Bronco9798
07-01-2005, 08:37 PM
Terrell Owens, in the midst of a much-publicized contract dispute with the Eagles, wants to turn his attention to basketball, and the Sacramento Kings are willing to grant his wish.
The Kings told Owens that he could play alongside hip-hop magnate Master P on their summer-league squad, which will consist of the team's draft picks, plus free agents and young veterans.
The catch is that Owens needs permission from the Eagles, and he is not going to like his employer's position on this issue any more than the stance the team has taken on his desire to renegotiate his seven-year contract.
An Eagles spokesman said Friday that team president Joe Banner had not been contacted by the Kings, but if and when he was, permission for Owens to get his basketball fix will be denied.
Owens' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said he had not received word from the Kings or the Eagles about the possibility of the star receiver's playing for the Kings' summer-league squad.
"He wants to do this very badly," Rosenhaus said. "Everyone knows his passion for the game. It's always something that he has had an interest in, and he'll be disappointed if he does not get the chance.
"The Kings extended the invitation, but they said they wouldn't be able to follow through unless they got permission from the Eagles."
The Kings published their summer-league roster on their Web site on Friday. It included 6-foot-4 guard Percy Miller, better known as Master P. It did not include Owens, who is better known for a lot more things than for playing basketball.
Owens has spoken often about his affection for basketball, and he has some talent for the sport. He was a three-year member of the basketball team at Tennessee-Chattanooga, starting five games. The 1995 squad qualified for the NCAA tournament.
Owens won a celebrity dunk competition at the 2000 NBA All-Star Game in Oakland, Calif., and played with the Adirondack Wildcats of the United States Basketball League in 2002.
With the Aug. 1 training-camp reporting date for Eagles veterans now less than a month away, there is no change in Owens' contract situation. There also is no truth to the recent rumor that he might be traded to the Oakland Raiders for wide receiver Jerry Porter.
"Everybody has asked me about the trade rumor with Oakland, and that's obviously not accurate," Rosenhaus said. "Terrell has said he's receptive to the idea of playing for another team, but I do not have permission to seek a trade at this time.
"I've talked to the Eagles. I'm not going to get into who I've talked to, but their position hasn't changed, and neither has ours."
The Kings told Owens that he could play alongside hip-hop magnate Master P on their summer-league squad, which will consist of the team's draft picks, plus free agents and young veterans.
The catch is that Owens needs permission from the Eagles, and he is not going to like his employer's position on this issue any more than the stance the team has taken on his desire to renegotiate his seven-year contract.
An Eagles spokesman said Friday that team president Joe Banner had not been contacted by the Kings, but if and when he was, permission for Owens to get his basketball fix will be denied.
Owens' agent, Drew Rosenhaus, said he had not received word from the Kings or the Eagles about the possibility of the star receiver's playing for the Kings' summer-league squad.
"He wants to do this very badly," Rosenhaus said. "Everyone knows his passion for the game. It's always something that he has had an interest in, and he'll be disappointed if he does not get the chance.
"The Kings extended the invitation, but they said they wouldn't be able to follow through unless they got permission from the Eagles."
The Kings published their summer-league roster on their Web site on Friday. It included 6-foot-4 guard Percy Miller, better known as Master P. It did not include Owens, who is better known for a lot more things than for playing basketball.
Owens has spoken often about his affection for basketball, and he has some talent for the sport. He was a three-year member of the basketball team at Tennessee-Chattanooga, starting five games. The 1995 squad qualified for the NCAA tournament.
Owens won a celebrity dunk competition at the 2000 NBA All-Star Game in Oakland, Calif., and played with the Adirondack Wildcats of the United States Basketball League in 2002.
With the Aug. 1 training-camp reporting date for Eagles veterans now less than a month away, there is no change in Owens' contract situation. There also is no truth to the recent rumor that he might be traded to the Oakland Raiders for wide receiver Jerry Porter.
"Everybody has asked me about the trade rumor with Oakland, and that's obviously not accurate," Rosenhaus said. "Terrell has said he's receptive to the idea of playing for another team, but I do not have permission to seek a trade at this time.
"I've talked to the Eagles. I'm not going to get into who I've talked to, but their position hasn't changed, and neither has ours."