AP story at ESPN

[bocelts@scsn.net (R. Bentz Kirby)]

You can point your browser here and see the AP story at ESPN, complete
with picture of PJ.

http://espnet.sportszone.com/nba/news/971201/00477365.html

Here is the text:


> Sprewell suspended after altercation with
>              P.J.
>
>
>              Associated Press
>
>   MULTIMEDIA
>
>   P.J.
>   Carlesimo
>   describes the
>   incident that
>   led to Latrell
>   Sprewell's
>   suspension.
>    365k wav
>    RealAudio
>
>   Warriors GM
>   Garry St.
>   Jean says
>   Sprewell's
>   suspension
>   may change.
>    211k wav
>    RealAudio
>
>   NBA Chat
>
>              OAKLAND, Calif. -- Latrell Sprewell was suspended indefinitely for what the
>              Golden State Warriors said was an attack on P.J. Carlesimo during practice, and the
>              star guard reportedly threatened to "kill" the coach.
>
>              "We aren't going to tolerate the conduct that
>              was displayed on the court," general
>              manager Garry St. Jean said at a Monday
>              night news conference.
>
>              Sprewell, leading the Warriors with a 21.4
>              scoring average, is suspended without pay
>              for at least 10 games, starting with
>              Wednesday's home game against Cleveland.
>              A 10-game suspension would cost the
>              three-time All-Star guard $935,000 of his
>              $7.7 million salary.
>
>              Sprewell was barred from practice Tuesday.
>
>              "He cannot go to practice; he cannot be at
>              the facility," Warriors spokesman Eric
>              McDowell said. "It's like a restraining order
>              in many ways."
>
>              Carlesimo, saddled with a 1-13 record in his
>              first year as coach at Golden State, said he
>              and Sprewell argued twice during a drill in
>              practice Monday.
>
>              "I asked Spree to leave practice. He didn't,
>              and words kind of escalated to some physical contact," he said, refusing to say how
>              he got a scratch on his neck.
>
>              Carlesimo said the two fought again, exchanging "physical contact" about 15
>              minutes later.
>
>              "Quite obviously, we can't tolerate that from anybody," he said. "That's really as
>              much details as I would like to go into at this point."
>
>              Rod Thorn, the NBA executive in charge of disciplinary matters, said: "Until we find
>              out more about what transpired it will be inappropriate to comment. Basically it's a
>              team matter."
>
>              Bill Hunter, executive director of the players' union, said his group is investigating.
>
>              "If there is a useful role for us to play, either acting on Latrell's behalf or functioning
>              as an intermediary between the player and the organization, we plan to pursue that
>              role," he said.
>
>              Bay Area newspapers said that at one
>              point Sprewell choked Carlesimo and
>              left a three-inch mark on his throat,
>              where he had wrapped his fingers.
>
>              The New York Post, citing sources at
>              practice, quoted Sprewell as saying:
>              "I'm going to kill you. You better get
>              me off this team, or that's what I'm
>              going to do."
>
>              The newspaper said Sprewell put a
>              15-second stranglehold on Carlesimo
>              and 15 minutes later punched him in the
>              neck. On both occasions, the paper
>              said, assistant coaches and players
>              rushed to Carlesimo's aid.
>
>              The trouble began, the Post said, when
>              Sprewell and Muggsy Bogues were
>              passing the ball to each other during a
>              shooting drill. Carlesimo told them to "put a little mustard on the passes," the
>              newspaper said.
>
>              Sprewell, a first-round pick from Alabama in his sixth NBA season, stormed out of
>              practice and was not at the news conference that night.
>
>              St. Jean said the suspension could be adjusted, depending on discussions with
>              Sprewell and his representatives.
>
>              "If there is dialogue amongst all parties in a very positive way, it could be shortened
>              some, or if we're not making progress, it could be lengthened," he said.
>
>              "Basically, we have to have an understanding of what the problems were and how a
>              team operates. We have guidelines. We have very specific rules for insubordination
>              or misconduct by our players, and this certainly crossed the line."
>
>              Trouble has been brewing between Sprewell and Carlesimo for some time. He
>              angered Carlesimo on Nov. 9, when the player kept laughing and giggling while
>              Warriors were being blown out by the Los Angeles Lakers.
>
>              As punishment, Carlesimo sent him to the bench for the remainder of the game, and
>              Sprewell called the coach a "joke," punctuating the comment with an expletive.
>
>              Two days later, after an argument, Carlesimo kicked Sprewell out of practice and
>              benched him for the start of the Warriors' next game against the Detroit Pistons.
>
>              Carlesimo called the latest clash a "team issue" and said he was not going to press
>              criminal charges.
>
>              "It's a situation I clearly would have preferred not to have occurred," he said. "It
>              occurred, we're dealing with it, I'm anxious to get out of here and get a practice
>              plan going for tomorrow."
>
>              He said the team went public with the suspension because of the severity of the
>              punishment, but refused to divulge further details about talks between team officials
>              and Sprewell.
>
>              There have been other instances of strained relations and insubordination by
>              Sprewell. Two years ago, he openly feuded with teammate Tim Hardaway. The
>              team eventually traded Hardaway and signed Sprewell to a long-term contract.
>
>              Sprewell was unhappy with former coach Don Nelson's decision to trade Chris
>              Webber and Billy Owens. To protest the trade of his friends, he wrote their
>              numbers on the backs of his sneakers.
>




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