Flagrant

2-technical rule absurd Paul Doyle Hartford Courant We understand the intent of the NBA's technical foul and flagrant foul playoff punishment: Let's keep the game crisp and clean and civil so fans are seeing the best basketball in the most important games. It's a great idea in theory, until we consider the folks issuing the fouls. The NBA referees are especially poor in the playoffs. Too often technical fouls are called because of a cross word or show of disrespect.

2-technical rule absurd Paul Doyle Hartford Courant We understand the intent of the NBA's technical foul and flagrant foul playoff punishment: Let's keep the game crisp and clean and civil so fans are seeing the best basketball in the most important games. It's a great idea in theory, until we consider the folks issuing the fouls. The NBA referees are especially poor in the playoffs. Too often technical fouls are called because of a cross word or show of disrespect.

Are referees cracking down by enforcing more frequently the flagrant misconduct rule, or is malicious intent on the rise in local high school wrestling?Bill Hastings, a local wrestling commissioner, says there is not an abnormal amount of infractions being committed this season. Walter Reed, in his 24th year of officiating, disagrees.It's a controversial topic, and one that some in local wrestling would like to avoid. But with the final two weeks of wrestling and the public school regional and state tournaments approaching, state tournament director Ron Belinko thinks it's one that craves comment.

Shaquille O'Neal made an early exit from Amare Stoudemire's 26th birthday party. Stoudemire and the rest of the short-handed Phoenix Suns did just fine without him last night. Stoudemire had 29 points and 11 rebounds and the Suns overcame O'Neal's second-quarter ejection to beat the visiting Detroit Pistons, 104-86. "It's good to see our guys come out and jump on a very good basketball team," Phoenix coach Terry Porter said. Steve Nash, back from a one-game suspension for his part in a skirmish with several Houston Rockets on Wednesday night, added 17 points and seven assists for the Suns.

Marylanders will be transfixed over the next few days by a new form of March Madness. It's the General Assembly's attempt to deal with the egregious near-doubling of electricity costs. Perhaps only basketball could distract us from the impending strain on our wallets. Basketball and public utilities aren't related, but for me, the issue contains a grim reminder of the cocaine-induced death of basketball star Len Bias 20 years ago. Administrators at the University of Maryland, College Park found themselves besieged with questions about the academic performance of players on that 1986 team.

Shaquille O'Neal made an early exit from Amare Stoudemire's 26th birthday party. Stoudemire and the rest of the short-handed Phoenix Suns did just fine without him last night. Stoudemire had 29 points and 11 rebounds and the Suns overcame O'Neal's second-quarter ejection to beat the visiting Detroit Pistons, 104-86. "It's good to see our guys come out and jump on a very good basketball team," Phoenix coach Terry Porter said. Steve Nash, back from a one-game suspension for his part in a skirmish with several Houston Rockets on Wednesday night, added 17 points and seven assists for the Suns.

Good morning --Raja Bell -- That flagrant foul on Kobe Bryant would have been a penalty in the NFL, too.

Basketball NBA: Reclassified flagrant foul committed by Lakers C Shaquille O'Neal in Game 2 of NBA Finals as personal foul. Hockey Canucks: Agreed to terms with D Greg Hawgood and C Darby Hendrickson.

LOS ANGELES - By the taut look on his face, by the taut tone in his voice, it seemed no one took Shaquille O'Neal's suspension harder than Kobe Bryant. And no one did more last night to lift up the Los Angeles Lakers and make them whole again. O'Neal served the first night of a three-game suspension for taking a swing at Chicago's Brad Miller two nights earlier. It was nothing compared to the assault Bryant launched against the Memphis Grizzlies in front of a sellout crowd of 18,997 at Staples Center.

BaseballAtlanta Braves -- Activated OF David Justice from the 15-day DL. Designated IF-OF Steve Lyons for assignment.Texas Rangers -- Purchased the contract of RHP Todd Burns (0-1, 2.25 ERA in 2 starts) from Triple-A Oklahoma City and designated C Doug Davis (1 hit, 1 AB) for assignment. If he clears waivers he will by sent outright to Oklahoma City.BasketballUSA Basketball -- Named Maryland coach Chris Weller coach of the USA Women's Select Team that will compete for the R. William Jones Cup in Taipei, Taiwan.

