Originally published in SLAM 14

The 6th Man: Do me a favor and go find some scissors, some tape and a black magic marker. This won’t take long. Promise. Okay now turn to page…um…65 of the October issue with Zo on the cover. That’s right, the Pro Preview. Now draw a line through the “Juwan Howard” in column three, line four. Pay attention: this next part gets tricky.

Go ahead and cut the Miami Heat, at No. 2 in the Eastern Division, out of the preview and place them where the Washington Bullets used to be, at No. 4. Great, now cut out the Bullets and place them where the Miami Heat used to be at No. 2. Orlando, Boston, New Jersey and Philly, thankfully, stay right where they are.

No, you’re not done. Now, turn to page 78. There are three names ya need to nix in the Houston Rockets, at No. 3 in the Midwest Division-Horry, Brown and Cassell. Cut the Rockets out and place them where the San Antonio Spurs used to be, at No.2. On the very next page, at No. 3 in the Western Division, are the Phoenix Suns. Draw lines through all three references to Charles Barkley-“Sir Charles” in line 1, “Barkley” in line 3 and “Charles” in line 16. And you don’t have to move the Suns; they ain’t going anywhere near the Lakers or the Supersonics (but the Kings could catch ’em from below.)

All right, you’re done.

Thanks.

P.S. So anyway, we think this issue’s pretty cool. Between Kemp, Mitch and Glide we got the NBA’s West Side on lockdown (yeah, we read your letters). And there’s also our pre-season All-Americans, Tim Duncan, Cincinnati and an ill College Preview to satisfy your college jones. Not to mention an old-school interview with a still-defiant Rick Barry and a not-so-old-school interview with Mo Cheeks. We also had NBA photog Nat Butler follow Dream Team III around for some pretty fresh behind-the-scenes shots. Other than that…there’s a lot more to keep you for a few weeks ’til we can crank the next one out. And believe me, that one’s gonna blow your mind.

Peace,

Tony Gervino

Issue 14 Shawn Kemp