Wizards fire Collins, three weeks after showing Jordan the door

["Stephen Beauregard" <sb@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

      Wizards fire Collins, three weeks after showing Jordan the door

      By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer
      May 30, 2003
      WASHINGTON (AP) -- First Michael Jordan, now Doug Collins. And if
Washington Wizards fans don't like it, they can get their money back.

      Collins was fired as the Wizards' coach Friday, three weeks after Jordan
was shown the door by owner Abe Pollin. The widely expected move happened
sooner than expected -- Pollin originally had pledged to let Jordan's
yet-to-be-hired replacement decide Collins' fate.

      ``With seven head coaching positions available in the league and with
his future here in Washington in doubt, I felt that it was only fair that Doug
be given a chance to pursue other interests,'' Pollin said in a statement
Friday.


      Pollin went even further in a separate letter to season-ticket holders.
After citing the unpopularity of his decision to dismiss Jordan, Pollin
promised refunds to fans unhappy with his moves.

      ``My pledge to you: If you are not satisfied with the direction of our
basketball franchise after this summer, I will refund your season-ticket
deposit in full,'' Pollin wrote. A copy of the letter, dated June 2, was
obtained by The Associated Press on Friday.

      The Wizards are expecting a substantial drop in attendance this season
after selling out 82 consecutive games during Jordan's second comeback as a
player.

      Jordan was the Wizards' president of basketball operations when he hired
Collins in April 2001. Jordan then decided to return as a player, putting
Collins in the unusual position of coaching the person who hired him. The
Wizards went 37-45 both seasons and failed to make the playoffs.

      Collins had two years remaining on his four-year contract, but his days
were numbered once Pollin decided not to let Jordan, who had retired as a
player again, return to the front office.

      Collins was an obvious member of the Jordan camp in a franchise that had
splintered into two groups -- one supporting the owner, the other supporting
Jordan.

      Last week, Pollin said the new president of basketball operations, whom
he plans to hire before the June 26 draft, would handle Collins' situation and
select the team's coach.

      But the fact that Collins was still technically an employee made it
awkward for Pollin to pursue some candidates. The Washington Post, citing
sources, reported Friday that former Philadelphia coach Larry Brown canceled
an interview for a potential front office-coaching position out of respect for
Collins.

      The Wizards said Pollin would have no further comment. In his letter to
season-ticket holders, Pollin said he has ``interviewed and will continue to
interview the brightest available basketball minds in the business.''

      Meanwhile, outgoing general manager Wes Unseld is in charge of draft
preparations. Unseld, who held the title in name only while Jordan ran the
team for 3 1/2 seasons, is taking a leave of absence after the draft for
health reasons.

      Collins coached Jordan and the Chicago Bulls from 1986-89 and the
Detroit Pistons from 1995-98 and was working as a TV analyst when Jordan lured
him back to the sidelines. His two seasons with the Wizards were his only two
full seasons in which he did not lead his team to the playoffs.

      ``I was disappointed I wasn't able to take the team to the playoffs and
give the fans of Washington a taste of what the playoff experience is all
about,'' Collins said. ``It was a great experience to coach in front of
sellout crowds every night.''

      The Wizards said no decision had been made concerning assistant coach
Brian James. Assistant Larry Drew's contract expired at the end of the season,
and assistant John Bach retired.


Thanks,

Steve
sb@maine.rr.com