Dates with destiny By Tim Povtak | Sentinel Staff Writer Posted July 30, 2003 Darrell Armstrong always did have a way of creating an extra spark at TD Waterhouse Centre. Opening night with the Orlando Magic this season could reach a new excitement level when Armstrong -- one of the most popular players in franchise history -- adds to the mix, arriving now as a point guard with the New Orleans Hornets. Maybe this is why he signed with the Hornets. You just knew he couldn't stay away very long. The NBA released its 2003-2004 schedules Tuesday, providing the Magic with a home-heavy start, a late West Coast trip and an opening night return of Armstrong, whose departure this summer after nine seasons caused considerable debate. "I hope the fans give him a standing ovation on opening night," said Magic Coach Doc Rivers. "I know I will. He gave everyone here a reason to believe." Although the Magic opted not to re-sign him -- going with a younger, quicker point guard this season -- Armstrong, 35, is likely to bring the same all-out, head-first style that often left him in the laps of the front-row spectators. The Magic open their 15th season Oct. 29 in New York against the Knicks, playing Armstrong and the Hornets the next night to begin a fan-friendly home schedule with more weekend games. Rookie phenom LeBron James won't be coming down the chimney of the Waterhouse Centre, but he will be the featured attraction when the Magic play on Christmas Day for the second consecutive season. The defending champion San Antonio Spurs play in Orlando early (Dec. 5), but the star-studded Los Angeles Lakers don't come until just before the all-star break (Feb. 8). "I think it's a good schedule for us, the best since I've been here," said Rivers, going into his fifth season. "It's fair, and it gives us a chance to get out of the gate doing well. And that could be important for a young team." The Magic open with six of their first eight games and 10 of their first 17 at home. And unlike last season, when both West Coast trips came early, the Magic don't have their toughest Western swing until late. "From a marketing perspective, the home schedule worked out really well for us, better than some years we've had in the past," said Chris D'Orso, Magic vice president for ticket sales. "We're very happy." The Magic have 12 Friday night home games, compared to just nine last season. They also have only eight home games combined on Mondays and Tuesdays -- traditionally the poorest attended nights in the NBA -- compared to 16 last season. They also will have 15 games televised nationally -- two on ABC, five on TNT and eight on ESPN -- including their opening night in Madison Square Garden. The Magic will have plenty of new faces in key places -- like point guard Tyronn Lue and forward Juwan Howard -- but it's All-Star Tracy McGrady who continues to keep them in the national spotlight. The Magic will play on Christmas Day for the fifth time in team history, opening a TV triple-header this season. They start the national television package on ESPN against the Cleveland Cavaliers. Dallas at Sacramento and Houston at the Lakers will follow, opening ABC Sports coverage for the 2003-2004 season. The Magic play 20 sets of back-to-back games, one more than last year, but only twice do they have four games in five nights, three fewer than last season. They play every Eastern Conference team four times except for the Cleveland Cavaliers and Toronto Raptors, who they play three times each. The Magic's exhibition schedule will be announced early next month, along with a variety of 10-game and 15-game packages. They're working with an estimated base of 9,000 season tickets. Although they have 13 players already under contract for this season, they are expected to sign at least one more, likely Donnell Harvey, a 6-8 power forward out of Florida.
