John Starks

New York Knick guard John Starks was fined $5,000 for a flagrant foul on New Jersey Nets guard Kenny Anderson last Sunday.

Up Close guests, at ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney: Today, 11:30 a.m., John Starks; Tuesday, noon, Jason Sehorn; Wednesday, noon, Buck Martinez.

Up Close guests, at ESPN Zone in Downtown Disney: Today, 11:30 a.m., John Starks; Tuesday, noon, Jason Sehorn; Wednesday, noon, Buck Martinez.

Utah guard John Starks, who missed Game 2 of the Jazz-Mavericks' series, had surgery to remove a testicle, newspapers reported Wednesday. The Salt Lake Tribune and The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday, without citing a source, that Starks had the surgery Tuesday at University of Utah hospital. The testicle was not believed to be cancerous.

Seven active NBA players who were not drafted: 1. John Starks: (Knicks) 2. Chris Childs: (Knicks) 3. David Wesley: (Hornets) 4. Reggie Slater: (Raptors) 5. Charles Outlaw: (Magic) 6. Eldridge Recasner: (Hawks) 7. David Benoit: (Magic) Source: World Features Syndicate

John Starks wanted to leave the Chicago Bulls so badly he offered to give up his salary for a chance to join a team headed to the playoffs. It didn't quite work out that way. Even though arbitrator Roger Kaplan ruled Tuesday that Starks could forfeit his salary if he wanted to, the Bulls, after waiving him, said they would pay off his contract, about $700,000. Kaplan also ruled that if Starks signs with another team, he can't be on the playoff roster.

John Starks scored 31 of his 37 points and equaled an NBA record by making seven of New York's league-record 10 three-point baskets in the first half Monday night, helping the Knicks defeat the Miami Heat, 119-87, at New York. The victory was the Knicks' 10th in a row over the Heat. Starks' seven first-half three-pointers matched the NBA record set by John Roche of Denver in 1982 and equaled by Michael Adams, also of Denver, in 1989.

John Starks has found a home away from home. "I really like this arena--the lighting, the background, everything," Starks said Saturday night after making seven three-point baskets, one shy of his own team record, and scoring 29 points to lead the New York Knicks to an 89-76 victory over the Cavaliers at Cleveland's new Gund Arena. New York led, 39-36, at halftime and never trailed in the second half, finally ending all doubt when Starks made four three-pointers in the last five minutes.

John Starks has been hearing it since last June 22 . . . two for 18 , two for 18 . Why did New York lose to Houston in Game 7 of the NBA finals? Two for 18 , two for 18 . Things got better Thursday when Starks made nine of 17 shots and scored 22 points to help the Knicks to a 93-77 victory at Houston. "You could feel the intensity from last year," Starks said. "I think I played under control and took the ball to the basket more.

Utah guard John Starks, who missed Game 2 of the Jazz-Mavericks' series, had surgery to remove a testicle, newspapers reported Wednesday. The Salt Lake Tribune and The Dallas Morning News reported Wednesday, without citing a source, that Starks had the surgery Tuesday at University of Utah hospital. The testicle was not believed to be cancerous.

John Starks wanted to leave the Chicago Bulls so badly he offered to give up his salary for a chance to join a team headed to the playoffs. It didn't quite work out that way. Even though arbitrator Roger Kaplan ruled Tuesday that Starks could forfeit his salary if he wanted to, the Bulls, after waiving him, said they would pay off his contract, about $700,000. Kaplan also ruled that if Starks signs with another team, he can't be on the playoff roster.

Jay Mariotti in the Chicago Sun-Times: "Imagine playing in the same town where you tripped Scottie Pippen, karate-kicked B.J. Armstrong, tried to low-bridge Michael Jordan and helped ignite a wild brawl in which a 5-4 female fan cussed you out. "Imagine being John Starks, maybe the biggest sports rat there ever was in Chicago, wearing the [Bull] uniform you literally spat on. And now being booed every time you touched the ball in the United Center. "Every single time.

Seven active NBA players who were not drafted: 1. John Starks: (Knicks) 2. Chris Childs: (Knicks) 3. David Wesley: (Hornets) 4. Reggie Slater: (Raptors) 5. Charles Outlaw: (Magic) 6. Eldridge Recasner: (Hawks) 7. David Benoit: (Magic) Source: World Features Syndicate

John Starks followed up one of his worst games of the season with one of his best Saturday night, giving the New York Knicks an important victory in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Starks, a streak shooter, made seven three-point baskets and scored 26 points to lead the Knicks to a 102-97 victory over the Hawks at Atlanta. On Friday, Starks made only four of 16 attempts as New York suffered a home loss to an injury-depleted Orlando team.

Imagine that, Dennis Rodman acts up. Yeah, and the sun rises each morning. Let's cut to the chase. This is not a "fairness" issue. It isn't about the league's sanctions or Rodman's due process. Despite the million-dollar implications and impending involvement of 10,000 or so lawyers, it would be a travesty to burden our legal system with it. It's about one sick pup who's demonstrably out of control, the NBA's, the Bulls', Dwight Manley's, Madonna's, whoever's.

New York Knick guard John Starks is known for his erratic jump shot, and his ability to predict is not much better. Starks assumed the role of prophet when he told the New York media the Knicks would rally from a 3-1 deficit and win their best-of-seven series against the Indiana Pacers. "I'm only saying one thing," Starks said in the Knick locker room after their blowout Game 4 defeat by the Pacers in Indianapolis. "We're going to win this series.

Everything Pat Riley says about the New York Knicks is true. There are too many basketball players and not enough spots on the roster. The shooting has been terrible, the defense gives up 122 points to teams such as the Miami Heat, and the attitude sometimes has been plain lousy. But when Riley starts listing the Knicks' problems, he does not go quite far enough. It is not merely the players who need to do a better job the rest of the way. So does he.

That wasn't Aretha, that was John Starks. If the New York Knicks were suffering from a lack of respect, they won at least that much Sunday when John Starks bested Michael Jordan as the Chicago Bulls fell, 98-90, in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Jordan scored 27 points, but only 10 after halftime, and he missed 10 of his last 12 shots. Starks scored 25 and made four three-pointers in the fourth quarter.

John Starks has found a home away from home. "I really like this arena--the lighting, the background, everything," Starks said Saturday night after making seven three-point baskets, one shy of his own team record, and scoring 29 points to lead the New York Knicks to an 89-76 victory over the Cavaliers at Cleveland's new Gund Arena. New York led, 39-36, at halftime and never trailed in the second half, finally ending all doubt when Starks made four three-pointers in the last five minutes.

John Starks has been hearing it since last June 22 . . . two for 18 , two for 18 . Why did New York lose to Houston in Game 7 of the NBA finals? Two for 18 , two for 18 . Things got better Thursday when Starks made nine of 17 shots and scored 22 points to help the Knicks to a 93-77 victory at Houston. "You could feel the intensity from last year," Starks said. "I think I played under control and took the ball to the basket more.