Sports Desk

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.

The New York Sun
NY Sun
NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

BASKETBALL


FED-UP JACKSON TRIED TO TRADE KOBE


Phil Jackson called his relationship with Kobe Bryant at times a “psychological war” and sought to trade his star guard in January, according to a diary of the former Lakers coach. The diary of the 2003-04 season, titled “The Last Season: A Team in Search of Its Soul,” will be released this month. An excerpt of the book will be published in next week’s issue of Los Angeles magazine.


“I do know that there were many occasions this year when I felt like there was a psychological war going on between us,” Jackson wrote. “Amazingly, we came to a truce, even to a higher level of trust. Ultimately, though, I don’t believe we developed enough trust between us to win a championship.”


Jackson said the strain between him and Bryant led him to hire a therapist to consult with during the season, according to the Los Angeles Times, which printed excerpts from the magazine article in yesterday’s edition. Jackson wrote he became so frustrated with Bryant that he told GM Mitch Kupchak in January, “I won’t coach this team next year if he is still here. He won’t listen to anyone. I’ve had it with this kid.”


BLAZERS SUSPEND WOODS


The Portland Trail Blazers suspended reserve forward Qyntel Woods without pay yesterday pending a team investigation surrounding alleged dog fighting. Woods’s Lake Oswego home was searched Monday on a warrant connected to allegations that Woods abandoned his pit bull – reportedly because it would not fight for him. No criminal charges have been filed in the case. Dog fighting is a felony in Oregon. Promoting or conducting dog fighting is punishable by up to $100,000 in fines and five years in jail, according to state statutes.


STORM BEAT SUN FOR WNBA TITLE


Betty Lennox had a huge night, scoring 23 points to lead the Seattle Storm to their first WNBA title with a 74-60 win over the Connecticut Sun last night.


Lauren Jackson added 13 points and seven rebounds and Seattle got a big contribution from Kamila Vodichkova, who scored 14 points after being held to a total of seven in the first two games of the finals.


The Storm claimed the city’s first major professional sports championship in 25 years, going back to the SuperSonics winning the 1979 NBA title.


SOCCER


BECKHAM SAYS HE DELIBERATELY DREW YELLOW CARD


England captain David Beckham thought he was being “clever” by deliberately getting a yellow card. But the ploy could land him in trouble with his coach and soccer’s governing body. Beckham said he drew a foul intentionally in Saturday’s 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Wales. He knew he would already miss the next game because he broke a rib a few minutes earlier.


“It was deliberate,” Beckham said in yesterday’s British papers. “I am sure some people think that I have not got the brains to be that clever, but I do have the brains.”


Beckham went into Saturday’s match already carrying one yellow card from a previous game. Under international rules, a player who picks up two yellows in qualifying is automatically suspended for one game. Beckham got himself suspended for today’s qualifier against Azerbaijan, knowing he would miss the game anyway because of his injury.


BASEBALL


BONDS HAS SURGERY ON LEFT KNEE


Barry Bonds underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee yesterday and is expected to be at full strength when the San Francisco Giants open spring training in February.


Bonds, 40, told the team he first felt pain October 4, the day after the season ended, and he didn’t want the injury to affect his offseason training. Giants trainer Stan Conte said it would take three to six weeks for Bonds to rehabilitate the knee and he should be able to begin his offseason workouts in November.


LARKIN WON’T BE BACK WITH REDS


Barry Larkin will not be offered another contract by the Cincinnati Reds, ending his 19-year career with his hometown team, he told the Associated Press yesterday. The shortstop said he was informed of the team’s decision in a phone call earlier in the day.


Larkin, 40, grew up in Cincinnati and spent his entire career with the Reds, developing into one of the most prominent players in their history. He helped the team win a World Series in 1990 and won the NL’s Most Valuable Player award in 1995, the last time the Reds made the playoffs.


Injuries had limited him in recent years, and he decided to make the 2004 season his last. But a good season – he hit .289 and made the All-Star team – prompted him to reconsider and ask for one more season. Larkin, who becomes a free agent, isn’t sure whether he wants to play one more year for another team and finish his career in a different uniform.


INDIANS WON’T PICK UP VIZQUEL’S OPTION


The Cleveland Indians declined to pick up Omar Vizquel’s $5 million contract option for next season, making him eligible to become a free agent. The 37-year-old shortstop has said he wants to return for a 12th season in Cleveland, but the Indians are targeting a starting pitcher. The Indians will pay Vizquel’s $1 million buyout and could sign him to a new deal or enter salary arbitration with him by December 7.


HOCKEY


THRASHERS OWNER FINED BY NHL


The NHL fined one of the owners of the Atlanta Thrashers $250,000 yesterday for saying the league would use replacement players next year if a new collective bargaining agreement isn’t reached.


Steve Belkin, a member of Atlanta Spirit, LLC – the group that bought the Thrashers earlier this year – was given the hefty fine for comments he made over the weekend to the Boston Herald, said an official within the league speaking on the condition of anonymity. Belkin, a Weston, Mass., businessman, said the NHL had a solution for next fall if a new collective bargaining agreement wasn’t reached.


The league has already dished out other large fines to those on the management side who have spoken out of turn during the labor dispute with the players association.


– Associated Press

NY Sun
NEW YORK SUN CONTRIBUTOR

This article is from the archive of The New York Sun before the launch of its new website in 2022. The Sun has neither altered nor updated such articles but will seek to correct any errors, mis-categorizations or other problems introduced during transfer.


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