European Stars and Stripes (Newspaper) - January 06, 1994, Darmstadt, Hesse Thursday. January. 1994 sports the stars and stripes Page 33 pistons will make Thomas part owner paper reports Auburn Hills Mich. A Detroit Piston Star Isiah Thomas will run the team and become a part owner once he retires As a player As part of a $55 Mil lion Deal according to newspaper reports wednesday. Thomas will be Given the Job of heading the team s rebuilding efforts a source told the Detroit news an official announcement of his appointment will remade thursday and Thomas will assume the position following the season the news said. In addition to heading the team s basketball operations the agreement Calls for Thomas to receive a one year contract Extension with a balloon payment Esti mated to be somewhere Between $7 to $12 million the news said. The balloon payment will be on Thomas player con tract so the Money will count against the pistons salary Cap. \ according to the news source Thomas also will receive 10 percent of pistons owner William Davidson sports Empire which includes the pistons the Palace and the Pine Knob music theater. Pistons president Tom Wilson reached by Telephone tuesday night declined comment to the news saying we re not commenting on anything. The Only com ments will come from Bill and , 32, probably will retire after this season and assume the management position the Detroit free press said in its wednesday editions. The team is Worth an estimated $132 million Accord ing to financial world Magazine. The team announced tuesday that Thomas will re main in a pistons uniform until he retires. That Fol Lowed reports that he was about to move to the new m very pleased we be finalized the whole Contro Versy coach Don Chancy said from Chicago after the pistons lost 97-91 to the was a very distracting thing. Now the decision has been Thomas a 12-time All Star is averaging 14.3 Points and nine assists a game for the struggling pistons what 8-21 have the league s second worst record. Thomas contract allows him to veto any Trade. But he said monday he would consider a move if it would help the team. The free press and the Detroit news both reported monday that Thomas might be traded to new York for Tony Campbell the rights to Tim Mccormick and the Kricks first round draft Choice in 1994. It s Safe to assume that he is going to be with the team for the remainder of his career pistons spokeswoman sue Emerick said tuesday Emerick would not elaborate but said an announce ment on Thomas future could come later this week. Thomas reportedly met monday night with Davidson and was seeking a new contract. His current contract which pays him $2.52 million runs out at the end of the season. Thomas status was unclear to Chancy hours before the pistons played the bulls. Thomas did not play for the sixth straight game because of foot and toe injuries. Detroit selected Thomas As the no. 2 player in the 1981 led Detroit to three straight trips to the Aba finals and to titles in 1989 and 1990. He has said he wanted to finish his career with the pistons. This is my new Home he said. I plan to live Here after my career is finished. But i would t stand in the Way if the pistons wanted to this season he missed several exhibition games with a knee injury then broke his Finger when he Punche teammate Bill Laimbeer during practice nov. 16. He ignored medical advice and returned to action after two has t played since scoring six Points and making five turnovers in 26 minutes of a 108-97 loss at Home to Charlotte on dec. 21. Injured guard Isiah Thomas watching the pistons play last sunday May be looking at a $55 million Deal soon. Are ice a Martin Oral takes. Punch in the nose from Blackhawk Steve . By the associated pres the Toronto Maple Leafs. Have turned their season around in the wrong direction. If i had 16 Quality players up in the stands i could put on the ice i would. But they re not there. We be tried bringing Guys in from the Ahl but no body has stepped Forward Toronto coach Pat Burns said following a 1-0 loss tuesday night to Tampa Bay that extended the Maple Leafs wingless Streak to seven. All of a sudden winning has become problem for the team that started out the season with an nil record 10-game win Ning Streak. The Maple Leafs Are 0-5-2 in their last seven having scored a total of Only 13 goals in those games. Pat a Lynnik scored the game s Only goal his eighth of the season at 5 34 of the second period and goaltender dare Puppa made 24 saves for Tampa Bay. A capacity crowd of 17,526 attend Din Hamilton Ontario the Best Atten dance for a Neutral site game in thenal this season. In other games tuesday devils 6, islanders 3 Scott Stevens snapped a tie with Power play goal Early in the third period As the hosting devils won their third straight. Stephane Richer added his second of the game and Bernie Nicholls scored in the final two minutes to put the game out of reach. Bla Hawks 2, stars 1, of Dirk Graham s goal with 1 14 to playing overtime lifted the visiting Black Hawks Over the stars. Graham took Possession near the Blue line and fired a wrist shot through a screen that beat Dallas goaltender Andy Moog in the upper right Corner. Red wings 4, blues 4 Brendan Shanahan capped a comeback from a four Coal deficit when he scored on a rebound with 4 18 left in regulation As tied visiting Detroit. Shatia Han also so ret the blues third goal in the second period and leads the team with 26 goals Craig Janney had three assists for St. Louis. Detroit was out shot 8-2 in overtime. But the red wings had an apparent goal disallowed with 36,9 seconds left in the Over time when the puck deflected off the skates of two players Nicklas Lidstr Omand Dino Ciccarelli on its Way into the net. Canad Lens 2, Sharks 2 Stephan Lebeau s wraparound Goa with 6 07 gone in the third period lifted the Canad Lens into a tie at san Jose. The Sharks who have tied three of their last four games had taken a 2-1 Lead on Jeff Odgers first and second period goals. Kings 5, Nordques 1 Luc Robitaille broke open a tie Gam with two Power play goals in a 4 40 Span of the second period and Wayn Uretzky had four assists As the Kings Defeated the visiting Blake Alex Zhitnik and Gary Chuchuk also scored for the Kings who snapped Quebec s three game winning Streak and Are 4-0-1 in their last five games after losing 15 of their previous 19. Adam Foote scored for Quebec
