Mr. Maravich Meet Mr. Most

February 3, 1980

Pete Maravich received the first jolt of local culture shock last Tuesday evening when he caught Johnny Most's description and accounts of what The Pistol thought was a re-enactment of the St. Valentine's Day Massacre in Chicago. In reality, it was the Celtic-Bull game. "That's the first time I've ever heard Johnny," Maravich explained. "Amazing. I thought eight Chicago guys had guns."

Bill Fitch has quietly lost over 50 pounds since taking the Celtics' job. Just think how much more weight he could have lost if he had to coach Sidney Wicks and Marvin Barnes . . . The most amazing statistic to emerge from the phantasmagorical four overtime Cleveland-Los Angeles game this week was that in 68 minutes of play, the Cavaliers committed only 14 turnovers . . . The best national anthem rendition of the year has been an acapella harmonized version done in Chicago by a singing group called the "Reflections of Time" . . . Diet or not, Fitch drools when he thinks about some way of placing Kermit Washington back in a Boston uniform . . . Hey, is there a spare $89.95 lying around on top of your dresser? If so, you can purchase the "Jerry Lucas Memory Training Kit." It includes six videotapes, three manuals and a free copy of his best seller, "The Memory Book." Just don't forget to include the $2.50 postage and handling fee. This is on the level . . . Don't the Bucks have to do something drastic soon? The center position is killing them, and if they don't improve, there is even a possibility they could miss the playoffs, which would almost certainly jeopardize Don Nelson's job. I've got to believe they'll wind up with Bob Lanier, giving up something like Kent Benson, Brian Winters and a draft pick. As good as Winters is, he won't be missed as long as the Bucks have Sidney Moncrief. This young man will be a great player, so playing time for him has to be found.

Some three-point data: Based on the latest weekly stats, the league's centers have shot a spiffy 0.925 percent (5-or-54) from  Fordland. The only centers to have made any bombs are Dan Issel (3), Steve Hawes (1) and Tom Owens (1). Cleveland has had 11 different people launch three-pointers, while Washington, Golden State (Clifford Ray, even), Philadelphia, Kansas City, Indiana, Atlanta and Boston have all seen 10 people try it. The team which has had the fewest thrillseekers is Seattle. Only five Sonics (Gus Williams, Fred Brown, Dennis Johnson, Vinnie Johnson and Lonnie Shelton) have tried a three- pointer. Teams are making more recent use of the tactic, as evidenced by the fact that Brian Taylor has only attempted more three-pointers than 17 entire teams, as opposed to 20, which was the case earlier in the season. Only Boston, Houston, New Jersey and Indiana have tried more three-pointers than Mr. Taylor . . . Granted that the actual call was the result of accumulated grievances over the course of the game, but couldn't referee Wally Rooney have waited until Cleveland coach Stan Albeck said something more stinging than "C'mon, Wally" before slapping him with a second quarter technical last Wednesday night? . . . The loss of Tom McMillen will hurt Atlanta, whose success depends on the integration of 10 men into the lineup. McMillen tore up his right knee and will be lost for the season, being replaced by John Brown. I'd say they have lost something," said Fitch.