Last week it was Lewis Clinch, Georgia Tech's third-leading scorer. Yesterday, starting forward Zach Peacock was suspended. The Yellow Jackets (11-4, 0-2 Atlantic Coast Conference) have had some unexpected setbacks heading into tonight's 7 o'clock ESPN game against No. 11 Duke (13-2, 0-1). Clinch was suspended Friday for the rest of the season for academic reasons. Peacock, a freshman, was ejected from Saturday's 75-74 loss at Clemson. Game officials deemed his flagrant foul "an act of fighting," which results in an automatic suspension by the NCAA.

Virginia Tech coach Frank Beamer said he has no problem hitting his players where it hurts - in the pocket. The Hokies (4-0, 2-0 Atlantic Coast Conference) are fined $100 from their bowl spending money when they commit flagrant fouls in a game or if they're not dressed properly, Beamer said. Fouls have been a problem this season for Virginia Tech, the league's most-penalized team. The Hokies are giving up 62 penalty yards per game but still remain undefeated heading into tomorrow's 3:30 p.m. televised game (chs.

Good morning --Raja Bell -- That flagrant foul on Kobe Bryant would have been a penalty in the NFL, too.

Marylanders will be transfixed over the next few days by a new form of March Madness. It's the General Assembly's attempt to deal with the egregious near-doubling of electricity costs. Perhaps only basketball could distract us from the impending strain on our wallets. Basketball and public utilities aren't related, but for me, the issue contains a grim reminder of the cocaine-induced death of basketball star Len Bias 20 years ago. Administrators at the University of Maryland, College Park found themselves besieged with questions about the academic performance of players on that 1986 team.

THE WAY IN WHICH the Justice Department rounded up 762 illegal immigrants after the Sept. 11 attacks and tossed them, virtually incommunicado, into long-term detention is a perfect example of how not to enforce the laws and of why due process protections are so fundamental. A report this week by the department's inspector general offers a powerful rebuke to those who would argue that any action is justified in a time of emergency - and should provide a useful guide to members of the House Judiciary Committee, who will be hearing testimony today from Attorney General John Ashcroft.

LOS ANGELES - You're hearing a lot less about Kenyon Martin these days, and that's a good thing. The New Jersey Nets' power forward is doing the things - scoring, rebounding and intimidating - that have people talking about him in a good way. But Martin, who has been controversy-free in the NBA playoffs after drawing a slew of criticism and flagrant fouls in the regular season, said the good talk about him is spurred by a change in the way people perceive...

Spurs' Green suspended, fined for flagrant foulSidney Green of the San Antonio Spurs was fined $10,000 and suspended one game by the NBA yesterday for a flagrant foul Friday night against Gerald Glass of Minnesota.The incident occurred with 3 minutes, 21 seconds left in the second period. As Glass went in for a layup, Green hit him from the side under the chest and shoulder, knocking him to his back. Glass, who sustained a bruised lower back, did not return to the game. Green was assessed a flagrant foul and ejected.

In the wake of two apparent retaliations against his club by opposing pitchers in less than a week, manager Davey Johnson said yesterday "when people take shots at us, things will not go unnoticed.""This is a very tight-knit ballclub here and we will protect ourselves. You can believe that," he said. "We will have our opportunities for payback. We're not threatening anybody in any way, shape or form, but by the same token, we're not going to be abused."Johnson's words were triggered by the Thursday actions of Seattle reliever Bob Wells, who hit Jeffrey Hammonds on the next pitch after Chris Hoiles had homered to lead off the eighth inning.

LOS ANGELES - By the taut look on his face, by the taut tone in his voice, it seemed no one took Shaquille O'Neal's suspension harder than Kobe Bryant. And no one did more last night to lift up the Los Angeles Lakers and make them whole again. O'Neal served the first night of a three-game suspension for taking a swing at Chicago's Brad Miller two nights earlier. It was nothing compared to the assault Bryant launched against the Memphis Grizzlies in front of a sellout crowd of 18,997 at Staples Center.

Basketball NBA: Reclassified flagrant foul committed by Lakers C Shaquille O'Neal in Game 2 of NBA Finals as personal foul. Hockey Canucks: Agreed to terms with D Greg Hawgood and C Darby Hendrickson.