NOT ONE OF THE DOC'S BEST HIGHLIGHT FILMS
SIXERS LEGEND SAYS LITTLE ABOUT RISQUE VIDEO
By JIM NOLAN & SIMONE WEICHSELBAUM
nolanj@phillynews.com
DOCTOR J it ain't so.
Forget Paris - Julius Erving has made a video that proves The Doctor is both in and out.
The sordid details of one of Erving's extramarital affairs surfaced yesterday with the disclosure of a 15-year-old homemade sex reel of the former Sixers superstar scoring with another woman.
The tale of the amateur tape features a fit, bespectacled Doctor J in X-rated form with an attractive, light-skinned brunette in a negligee, according to the New York Post, which reported the existence of the tape yesterday in its Page Six gossip column.
At one point, Erving, dressed in a tank top and boxer shorts, is seen adjusting the camera in the hotel room as "Sea of Love" plays in the background, according to the paper.
After roughly 10 minutes, the couple make the transition from underwear and sips of wine to kissing and carnal knowledge - at one point pulling an exotic page from the Kama Sutra playbook.
The hourlong video reportedly ends before the lovers stop.
Despite the embarrassing disclosure, Erving, 53, honored his commitment to attend the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association's 100th annual banquet last night in Cherry Hill.
The hoops legend - who glamourized the slam dunk and led the Sixers to four NBA Finals and the 1982-83 championship - sat on the dais flanked by Sixers coach Randy Ayers and former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda.
Elegantly attired in a black tux and tie, he offered a brusque "no comment" at the beginning of the evening, but later addressed the controversy indirectly.
"The waters were calm," he said of his relationship with the Philadelphia media, "but not so calm today. I had the option of not coming here, but I feel it is important to celebrate milestones, and my relationship with the media has been so good for so long I did not want to miss being a part of the 100th year of this banquet and this program."
The tape became public as the NBA Hall of Famer is in the midst of contentious divorce settlement negotiations with Turquoise Erving, his wife of 31 years.
"This is a tape that was made 15 years ago, while the couple was separated," said Erving's spokesman, Dan Klores. "The decision by Mrs. Erving's advisers to release it during their divorce negotiations is disappointing, especially since she has had this in her possession for all these years."
Andrea Black, lawyer for Turquoise Erving in the divorce proceedings in Seminole County, Fla., did not comment.
But she told the Post in yesterday's editions that the Ervings were scheduled to have a hearing during which Turquoise would ask the court to enforce the terms of their separation agreement and sanction Doctor J for his alleged failure to comply with its terms.
The court has ordered Erving, with an estimated net worth of $9 million, to pay Turquoise Erving $1,500 a week plus $8,000 a month in credit-card expenses.
"I'm sad that it's reached this point," Black told the Post when asked about the video. "We've been trying to resolve this amicably. Making something like that public would help no one."
Florida is a no-fault divorce state, which allows spouses to split without the need to assign fault for things like adultery.
But sources close to Erving suggested that the timing of the video's leak to the press was an attempt to strengthen Turquoise Erving's hand at the negotiating table for a divorce settlement. She filed for divorce in May 2002.
The primary reason for the filing had to do with the number of extramarital house calls made by the Doctor during his playing days and in his retirement.
Erving has acknowledged he fathered two children out of wedlock during his marriage. In 1999, it was revealed that he is the father of tennis pro Alexandra Stevenson, 23.
Erving has also admitted fathering a 6-year-old boy with a Florida woman, to whom he reportedly pays $2,000 a month in child-support payments.
"I've had two children out of wedlock, but I can walk down the street holding my head up high," he told Philadelphia magazine last October in a long profile titled: "Dr. J. In Crisis."
"I love all my sons, I love all my daughters," he said at the time.
Last night, Erving appeared to be at ease during a VIP reception at the banquet, signing basketballs and memorabilia for fans - until a Daily News reporter asked him about the video.
"I think there's nothing left to say," the Doctor said, seemingly caught off guard. "I think my comment stands by that."
Erving was the 25th speaker after a dinner of salad, chicken and cheesecake.
"For 21 years, Philadelphia has been my adopted home," Erving said. "Time has marched on, but memories are forever."
