Regardless of what you think about Rich DeVos?s decision to take his NBA franchise off the market, he?s right about one thing: The Magic have to do a better job marketing their basketball team as a hot ticket item again in Orlando.

DeVos more or less said it?s going to be up to the players to perform better in order to draw more fan interest, media coverage or what we in the sports business commonly refer to as a ?buzz.?

There is some truth to that, but DeVos isn?t completely off the hook for further responsibility just because he signs the checks. After all, it?s not the size of the investment; it?s what you do with it that matters. Just ask the Baltimore Orioles of two seasons ago, or the Portland Trail Blazers of last season.

So, if DeVos and his RDV Sports empire are sincere about rekindling the Magic?s love affair with the city of Orlando, I hereby propose a Fan?s Bill or Rights. It would include a Magic mission statement that promises to build an NBA championship-calibre team while also ensuring that their fans will be treated like no other fans in all of professional sports. The beauty of all this is that it won?t take a new $250 million arena to accomplish any of this.

Money back guarantee

For starters, the Magic should offer fans rebates on tickets. Yes, the cost of doing business in professional sports has gone up. But it?s not the fans? fault. So, you have to make Mr. Fan and his family feel as though they are getting the best buy for their hard-earned bucks. The way you do that is by guaranteeing that the Magic make the playoffs every year, and if for some reason they don?t -- come (Grant) Hill or high water -- then fans would get a 10 percent return on their season ticket investment.

Believe it or not, an Arena Football League team (Buffalo) made this promise to their fans for the upcoming season. Taking this a step further, the Magic could offer a 5 percent rebate to season ticket holders if the team doesn?t make it past the first round of the playoffs. Then, that money can go toward the deposit for renewing the following season.

While we?re on the subject of tickets, let?s just agree to lower the price of them across the board and increase the number of $10 seats. Let?s face it, even if fan goes to the game for free, it?s not like he or she is not going to spend some loot on concessions and Magic merchandise once they get into the door. Therefore, a cheap seat beats an empty seat any day.

Provide something extra

The fan give-aways are nice, particularly with the bobble-head dolls and the like, but those are normally reserved for the first 5,000 fans. All that does is create a rush to get into the arena and those are usually the same 5,000 people who are the first ones heading toward the exits by the end of the third quarter.

So, why run the risk of upsetting the 5,001st fan through the door? Bring enough toys for everybody, especially the kids. And if you want to make sure that fans actually stay until the end of the fourth quarter, how about giving away an autographed game ball after the game?

The Magic should also have a standing offer that whenever Tracy McGrady scores 50 or more points in a game, as he did Friday night in a win over the Wizards, then fans can redeem that ticket stub for 50 percent off the purchase of a future game ticket.

But if T-Mac really wants to make the fans feel welcome, he ought to consider doing what Minnesota Timberwolves All-Star Kevin Garnett this earlier this season for a game. KG picked up the tab for each fan to have one drink or their choice at the Target Center. Nothing says happy hour like drinks on the house.

Not half bad

Orlando has the luxury of being the home to some of the finest entertainers in showbiz. With that, the Magic should have the absolute best halftime shows in the NBA. Taking a page from the playoffs, the intermission could become little mini-concerts for boy bands, girl bands or comedians alike. But here?s the best part. The Magic could form a partnership with Disney?s House of Blues or Hard Rock Caf? at Universal City Walk by having halftime guests perform at TD Waterhouse Centre as a prelude to a concert to played later that night or later that week out at the attractions. By helping cross promote events, Magic fans might be able to redeem their ticket stubs to receive $5 of $10 off the cost of admission to those venues.

Reach out and touch

DeVos is renowned for his philanthropy in and around Central Florida. But he is not particularly well known by the common fans. Here are two ways that he can get in touch with them or vice versa. For example, the Maloof brothers, the owners of the Sacramento Kings, have their home phone numbers listed. Fans are invited to call up and leave messages about the team or the Arco Arena. Perhaps the Magic could come up with a fan hotline: 1-800-GET RICH?

Or DeVos can take the approach of Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, whose e-mail address is made public so that fans can get in touch with him directly about any of their concerns. He actually answers all of them himself. But I?m sure another RDV Sports staffer could handle the load.

Of course if all this fails, DeVos could simply instruct Coach Doc Rivers and his Magic players to adopt the old adage of Oakland Raiders owner Al Davis: Just win baby!