Owens still set to hoop it up, much to 49ers' consternation

SANTA CLARA, Calif. -- While the San Francisco 49ers hold their breath, Terrell Owens is getting ready to pursue his hoop dreams.

Next weekend, the 49ers' All-Pro receiver will begin his pro basketball career with the USBL's Adirondack Wildcats. As a heavily muscled 6-foot-3 shooting guard, Owens will risk injury and his football salary -- upwards of $4 million -- while donating most of his paltry basketball salary to charity.

"I don't think (general manager Terry) Donahue is taking it too well," Owens said in San Francisco's minicamp. "But the way I look at it, I could go out and get hurt playing in a pickup game, which I've been doing since my first year in the league. I could go out and get hit by a car."

Though they don't intend to stop him, the 49ers probably wouldn't have to pay Owens' salary if he's injured in the USBL.

Owens, who made his second straight Pro Bowl after catching 93 passes for 1,412 yards and 16 TDs last season, played basketball for three seasons at Tennessee-Chattanooga.

He plans to play with the Wildcats during breaks from the Niners' summer camp schedule, but he holds on to the hope that he's good enough to someday pursue an NBA career.