'JAIL BLAZERS' ALIENATE FANS, ENDANGER FRANCHISE

The Portland Trail Blazers have a wealth of talented players who get into a
world of trouble, which is a big reason they might become the first sports
franchise to lose $100 million in a season.

Portland's leading scorer, Rasheed Wallace, and teammate Damon Stoudamire
pleaded not guilty last week to marijuana possession. Last month, Ruben
Patterson was arrested on a domestic abuse charge and Bonzi Wells was
suspended by the NBA for spitting on an opponent.

While the team's image has taken a beating, so has the investment of
billionaire owner Paul Allen, co-founder of Microsoft Corp. and third on
Forbes magazine's list of the richest Americans. The once-fervent
basketball fans of Portland no longer clamor for tickets, and a popular
local car dealer has threatened to give up his $175,000 luxury suite
because of the misdeeds.

"I'm embarrassed by their behavior," Portland Mayor Vera Katz said.

Around Portland, the team is mockingly referred to as the "Jail Blazers."

As the only major professional team in Portland, the Trail Blazers used to
be the pride of the city. Now, the franchise that won the 1977 NBA
championship behind Hall-of-Fame center Bill Walton and twice reached the
NBA Finals with star Clyde Drexler is in danger of permanently alienating
its fans.

Despite a payroll of $105 million, the highest in the NBA, Portland has a
10-10 record this season.

Empty seats are commonplace at the 19,980-seat Rose Garden, which opened in
1995 after 18 consecutive years of sellouts at Memorial Coliseum, which had
a capacity of 12,266.

After forking over at least $50 million in luxury taxes - payments required
of teams that exceed the NBA's $55 million payroll threshold - the Trail
Blazers may lose more than $110 million this season.

ETC.: The prospective owners of the Boston Celtics have bolstered their bid
by adding a local real-estate development firm before Tuesday's meeting
with an NBA ownership committee. The Abbey Group will have an equal share
with the original three partners, group chairman and longtime Celtics fan
Robert Epstein said. The reported price of $360 million would be the most
paid for an NBA franchise.