Now You See Him, Now You Don't

Center Arvydas Sabonis is in Portland, but the Blazers add to
a mystery by abruptly canceling a Thursday afternoon news conference

Question: Where do you hide a 7-foot-3, almost 300-pound Lithuanian 
center?

Answer: Perhaps the KOIN tower Center Building apartments, where 
Portland Trail Blazers billionaire owner Paul Allen just happens to 
have a plush suite, a suite roomy enough to accomodate accommodate 
European basketball star Arvydas Sabonis and anybody else Sabonis 
wants to invite up for a drink or a game of cards.

A notorious lover of the good life, Sabonis could have been holed up 
in Allen's digs Thursday night -- so close to Champions Lounge at 
the Marriott Hotel, yet so far -- after a news conference called for 
4 p.m. to either announce his signing (or maybe just his arrival in 
town) was abruptly cancelled canceled by the Blazers.

Portland news hounds, on full alert since Sabonis sightings surfaced 
Thursday morning, got nothing more for their trouble than a fleeting 
look at a long white limo limousine outside the Rose Garden.

"Where do I bring the player?" the limo driver asked a puzzled 
parking attendant.

Moments later, the limo was gone.

So what happened?

Last-minute contract or salary cap problems?

Did Sabonis, who has a history of ankle and achilles Achilles woes, 
flunk a physical?

Refuse to take one?

Refuse to disclose his real age? (It's 30, 31 or 53).

Did the big guy balk at the Rose Garden's color scheme?

Was the whole thing a hoax?

Was brand new Blazer Billy Curley the mystery player in the limo?

Was Sabonis driving the limo?

Stay tuned.

Media relations director John Christensen said Blazers' Blazers 
general manager Bob Whitsitt pulled the plug on the news conference 
at about 2:30 p.m., without explanation.

Whitsitt was unwilling to solve the mystery of the lost limo driver 
Thursday night as he rushed out of his Rose Quarter office, but he 
did give Christensen the go-ahead to say that yes, Sabonis is indeed 
somewhere in Portland. 

Sabonis has played in Spain for the last six years, but he ended his 
relationship with Real Madrid last May and pronounced himself 
finally ready for the NBA.

He indicated he wished to play three more years before retiring, "to 
stay with my family and fish with my children."

Portland has pursued Europe's best big man since he was the club's 
24th pick in the 1986 draft, but Sabonis had expressed little 
interest in the NBA until this year.

Sabonis told Spanish media he would be in Portland in time for 
training camp if contract details could be worked out, and reports 
in Spain indicated the Blazers were offering either $5 million 
spread over four years or $4 million spread over three years.

Sabonis was European Player of the Year last season after leading 
Real Madrid to the European club championship. He averaged 22.8 
points, 13.2 rebounds, 2.6 blocked shots and 2.4 assists in the 
regular season. He shot 63 percent from the field and 78 percent 
from the fee-throw line.

Whitsitt has said Sabonis might have limited mobility, but he 
remains a stellar passer and shooter who could easily could play 18 
to 20 minutes per game.

Sabonis came to Portland in 1988 to rehabilitate an achilles 
Achilles injury. He has ruptured his achilles Achilles' tendon twice.

In 1991, former Blazers team physician Dr. Robert Cook examined 
Sabonis and recommended surgery for a navicular fracture in his 
right foot. Sabonis did not have the operation, and he still has 
pain in the foot.