Michael Hunt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel reports that Bucks owner Herb Kohl finally spoke about his team yesterday. For the first time since the end of last season, he agreed to an interview on Monday.

Last season, he agreed to finance the leagues? fifth-highest payroll of $55 million in order to keep the Bucks in playoff contention. He agreed to virtually all the recommendations made by general manager Ernie Grunfeld and coach George Karl, including the controversial signing of free-agent forward Anthony Mason. Nevertheless, the Bucks became the first team in NBA history to lead its division as late as March 15 and then fail to make the playoffs.

In yesterday?s interview, he called last season "a huge disappointment." Kohl also said he believed the 2002-'03 Bucks, minus the traded Glenn Robinson, have the ability to recapture the form that pushed them to the verge of the 2001 Finals.

"This is an important year," Kohl said. "This team can do something special this year. Not every team every year you can say that about. You can say that about these players and this coaching staff. They can do something special this year.

"Last year we were picked to maybe be the best team in the East. Maybe it will be one year late in coming. But our sights are set very high. We are not a team that people are satisfied to see go .500, which is a good thing. People expect the Bucks to do well. That's where we are. Our fans aren't going to settle for us being just another team in the NBA, and that's good. We have those same expectations of ourselves."

To help live up to those expectations, Kohl has agree to venture into luxury tax territory this season. With an estimated tax limit of $52 million, the addition of backup point guard Travis Best and the re-signing of Michael Redd could place the team payroll at about $56 million. This would cost Kohl $4 million in tax and additional amounts in lost kickbacks.

"It's not OK with me, but we're here to win," Kohl said. "We're just not going to sell off our team to get under the luxury tax. That doesn't work. Your fans have to know you're really trying.

"We're not going to trade away important pieces of our team just go get under the luxury tax. If you do that, you lose your fans. You can't own a professional sports team and think the most important thing is making a profit. We're invested in talent, and that's what we have."