Eddie Griffin

The Houston Rockets were prepared to draft former Maryland standout Terence Morris with the last of the team's three NBA first-round picks last night. Then the phone rang, with the New Jersey Nets calling to offer former Seton Hall standout Eddie Griffin for all three picks. There was one stipulation: The Rockets had to draft Pepperdine guard Brandon Armstrong at No. 23, the pick with which Houston was hoping to take Morris. It was the first in a series of telephone calls that finally ended with the Rockets obtaining Morris, who had been picked early in the second round and 34th overall by the Atlanta Hawks, for a future draft pick.

As a stand-up, Eddie Griffin, the star of last summer's blaxploitation satire Undercover Brother, provokes discomfort and hilarity at the same time. In DysFunktional Family, he's totally uninhibited about race and his own racism, sex and his own sexism, prejudice and his own prejudices. In this Kansas City, Mo., concert, edited together with cutaways to man-in-the-street interviews and talks with Griffin's family and friends in his old K.C. neighborhood, Griffin takes the stage without any glitz or hype.

Fact: While the Orioles' current bullpen craters, four members of the club's deposed 1999 bullpen are thriving. Heathcliff Slocumb, Mike Fetters, Ricky Bones and Arthur Rhodes have a combined 2.43ERA in a combined50 appearances through Monday night's games. And Jesse Orosco will be pitching again soon for the Cardinals after a trip to the disabled list. Opinion: An appropriate punishment that would devastate Indiana's little dictator, Bob Knight? No, don't fire him and make him a martyr.

SoccerUnder-12 -- The Greater Harford Rockets won their third straight indoor soccer game at the Maryland Sports Arena with a 3-2 comeback victory over the Harford Kicks.Although the Kicks opened the scoring quickly with a goal around the four-minute mark, Rockets center forward Chris Martin scored soon after off an assist from Giovanni Julian.The Rockets went ahead less than 10 minutes later on a goal by Ben Healey to go up, 2-1, to end the half. Healey scored another unassisted goal later in the second half.

Baseball Indians: Named Donnie Poplin professional scout. Red Sox: Recalled IF James Lofton from Triple-A Pawtucket. Designated P Carlos Castillo for assignment. Rockies: Placed P Bobby Chouinard on 60-day DL with torn labrum lining in shoulder. Signed P Chris Nichting. Basketball Rockets: Signed F Eddie Griffin to multi-year contract. Football Browns: Signed OT Toby Myles to one-year contract. Waived LB Barry Minter. Jets: Signed TE Daniel Wilcox from practice squad. Placed TE Jake Moreland on practice squad.

Clippers: Traded F Brian Skinner and rights to C Tyson Chandler to Bulls for F Elton Brand. Hawks: Agreed in principle to trade first-round pick (third overall), F Lorenzen Wright and G Brevin Knight to Grizzlies for F Shareef Abdur-Rahim. Traded rights to G Jamaal Tinsley to Pacers for future first-round draft pick. Traded rights to F Terence Morris (Maryland) to Rockets for future first-round draft pick. Magic: Traded C Michael Doleac to Cavaliers for rights to C Brendan Haywood. Traded rights to G Omar Cook to Nuggets for future first-round draft pick.

Moves Auto racing NASCAR: Fined Dale Earnhardt Jr. $10,000 and docked him 25 championship points for using vulgarity during televised interview after Sunday's race. Baseball PHILLIES: Promoted John Vukovich, third base coach, to special assistant to general manager. Announced Milt Thompson, first base coach; Gary Varsho, bench coach; Ramon Henderson, bullpen coach, and Mick Billmeyer, major league catching instructor, will be retained for 2005 season. Renewed player development contract with Double-A Reading through 2008 season.

Eddie Griffin is steamed. And it has nothing to do with the angst-ridden reality series he recently starred in on VH1. No, what's got the veteran comic boiling now is Tiger Woods and the tumult surrounding his recent indiscretions, specifically the high-rolling companies that all of a sudden seem to have acquired a conscience. Self-righteousness that smacks of hypocrisy just galls Griffin no end, as those planning to attend his show at the Lyric Opera House in Friday night will hear.

Just announced Andrea Bocelli performs at the MCI Center in Washington June 15. Call 410-481-SEAT. Alicia Keys will perform at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia Aug. 29. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. Saturday. Call 410-481-SEAT. Comedian Eddie Griffin plays the Warner Theatre in Washington April 20. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. today. Also, comedian Dave Chappelle performs there April 28. Tickets go on sale at noon tomorrow. Call 410-481-SEAT. "WMZQFest 2002," featuring Willie Nelson, Lonestar, Sara Evans and Carolyn Dawn Johnson, will be held at Nissan Pavilion in Manassas, Va., May 11. Tickets go on sale at 10 a.m. tomorrow.