SIXERS LEGEND SAYS LITTLE ABOUT RISQUE VIDEO
By JIM NOLAN & SIMONE WEICHSELBAUM
nolanj@phillynews.com
DOCTOR J it ain't so.
Forget Paris - Julius Erving has made a video that proves The Doctor is both in and out.
The sordid details of one of Erving's extramarital affairs surfaced yesterday with the disclosure of a 15-year-old homemade sex reel of the former Sixers superstar scoring with another woman.
The tale of the amateur tape features a fit, bespectacled Doctor J in X-rated form with an attractive, light-skinned brunette in a negligee, according to the New York Post, which reported the existence of the tape yesterday in its Page Six gossip column.
At one point, Erving, dressed in a tank top and boxer shorts, is seen adjusting the camera in the hotel room as "Sea of Love" plays in the background, according to the paper.
After roughly 10 minutes, the couple make the transition from underwear and sips of wine to kissing and carnal knowledge - at one point pulling an exotic page from the Kama Sutra playbook.
The hourlong video reportedly ends before the lovers stop.
Despite the embarrassing disclosure, Erving, 53, honored his commitment to attend the Philadelphia Sports Writers Association's 100th annual banquet last night in Cherry Hill.
The hoops legend - who glamourized the slam dunk and led the Sixers to four NBA Finals and the 1982-83 championship - sat on the dais flanked by Sixers coach Randy Ayers and former Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda.
Elegantly attired in a black tux and tie, he offered a brusque "no comment" at the beginning of the evening, but later addressed the controversy indirectly.
"The waters were calm," he said of his relationship with the Philadelphia media, "but not so calm today. I had the option of not coming here, but I feel it is important to celebrate milestones, and my relationship with the media has been so good for so long I did not want to miss being a part of the 100th year of this banquet and this program."
The tape became public as the NBA Hall of Famer is in the midst of contentious divorce settlement negotiations with Turquoise Erving, his wife of 31 years.
"This is a tape that was made 15 years ago, while the couple was separated," said Erving's spokesman, Dan Klores. "The decision by Mrs. Erving's advisers to release it during their divorce negotiations is disappointing, especially since she has had this in her possession for all these years."
Andrea Black, lawyer for Turquoise Erving in the divorce proceedings in Seminole County, Fla., did not comment.
But she told the Post in yesterday's editions that the Ervings were scheduled to have a hearing during which Turquoise would ask the court to enforce the terms of their separation agreement and sanction Doctor J for his alleged failure to comply with its terms.
The court has ordered Erving, with an estimated net worth of $9 million, to pay Turquoise Erving $1,500 a week plus $8,000 a month in credit-card expenses.
"I'm sad that it's reached this point," Black told the Post when asked about the video. "We've been trying to resolve this amicably. Making something like that public would help no one."
Florida is a no-fault divorce state, which allows spouses to split without the need to assign fault for things like adultery.
But sources close to Erving suggested that the timing of the video's leak to the press was an attempt to strengthen Turquoise Erving's hand at the negotiating table for a divorce settlement. She filed for divorce in May 2002.
The primary reason for the filing had to do with the number of extramarital house calls made by the Doctor during his playing days and in his retirement.
Erving has acknowledged he fathered two children out of wedlock during his marriage. In 1999, it was revealed that he is the father of tennis pro Alexandra Stevenson, 23.
Erving has also admitted fathering a 6-year-old boy with a Florida woman, to whom he reportedly pays $2,000 a month in child-support payments.
"I've had two children out of wedlock, but I can walk down the street holding my head up high," he told Philadelphia magazine last October in a long profile titled: "Dr. J. In Crisis."
"I love all my sons, I love all my daughters," he said at the time.
Last night, Erving appeared to be at ease during a VIP reception at the banquet, signing basketballs and memorabilia for fans - until a Daily News reporter asked him about the video.
"I think there's nothing left to say," the Doctor said, seemingly caught off guard. "I think my comment stands by that."
Erving was the 25th speaker after a dinner of salad, chicken and cheesecake.
"For 21 years, Philadelphia has been my adopted home," Erving said. "Time has marched on, but memories are forever."
