Byline: Norm Clarke Rocky Mountain News Sports Columnist
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf says he is standing up for his religious beliefs by sitting down for the national anthem.
The Nuggets' leading scorer came under fire on radio talk shows last week for remaining on the bench during the national anthem.
Abdul-Rauf, who adopted the Islamic faith in 1991, said Saturday he means no disrespect to the American flag, but, ``My duty is to my creator, not to nationalistic ideology. I'm a Muslim first and a Muslim last.''
He said the issue has been discussed with Nuggets' management, and they were informed he would not participate in the anthem ceremony. He offered to remain in the locker room during the anthem, then join the team. ``They didn't have a problem with it. They were concerned how it would affect me.''
He added, ``I'm a man that stands up to what I believe in, no matter how much the opposition is. I don't criticize those people who stand up for what they believe in.''
Abdul-Rauf said a friend, on his behalf, called Rod Thorn, the NBA's senior vice president for basketball operations, to determine if the league had a policy on the issue. Thorn indicated there was no such policy, Abdul-Rauf said.
``I'm just choosing not to stand. I come to play basketball . . . I think the main thing should be my play.''
Barkley strikes again - Charles Barkley ``chalked'' up another victim during his trip to Denver last week.
Usually, his favorite target is mascot Rocky the Mountain Lion, who gets pummeled and stomped by the Phoenix Suns' All-Star during a friendly skit. This time, Barkley ambushed an unsuspecting young ballboy.
KOA's Tim Smile saw it unfold in the clubhouse an hour before Thursday's Suns-Nuggets game. An animated Barkley walked over to a play board with a towel and erased all the plays freshly diagrammed by assistant coach Donn Nelson for a pregame session. Barkley replaced the plays with an obscenity directed at the Nuggets.
``Then he yelled, `Ballboy.' '' When the ballboy arrived, a poker-faced Barkley ordered him to ``get that off there.'' When the youngster started erasing the board, Barkley summoned Nelson, who went bonkers at the sight of the missing plays.
Look up the word mortified in the dictionary, and you'll find a picture of the ballboy.
The List - The five NHL teams to reach 100 points in a season in the fewest games (coach in parentheses):
* Montreal, 62 games, 45-7-10, 1976-77 (Scotty Bowman).
* Boston, 63 games, 46-8-9, 1971-72 (Tom Johnson).
* Montreal, 63 games, 46-8-9, 1977-78 (Bowman).
* Detroit, 64 games, 48-12-4, 1995-96 (Bowman).
* Boston, 64 games, 47-10-7, 1970-71 (Johnson).
Source: Elias Sports Bureau
Media Notes - If KOA's Larry Zimmer steps down as the radio voice of the Broncos, and analyst Dave Logan ascends to the play-by-play role, who would be the leading candidates to fill Logan's slot? Lee Larsen, KOA vice president / general manager, will only say, ``A long list of people would come to mind.'' A top candidate, no doubt, would be former Broncos linebacker Jim Ryan, who has made big strides as a broadcaster. ``It's not even an issue until I get past the other stuff,'' Larsen said . . . Andy Warhol said we all get 15 minutes of fame. Some of us have to settle for less. Don't blink, or you'll miss mine - all two seconds worth in the film, Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead. The scene is Union Station, when the hired killer comes to town to knock off the main characters. My cameo appearance amounted to walking near the bad guy. I'm guessing I got the part because the scene needed someone real scary
. . . Lookalike: Treat Williams, smashing in his role as Critical Bill, in Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead, is a spitting image of Jim Turner, former Bronco / sports talk show host.
Last Calls - One of the burning WAC questions today is whether the NCAA will extend a tournament bid to Fresno State and coach Jerry Tarkanian. Considering the history of bad blood between the NCAA and Tarkanian, expect no favors for Fresno State. ``I think they'd send him to Alaska, if they could,'' said Tommy Sheppard, Nuggets director of media relations. Sheppard was in the UNLV sports information department during Tarkanian's stay at UNLV . . . Name of the Week: With the return of pro hockey to Macon, Ga., after a 22-year hiatus, the team will resurrect its old name - the Macon Whoopee.
The Bottom Line - Free advice to Atlanta Hawks coach Lenny Wilkens on newly acquired Christian Laettner, from St. Petersburg (Fla.) Times sports columnist Gary Shelton: ``Huggies are more absorbent than Pampers, and never lose the pacifier.''
