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Thursday, April 19, 2001
Blazers punish ref-hating Wallace
Associated Press
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PORTLAND, Ore. – Growing weary of Rasheed Wallace's boorish
on-court behavior, the Portland Trail Blazers suspended their
All-Star for one game Tuesday, two days after his most recent,
record-setting tantrum.
Wallace sat out the Blazers' game at Denver on Tuesday night,
the start of a four-game road trip. He was scheduled to play in
Wednesday night's game against Minnesota.
Blazers backup point guard Rod Strickland also was suspended for
Tuesday night's game, by the league. Strickland was sentenced to 10
days in jail Monday for pleading guilty to a drunken driving
charge, stemming from a Jan. 7 arrest when he was a member of the
Washington Wizards.
Wallace has been ejected seven times this season, and he was
suspended for two games for throwing a towel at referee Gary Benson
after he was thrown out of a Feb. 1 victory over Phoenix. But this
is the first time the team has suspended him for his actions.
In a statement, the Blazers said Wallace was punished for
"inappropriate game conduct" during Portland's loss to the
Timberwolves on Sunday.
In that game, Wallace was ejected with 7:29 left in the third
quarter. The Blazers rallied without their top scorer, but shot
just 4-of-19 in the fourth quarter and lost 99-95.
Wallace was tossed for arguing with officials that he had been
fouled by LaPhonso Ellis on a fast break. He was issued two
technical fouls, resulting in an automatic ejection. Wallace has 40
technicals, surpassing his own NBA record of 38 set last season.
Portland has lost the last three games in which Wallace has been
ejected.
Wallace, who made the West All-Star team for the second straight
season as a reserve, is having his best season statistically,
averaging 19.4 points and 7.9 rebounds. His .506 field-goal
percentage is third-best in the league.
The Blazers have repeatedly supported Wallace, saying his temper
is a result of his intense desire to win. The team also has
emphasized his work in the community and the fact that he has no
criminal record.
Coach Mike Dunleavy even backed him after Sunday's loss, saying
Wallace's reputation among officials contributed to the ejection.
"Maybe another guy doesn't get thrown out for the same thing,"
the coach said.
Strickland pleaded guilty to driving under the influence of
alcohol Monday in federal court in Alexandria, Va. In addition to
the jail term -- which Strickland will serve after the season -- U.S.
Magistrate Judge Barry Poretz placed him on supervised probation
for two years and ordered him to attend substance abuse counseling.
The player also was fined about $1,000.
Strickland was waived by the Wizards on March 1, and the Blazers
signed him four days later. As the backup to Damon Stoudamire,
Strickland has averaged 5.9 points and 4.1 assists in 13 games. But
his presence appears to have further clogged an already crowded
playing rotation. The Blazers are just 5-8 since he arrived, and
Stoudamire has fallen into a serious slump, averaging 4.4 points on
29 percent shooting his last five games.
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