Dallas Mavericks

"While New England slept Tuesday night, [Johnny] Damon got into bed with the enemy. ... So now your Boston Red Sox have no center fielder, no shortstop, and no first baseman to go along with no Theo Epstein and no clue." Dan Shaughnessy The Boston Globe "Even if they were going to send two guys at me, I was going to attack them and let them know I was coming after them and just send a message." Kobe Bryant Los Angeles Lakers, after his 62-point game Tuesday against the Dallas Mavericks "That's the joy of coaching.

BaseballBaltimore Orioles -- Optioned P Arthur Rhodes, P Mike Oquist and P Richie Lewis to Triple-A Rochester.Pittsburgh Pirates -- Sent OF Terry McDaniel to minor-league camp for reassignment.St. Louis Cardinals -- Sent P Donovan Osborne, P Mark Clark, P Fidel Compres, IF Stan Royer, IF Bien Figueroa, OF Chuck Carr, C Marc Ronan and C Don Prybylinski to minor-league camp for reassignment.Texas Rangers -- Optioned IF Jeff Frye and OF Dan Peltier to Triple-A Oklahoma City. Optioned OF Donald Harris, P Robb Nen and IF Jose Oliva to Double-A Tulsa.

Baseball Los Angeles Dodgers -- Hired Mickey Hatcher, released by club March 24, to be non-playing coach for Class AAA Albuquerque.Basketball Dallas Mavericks -- Announced they will not exercise option on contract of F Alex English.Miami Heat -- Announced resignation of Ron Rothstein, head coach.Pensacola Tornadoes (CBA) -- Announced team will move from Florida to Birmingham, Ala., for 1991-92 season.Colleges Clemson -- Announced that F Devin Gray (St. Francis, Baltimore) has signed basketball letter of intent.

BASEBALL American League * Detroit Tigers -- Announced that Vada Pinson, Alex Grammas and Jim Davenport (coaches) will not be retained for the 1992 season. Named Gene Ruth coach.National League * Montreal Expos -- Announced that Larry Bearnarth (pitching coach), Ken Macha (bullpen coach) and Rafael Landestoy (defensive coordinator) will not be retained for the 1992 season..* Philadelphia Phillies -- Announced that Hal Lanier (coach) will not be retained for the 1992 season. Named Mel Roberts (coach)

DALLAS -- The Dallas Mavericks yesterday suspended forward Roy Tarpley, without pay, for tonight's game against the Boston Celtics. The loss of one game's pay will cost Tarpley $36,585.But according to team and NBA sources, trade talks involving Tarpley were under way before Tarpley and coach Dick Motta clashed during Tuesday night's game against the Los Angeles Lakers, leading to the suspension.Although Tarpley's six-year, $25.8 million contract makes him difficult to trade, sources said the Mavericks in the past two weeks have received calls about Tarpley from several teams, including the Philadelphia 76ers and Indiana Pacers.

Backup center James Donaldson was suspended by the Dallas Mavericks for last night's game against the San Antonio Spurs after a practice scuffle that slightly injured one player.On Tuesday, Donaldson skirmished with guard Rolando Blackman. Guard Derek Harper was scratched twice under an (( eye trying to break up the scuffle.Dallas has lost 13 of 14, and Donaldson said the losing created tension. Harper disagreed."This has nothing to do with what's going on out on the floor," he said. "James is just a 7-foot punk."

Veteran forward Adrian Dantley, a free agent who has been without a team all season, signed yesterday with the Milwaukee Bucks, his agent, David Falk of Pro Serv, Inc., of Alexandria, Va., reported.Dantley, a native of Washington who ranks among the National Basketball Association's all-time leading scorers, purchased his contract from the Dallas Mavericks after last season, but tried unsuccessfully to sell his services to another team.But the Bucks felt an immediate need for a proven scorer when shooting guard Dale Ellis was diagnosed as having a herniated disk.

BasketballMinnesota Timberwolves -- Traded F Gerald Glass (5.0 ppg this season) and F Mark Randall to the Detroit Pistons for C Brad Sellers (2.4 ppg, 1.0 rpg last season), G Lance Blanks (1.6 points the past two seasons) and a conditional second-round pick in 2000.New York Knicks -- Signed F Herb Williams (11.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg last season for the Dallas Mavericks) to a multiyear contract. Placed G Bo Kimble (bursitis) on the injured list.Washington Bullets -- Activated free-agent G Doug Overton.

Washington Bullets forward Juwan Howard put a positive spin on what's been a dismal season by winning the Rookie of the Month Award for February, the NBA announced yesterday.In 14 games during February, Howard averaged 20.1 points, which included two games of 30 or more points -- a career-high 31 points (and 10 rebounds) against the Miami Heat on Feb. 8 and a 30-point, nine-rebound, seven-assist game against the Dallas Mavericks on Feb. 21. Howard also averaged 8.0 rebounds and 1.2 blocks in February.