THE NEWEST SUPERSTAR on the NBA scene this year isn't Grant Hill. Or Jason Kidd. Or Glenn Robinson. In fact, the biggest star in this year's crop of promising rookies has never played organized basketball.
Hoping to keep the NBA at the forefront of the sports world, the league has cut a series of television spots starring smirky actor Bill Murray, who announces to a mock news conference that he is retiring from acting "so that I may pursue a dream. I want to play in the NBA."The commercials include cuts in which a skeptical press corp fires questions at Murray, such as "Have you ever played organized basketball?" To which Murray replies, "What? You mean full court? Five-on-five?"
In another, he is asked why he is going into basketball. Murray's answer: "I have achieved everything in my own field." Asked if he'd ever won an Oscar, he says, well, no. A reporter then says, "Have you ever been nominated?" to which Murray replies no, but adds, "But I have an Emmy for writing."
There is also a spot in which commissioner David Stern is approached at the back door of his home by a television reporter, asking Stern if he saw the press conference. Stern replies he did, but adds he doesn't know how Murray got into the NBA's offices in New York, and promises increased security.
Footage for future ads has also been taped that includes Murray at a shoe store, trying to negotiate a deal for free basketball shoes.
Television reporters Ahmad Rashad and Marv Albert also figure into the formula. Rashad is seen firing skeptical questions toward Murray in one segment, while Albert points out, "When you think team rebounds, you think Bill Murray."
Even NBA Director of Scouting Marty Blake gets into the act. In a recent NBA News article, Blake said, "If anyone thinks that someone in their mid-40s who never played college ball has a chance to play in the NBA, they must not really follow the game. His (Murray's) mechanics are suspect, he's not in shape and other scouts tell me he has a bit of an attitude problem."
Murray reportedly wouldn't accept payment for his participation. Rather, he asked for total creative control and final approval of the commercials. The NBA agreed, though Stern has final authority on whether a spot will be aired.
SPEAKING OF BASKETBALL: It should come as no surprise to Utahns - confirmed lovers of the game of hoops - that basketball is America's No. 1 team sport in terms of participation.
According to the American Basketball Council, basketball is played by 42 million Americans. Volleyball ranks second with 31.7 million, followed by softball with 30.1 million. Only two other sports of any kind, bowling (49 million) and fresh-water fishing (47.8 million), outrank basketball in participation.
Though basketball is considered a young person's game, the number of people age 35 and over who played the game at least once rose by 71 percent between 1987 and 1993, from 4.2 million to 7.2 million.
Which is good news to orthopedic surgeons everywhere.
NEVER GOING BACK: In the "color me skeptical" category comes this from San Francisco Examiner writer Art Spander, who says Raiders' owner Al Davis will never move the team back to Oakland.
"Through the seasons, Lonesome Al has been depicted as devious, heartless and mercenary," writes Spander. "It is to note, he has never, ever been labeled foolish. It matters not how many tales of Davis returning to Oakland are floated by the media or politicians, Al ain't coming back.
"He despises the Los Angeles Coliseum, where a lot of the fans have tatoos, and their husbands look even tougher? And there's no solid base of season ticket holders? "Well, Al will work his magic and use his leverage. And just about the time someone in Oakland announces all that needs to happen for the Raiders to come home is for Al to put his signature on a contract, the team will replace the Rams at Anaheim Stadium."
QUOTEFILE: Murray, responding to a reporter who points out that Murray has never played organized basketball: "S-So?"