Labradford Smith

LANDOVER -- The Washington Bullets had taken a break in the last couple of years from opening the Capital Centre to the public to watch them make selections in the NBA draft.They reopened the arena last night, but the crowd hadn't forgotten the long-standing tradition attached to the Bullets' selection-making process: booing.In fact, despite its small numbers, the crowd hooted the choice of Louisville guard LaBradford Smith at the 19th slot in the first round so loudly that Bullets general manager John Nash felt a little defensive when he strode to the microphone to explain the pick after the first round ended.

A sure sign of a victory came about 10 feet outside of the BayRunners' locker room after last night's game -- the music was blasting. That alone created a different mood after the BayRunners' first victory in franchise history, a 101-81 win over the San Diego Stingrays before 6,423 at Baltimore Arena, compared with the mostly silent locker room in Friday's season-opening loss to Trenton. The BayRunners (1-2) jumped to a double-digit lead in the first quarter and maintained it most of the game.

Add veteran guard Ledell Eackles to the Washington Bullets' crowded injury list.Eackles, being auditioned at small forward in the absence of Bernard King, who will be sidelined until December after knee surgery, complained of sore ribs after scoring a team-high 25 points in Tuesday night's 114-101 loss to the Chicago Bulls in Knoxville, Tenn. It was the winless Bullets' sixth straight preseason defeat.Eackles was examined yesterday by team doctor Carl MacCartee, and X-rays proved negative.

Ads on local radio stations present Kurk Lee urging Baltimore to come out and watch him light it up from three-point land. That is what BayRunners coach Herb Brown wants and expects to see from Lee this inaugural season for the International Basketball League. Lee, whom Brown singled out as being a primary weapon in the team's first news conference, will play his first professional game in Baltimore tonight, when the BayRunners take on Trenton at 7 at Baltimore Arena. It is one of four games tonight in the eight-team league.

LANDOVER -- Greg Foster's fragile two-year relationship with coach Wes Unseld and the Washington Bullets ended yesterday when the 6-foot-11 reserve center was waived to make room on the roster for guard Rex Chapman, coming off the injured list.General manager John Nash said he tried unsuccessfully to trade Foster for a draft pick and will now have to pay him the remainder of his $435,000 contract this season."Waiving a player is always tough, and this time is no different," Nash said. "But the quality of play of [rookie]

LANDOVER -- Greg Foster's fragile two-year relationship with coach Wes Unseld and the Washington Bullets ended yesterday when the 6-foot-11 reserve center was waived to make room on the roster for guard Rex Chapman, coming off the injured list.General manager John Nash said he tried unsuccessfully to trade Foster for a draft pick and will now have to pay him the remainder of his $435,000 contract this season."Waiving a player is always tough, and this time is no different," Nash said. "But the quality of play of [rookie]

After receiving the latest medical update, Washington Bullets coach Wes Unseld realizes no immediate help is on the way. His depleted team concludes its western swing tonight in Seattle and tomorrow night in Utah.Injuries to forward Tom Hammonds (groin), guard Michael Adams (dislocated finger) and guard LaBradford Smith (ankle) have reduced Unseld's traveling squad to 10.Playing short-handed, the Bullets (6-10) whipped the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday and nearly stole another victory in Portland Sunday before bowing, 91-87.

EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. -- Ralph Sampson, the first player selected in the 1983 NBA draft, has turned into a job-hunting free agent. The 7-foot-4 center will have an opportunity to sell himself to the Washington Bullets "early next week," general manager John Nash confirmed yesterday.Nash and Bullets coach Wes Unseld played down the significance of Sampson's undergoing a physical by the Bullets medical staff and then getting a private tryout."You've got to remember that we're 'capped out' [over the salary cap]

BOWIE -- The Washington Bullets were busy yesterday making additions and deletions to their traveling party today for a four-game Western swing that will take them to Los Angeles, Portland, Seattle and Utah before returning home Dec. 6.After holding practice at Bowie State yesterday, coach Wes Unseld decided point guard Michael Adams (dislocated finger) and forward Tom Hammonds (hamstring) would make the trip, and that rookie guard LaBradford Smith (sore ankle) would remain at home and continue therapy.

LANDOVER -- Early in the second half, with Washington trailing the Orlando Magic, 62-43, a fan in the Capital Centre crowd of 6,165 shouted to Bullets coach Wes Unseld, "Put your regulars in!"Unseld bit his lip, or he might have responded, "What regulars?"He had a better lineup dressed in business suits than in uniforms last night, as the Magic routed the Bullets for the second time in a week, 95-82.Point guard Michael Adams and forward Pervis Ellison, nursing a sore back, were the only legitimate Bullets starters playing significant minutes, as Washington (2-5)

LANDOVER -- On paper, the New Jersey Nets vs. the Washington Bullets at the Capital Centre last night figured to be a classic mismatch.The lottery-bound Bullets, with the worst record in the East, were playing the playoff-bound Nets, who owned the fourth-best record and had won eight of their past nine games.To increase the odds, Bullets rookie forward Tom Gugliotta missed his first game as a pro, bedded down with the flu.Reserve guard Rex Chapman was a late scratch, also with the flu. Center Pervis Ellison already was sidelined with a knee injury, leaving Wes Unseld with a bunch of undersized forwards to battle one of the NBA's biggest front lines, featuring 6-foot-10 Derrick Coleman and 6-11 Chris Dudley, with 7-1 Sam Bowie and beefy 6-10 Rick Mahorn in reserve.

