Commentary : Hockey and Basketball in 90-Degree Weather

WASHINGTON — Sitting here typing while a bright sun pushes the temperature into the low 90s, naturally I’m preoccupied with basketball and hockey, both still very much in the news just four years after their 1986-87 seasons began: Basketball, with the NBA lottery and the Boston Celtics, as ever, winning a “must game” at home. Hockey, with something new in fighting, a pregame brawl--an appetizer for those who can’t wait for the feature bouts--and the news that the Capitals have prevailed in their courtship of Bengt Gustafsson, the Anita Ekberg of center ice.

The NBA lottery, a cringing, pandering slice of false drama that proves how low sports will stoop to get on network television, is again promising more than it’s likely to deliver. This is its third year. (Some whiz kid at CBS will probably pitch it for a prime-time special, and it will be as horrifyingly inert as that comatose Heisman presentation.)

In its first year, the Knicks were delirious at the prospect of picking Patrick Ewing. Since then, they have fired two coaches and two general managers and dropped so far out of contention they need a periscope to see .500. Needless to say, they were in the lottery for the third straight year. In its second year, the 76ers thought so much of having the first selection they traded it for Roy Hinson, picked 20th three years previous.

This year the San Antonio Spurs got lucky. Or did they? They have announced their unswerving intention to select David Robinson, sign him, and tie a yellow ribbon around the old oak tree until Robinson fulfills his military obligation.

Bob Bass, San Antonio’s general manager, said jauntily, “We’ve waited 14 years. What’s two more?”

Well, under existing NBA rules, if Robinson doesn’t sign with San Antonio by Draft Day 1988, he’d go back in the pool and be eligible to be drafted again--probably by a different team. (It’s a pretty safe bet that he’d be the first prize in next year’s lottery, too.) And if he didn’t sign with that team by Draft Day 1989, he’d be a free agent, able to sign with whomever he wants.

The NBA might change its rules to elongate San Antonio’s rights to Robinson. But Robinson has time on his hands anyway: two years. If you were a fly on the wall in the NBA’s headquarters, you’d hear them say they’d rather have Robinson in a major market; George Gervin was a whisper in San Antonio.

What appeal would San Antonio hold for a Navy man like Robinson? Can you sail a battleship in an irrigation ditch? Some guesses: 1) The Spurs will be in the lottery again next year. 2) Robinson won’t sign with them. 3) He’ll end up in Washington, because it’s home and it’s also the best place for him to begin assembling the network for the long view after pro ball.

The Celtics continue to impress and amaze. They had lost two straight to a veteran team. They were hobbled, drained-ripe for the picking.

If there’s such a creature as momentum, it seemed to be renting a room in Milwaukee. Yet, in the crucial minutes, Boston forced Milwaukee into uncharacteristic skittishness. The Celtics outthought, outmanuevered and outhustled the Bucks.

This was written here before, but here I go again: The Celtics’ front line of Larry Bird, Robert Parish and Kevin McHale is the NBA’s best ever. When they absolutely, positively had to deliver, they got 80 points and 44 rebounds. What makes them champions is that they’re not afraid to win.

Which brings us to the Capitals. They’ve never won a big game. They always find a way to lose in the playoffs. It’s hard to judge which they need more: a goal scorer or a transfusion. Help, they promise, is on the way.

You know him, you love him, you can’t live without him, let’s welcome back from Sweden--we love you ja, ja, ja--Bengt Gustafsson, of whom David Poile said, “There is no player I could acquire by draft, trade or free agency that is as good as Bengt Gustafsson will be for the Capitals the next two years. . . . I can’t help but wonder what the scenario would have been the last two seasons if we’d had Gustafsson for the playoffs. (Gustafsson missed the 1985-86 playoffs due to injury.) He could be the catalyst that puts us over the hump.”

Meaning no disrespect, but didn’t the Capitals already have Gustafsson when they lost playoff series to the Islanders the first two times? A hump is a hump is a hump. Gustafsson is good, maybe better than ever now that he’s rejuvenated and coming off a heroic performance in the world championships. But when people think of all-time hockey players they don’t say: “Howe, Richard, Orr, and then, ahead of Hull, there’s Bengt Gustafsson.”

Gustafsson will make everyone better, but he can’t invent a left winger. “We need somebody who can score on the left side,” Bryan Murray said. “We have to do something to get one more guy there.”

Staying on the subject of hockey, how about that fight in Montreal, eh? You talk about goons on parade. They were on the ice in shower clogs whacking away at each other. And why? Because Philadelphia didn’t want to give up an open-net goal before the game! Let me ask a question: What’s the aggregate IQ of the Flyers? Is it larger than an eggplant?

NHL executive vice president Brian O’Neill allowed that “the actions of the players brought dishonor to the league.”