[none]

[Peter Delevett <pdelevett@nopg.com>]

Here is the surprise of the decade:

"General manager Don Nelson fired Dallas Mavericks coach Jim Cleamons and 
will be the one replacing him. A press conference has been called for 7 
p.m. ET to formally announce the
firing.

Cleamons had been in a tenuous position since Nelson was hired in 
February. Nelson immediately  dismantled the roster and brought in 
players better suited to play his up-tempo style rather than Cleamons' 
half-court offense.

Nelson had been lobbying for Cleamons' dismissal for months, and owner 
Ross Perot Jr. finally
agreed. Nelson has said all along that he didn't want to coach. (yeah, 
right. and I'm the pope)

In its Wednesday editions, the Dallas Morning News quoted team and league 
sources as saying
Nelson would take the action because of growing concerns about a lack of 
progress by the team and widespread discontent in the locker room."

Gosh, Nelly, think any of that locker room discontent might have had 
something to do with your shipping off the team's best players for a bag 
of donuts? At least now we'll get to see Nelson putting his money where 
his big fat mouth is. Try to let him get this team to the playoffs. 
Cleamons is a decent coach who deserves better and will probably find it.


                                    
           Peter Delevett             
            Staff Writer         
     New Orleans CityBusiness       
         pdelevett@nopg.com