Charity Basketball Game Missing Big Names

SAN DIEGO —  The 1992 United States Olympic basketball team came to San Diego in June, but practices at UC San Diego were closed to the public. Basketball fans hoping for a return visit from arguably the greatest team ever assembled can dream on .

Chicago Bull forward Scottie Pippen will be the Dream Team’s lone representative for tonight’s fifth San Diego County Toyota Dealers All-Star Basketball Classic at the Sports Arena. The charity event, which begins at 7 p.m., benefits the Multiple Sclerosis Society.

Bob Sexton, the game’s chairman, said organizers invited Pippen’s Olympic teammates Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Chris Mullin, Clyde Drexler, David Robinson and Larry Bird, but each player had a prior commitment.

In the past, many players from Magic Johnson’s All-Star game at the Forum in Inglewood stayed in Southern California and participated in the San Diego game. But this year, Johnson’s game is two days later than the San Diego game and few players are competing in both.

Two years ago, the All-Star game’s reputation was tainted by the last-minute cancellations of Jordan and Dominque Wilkins. Jordan was in town but left when his grandfather died. Wilkins was simply a no-show.

All of these factors have contributed to low ticket sales this year. As of Monday, between 5,000 and 6,000 tickets have been sold. Organizers have called the first four games sellouts, although last year 4,000 tickets were given away.

“I would have liked for (the game) to be a little stronger in terms of ticket sales,” Sexton said. “But we’ve been a bit spoiled over the years with all the talent we’ve had here.”

The game still has its share of talent, including some All-Stars. Those confirmed are: Pippen and the game’s honorary chairman Cliff Levingston (Chicago), forwards Armon Gilliam and Ron Anderson (Philadelphia), forward David Benoit and center Mark Eaton (Utah), guard Bimbo Coles (Charlotte), center Chris Dudley and guard Tate George (New Jersey), guards Byron Scott and Sedale Threatt (Lakers), guards Ron Harper and Duane Cooper (Clippers), guards Kenny Smith and Morlon Wiley (Atlanta), guards Spud Webb and Mitch Richmond and forward Wayman Tisdale (Sacramento), guard Sam Vincent and forward Jerry Reynolds (Orlando), forward Brad Sellers (Detroit), forward Tracy Murray (Portland) and forward Cedric Ceballos (Phoenix).

Last year’s game included Wilkins, Jordan, Charles Barkley, Sean Elliot, Sean Kemp and Reggie Miller.

With fewer big names, Sexton said the game has been promoted differently this year.

“Because of what happened in the past and who we have playing, we’ve taken more of a generic approach to marketing the game,” Sexton said. “There’s a concerted effort not to over-promote the people we have.”

Sexton acknowledged he can no longer entice people to buy tickets in hopes that a big crowd could help lure an NBA franchise to San Diego.

“We haven’t taken that angle because we want to be as realistic as possible,” Sexton said. “The consumer is well-educated. They’re not easy to fool.”

Sexton said tickets are still available at all price levels: $250, $125, $75, $50, $25, and $10. Half-price coupons are available at all Toyota dealerships in San Diego County.

The 22 players were divided into teams last night at a draft party.