Sprewell Grievance Is Filed

The NBA players’ association filed formal grievances against the league and the Golden State Warriors on Friday night and requested that suspended guard Latrell Sprewell’s paychecks be put into a escrow account.

The grievances will be heard by arbitrator John Feerick, dean of Fordham University Law School, on Jan. 4 at the earliest.

Neither the NBA nor Warrior General Manager Garry St. Jean would comment on the move.

Reports circulated late Friday that Sprewell had decided to hire attorney Johnnie Cochran, but Tellem said it wasn’t true--at least not yet.

“We have both talked to him, but he has not been retained,� Tellem said.

Sprewell is not eligible to play in the NBA again until Dec. 3, 1998--even if another team claims him off waivers by Monday morning or signs him to a free-agent contract.

Washington Wizard owner Abe Pollin said Friday he would consider signing Sprewell if the guard showed remorse.

“If [Sprewell] would open his heart and ask for forgiveness, I would consider it,� Pollin told the Washington Post. “But he would have to show us and the fans he is sorry for what he did.�

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The Houston Rockets and the Dallas Mavericks flew to Mexico City to play the NBA’s first regular-season game south of the border.

The Mavericks will be playing their second game under new Coach Don Nelson. Dallas fired coach Jim Cleamons after the team lost 12 of its last 13 games.

The Rockets will be without Hakeem Olajuwon, sidelined with a knee injury. Charles Barkley is slowed by a groin injury but will play.

“Dallas is also struggling with some injuries. Their big man, center Shawn Bradley, is not expected to play in the game,� Rocket Coach Ruddy Tomjanovich said.

The teams flew to the Mexican capital a day ahead of tonight’s game in order to get used to the 7,200-foot altitude.

Only one Mexican player, the Phoenix Suns’ Lorenzo Llamas, plays in the NBA.

Meanwhile, the Mavericks designated injured forward Kurt Thomas as an assistant coach for the rest of the season. Thomas is recovering from a broken right ankle that might end his career.

He had bone graft surgery to repair the ankle May 29, then broke it again in November.

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Toronto Raptor Coach Darrell Walker was fined $5,000 by the NBA for making an obscene gesture at a fan after Wednesday’s 115-98 loss at Utah.

Walker said the fan had been tormenting the Raptors throughout the game and that team officials were surprised security at the Delta Center did not have him removed.

The Raptors’ coach made the gesture, which was caught on camera, as the team was heading toward its locker room.

“[The gesture] probably was just my frustration with all the losing, but I’ll tell you, that guy was abusive,� Walker told the Toronto Sun.