Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: FRIDAY, April 6, 1990 TAG: 9004060352
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B7 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Wednesday's story about the confrontation, attributed to the Bee sports staff, said Sampson interrupted an interview Graswich was conducting Tuesday with Kings player personnel director Jerry Reynolds in the Sacramento locker room before the game against the Los Angeles Clippers.
It quoted Sampson as saying, "If you ever write something about me without talking to me again, I'll punch you in the nose. I'll be waiting outside for you. I'll bust you up. I'm not kidding. I'll get you. I'll bust you up."
The story said the Bee had tried several times to speak with Sampson, a former University of Virgina star, about his medical condition, but he has declined to discuss it.
In the column to which Sampson referred, Graswich had said the 7-foot-4 center's arthritic knees were preventing him from playing. He said Sampson, 29, has had three operations on his knees and has missed more than 20 games this season. He no longer dresses for games or travels with the team, but watches home games from the bench in street clothes.
Graswich said Sampson has three seasons left on his contract and is owed $8 million by the Kings, Golden State and Houston - the three NBA teams for which he has played.
Kings President Rick Benner said after the confrontation: "I'll talk to Ralph about it after the game. I really can't comment, because I don't know what happened. But if Ralph said those things, we can't have it. He's not going to be busting anybody up. He's not dumb."
Reynolds said, "It was all talk."
by CNB