Raking it in

By ASSOCIATED PRESS
Published June 3, 2006

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Approximate yearly take for Ozzie and Daniel Silna and their attorney, Donald Schupak, who negotiated a deal for four-sevenths of a share of the NBA's TV revenue, every year in perpetuity, when they agreed to disband the Spirits of St. Louis as part of the ABA's merger with the NBA:

1979-82 - $469,000.

1983-86 - $695,000.

1987-90 - $1.57-million.

1991-94 - $4.63-million.

x-1995-98 - $6.63-million.

x-1999-2002 - $12.53-million.

x-2003-06 - $15.6-million.

Total - $168-million.

The NBA expanded to 29 teams in 1995 and later to 30 teams, but as written in the contract, the Silnas received four-sevenths of a share based on what a share was worth when there were 28 teams. Their agreement said the cost of a share could not be diluted below 1-28th of the NBA contract.