A C Green

The bags under Jerry West's eyes were more pronounced than usual Friday morning, the result of a late-night negotiating session during which the Laker general manager tried one last time before the start of training camp to acquire the power forward he wants. Although West would not identify the player or team involved in the talks on the eve of the club's first practice, Rick Mahorn of the Minnesota Timberwolves has long been the object of West's attention.

A.C. Green, in his first public comments since becoming a free agent, said Monday he is still seriously considering signing again with the Lakers "because I have a great deal of interest in them, especially after eight seasons, and I can't just turn that off." However, he is delaying his decision, he says, because he wants to be sure he is doing the right thing.

Shaquille O'Neal says he wants to see a power forward who acts like he's always in a bad mood on defense, gives up his body blocking out under the boards and goes after loose balls like they have championship rings attached to them. He saw one Monday. His name isn't Elden Campbell. His name is A.C. Green. You remember Green. With the Showtime Lakers for eight seasons, he was like the guy who sweeps up after the elephants in the circus.

Pat Riley's mind is always working, even when the rest of him is taking time off. The goal-oriented Laker coach spent much of last summer thinking of a productive way to turn the loss of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar into a gain for his team. What Riley finally settled on going into training camp, which opens today at the University pf Hawaii, is a form of a challenge to his players: Unlike other championship-caliber teams, can the Lakers continue to excel after their dominant center retires?

A.C. Green played his 1,041st consecutive game and produced his second consecutive wrestling-match victory over Karl Malone on Wednesday. Big, blue-collar numbers, either way you look at it. One feat tied a professional basketball record, the other helped propel the Lakers to a bruising 90-82 victory over the Utah Jazz before a sellout of 18,997 at Staples Center.

A.C. Green arched an eyebrow skeptically and insisted he has not struggled or slumped or pressed in recent weeks. So, even after Green scored 21 points and made two big plays in the Lakers' 113-111 victory over the Denver Nuggets Wednesday night, the Laker forward still seemed stuck in the denial stage. "Not really," Green said when asked if he was concerned about his recent play. "Personally, I don't feel anything desperate needed to be (changed) in the way I play.

After lobbying Coach Mike Dunleavy for more playing time for rookie swingman Elden Campbell, Laker center Mychal Thompson has campaigned to get A.C. Green off the bench, where he has been for much of the NBA Western Conference finals against the Portland Trail Blazers. "This is the kind of series that's right up A.C.'s alley," Thompson said. "The physical play . . . the battle on the boards . . . that's A.C.'s bread and butter.

Coach Pat Riley of the Lakers was the first to congratulate A.C. Green after the power forward had the best playoff game of his three-year pro basketball career. "Keep shooting the jump shot, A.C.," Riley told Green, who had just finished a TV interview outside the Laker locker room. "Shoot the jump shot." Green, who had been reluctant to shoot during the National Basketball Assn. playoffs, had taken Riley's advice Sunday afternoon against the Detroit Pistons.

When he was a rookie, and other players mocked his devout Christianity and his decision to abstain from sex until marriage, A.C. Green's steadfast faith helped him silence his doubters. Eight seasons into his career at power forward for the Lakers, he was asked to play shooting guard while Byron Scott was idled because of a sprained foot. His same faith sustained Green through another trying time.

It is more exclusive than any club in Hollywood. You can't buy your way into this establishment. A flashy reputation won't get you a second look. Fame is no passport. A name turns no heads, and an invitation gets you only as far as the door. Talent is the only ticket, and even that doesn't guarantee admission. What are the chances of belonging? Probably no worse than becoming a dance partner for Baryshnikov, a backup singer for Prince, or an adviser to the President.