As upsets go, it may not rank with the Jets' win over the Colts in Super Bowl III, little Chaminade's stunning victory over Ralph Sampson's Virginia team or Buster Douglas' knockout of heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.But in Washington Bullets' lore, last night's 105-101 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers was big, real big.Unfortunately, there were only 3,333 eyewitnesses at the Baltimore Arena due to the rescheduling of Saturday night's snowed-out contest.But thousands more might insist they were there the night the Bullets (17-43)

LANDOVER -- They say there is strength in numbers. But the Washington Bullets, reduced to nine able-bodied players, refuted that theory last night by surviving a late Indiana rally to beat the Pacers, 105-101, before 10,223 at the Capital Centre.With Harvey Grant (calf) and Rex Chapman (ankle) sidelined and the Bullets choosing not to sign a guard to replace Doug Overton, who remains on the injured list following thumb surgery, it seriously limited coach Wes Unseld's rotation.But four of his five starters -- Tom Gugliotta, Pervis Ellison, Michael Adams and LaBradford Smith -- delivered strong performances in combining for 88 points as Washington (16-37)

LANDOVER -- Greg Foster's fragile two-year relationship with coach Wes Unseld and the Washington Bullets ended yesterday when the 6-foot-11 reserve center was waived to make room on the roster for guard Rex Chapman, coming off the injured list.General manager John Nash said he tried unsuccessfully to trade Foster for a draft pick and will now have to pay him the remainder of his $435,000 contract this season."Waiving a player is always tough, and this time is no different," Nash said. "But the quality of play of [rookie]

LANDOVER -- Greg Foster's fragile two-year relationship with coach Wes Unseld and the Washington Bullets ended yesterday when the 6-foot-11 reserve center was waived to make room on the roster for guard Rex Chapman, coming off the injured list.General manager John Nash said he tried unsuccessfully to trade Foster for a draft pick and will now have to pay him the remainder of his $435,000 contract this season."Waiving a player is always tough, and this time is no different," Nash said. "But the quality of play of [rookie]

The Washington Bullets added to their already congested backcourt last night by obtaining injured guard Rex Chapman from the Charlotte Hornets for forward Tom Hammonds.The trade of former first-round draft picks gives the Bullets five shooting guards -- Chapman, David Wingate, A.J. English, Ledell Eackles and 1991 first-round draft pick LaBradford Smith -- but general manager John Nash said "the up side was so great, it was significant enough to warrant the deal."Chapman, 24, has missed the last 30 games because of a bruised left heel.

Ads on local radio stations present Kurk Lee urging Baltimore to come out and watch him light it up from three-point land. That is what BayRunners coach Herb Brown wants and expects to see from Lee this inaugural season for the International Basketball League. Lee, whom Brown singled out as being a primary weapon in the team's first news conference, will play his first professional game in Baltimore tonight, when the BayRunners take on Trenton at 7 at Baltimore Arena. It is one of four games tonight in the eight-team league.

Don't blame Washington Bullets coach Wes Unseld for feeling like a hospital supervisor without enough beds for his patients these days.Michael Adams, the team's leading scorer and playmaker, reinjured the middle finger of his left hand in Friday night's 101-94 victory over the Clippers in Los Angeles. He flew home to Washington yesterday while the Bullets continue their four-game Western swing in Portland tonight.It is unlikely that Adams -- who first dislocated the finger las Monday -- will be placed on the injury list, which requires a player to sit out a minimum of five games.

The Washington Bullets added to their already congested backcourt last night by obtaining injured guard Rex Chapman from the Charlotte Hornets for forward Tom Hammonds.The trade of former first-round draft picks gives the Bullets five shooting guards -- Chapman, David Wingate, A.J. English, Ledell Eackles and 1991 first-round draft pick LaBradford Smith -- but general manager John Nash said "the up side was so great, it was significant enough to warrant the deal."Chapman, 24, has missed the last 30 games because of a bruised left heel.

After receiving the latest medical update, Washington Bullets coach Wes Unseld realizes no immediate help is on the way. His depleted team concludes its western swing tonight in Seattle and tomorrow night in Utah.Injuries to forward Tom Hammonds (groin), guard Michael Adams (dislocated finger) and guard LaBradford Smith (ankle) have reduced Unseld's traveling squad to 10.Playing short-handed, the Bullets (6-10) whipped the Los Angeles Clippers on Friday and nearly stole another victory in Portland Sunday before bowing, 91-87.