
Sure they miss calls, but the misses are honest mistakes.
Sure they make too many, but I notice, for the most part, they’re agreeable to players explaining something as long as it’s done politely.
Moreover, they’re always asking each other for help.
Most important, they don’t ref the jersey number and just call what they see.
A few nights ago, a travel was assessed on Dirk Nowitzki. On the very next Mavericks’ possession, he was hit with an illegal screen. Both calls were correct.
That brings us to Gilbert Arenas, whose disinclination to make himself available to the media cost him 25G. For not insisting their player comply with league media interview rules, the Wizards’ organization got fined an equal amount.
If I were Principal of Payroll Deductions, I would be looking at this entirely different. I would dock Arenas and the Wizards every time he opens his mouth. In his case, silence, indeed, is golden.
Hell, dock anyone in D.C. the next time he or she utters a word. That’s my public stance. I see Stephen Jackson, on his return from a two-game suspension, voluntarily gave up his role as Warriors captain. “The Duke of Windsor would be proud,” column castigator Frank Drucker underlines.
Post sports editor Greg Gallo retires today. The best gift I can think to give him is getting this column in early . . . for once in our 30-year successful relationship.