Unseld

LANDOVER -- When Wes Unseld retired as a player in 1981, Washington Bullets owner Abe Pollin was quick to extend him a position in the front office. When 1987-88 team got off to an awful start, Pollin gave Unseld the coaching job. And when Pollin found himself without a general manager this week, he again turned to Unseld.One day after John Nash resigned as general manager, Pollin yesterday announced the signing of Unseld to a five-year contract as vice president and GM."I'm delighted with the opportunity of being the general manager," Unseld said.

LANDOVER -- With eight minutes left in the third quarter of the Washington Bullets game against the Boston Celtics yesterday, a basket of extra-large balloons was prematurely released from the Capital Centre catwalk.It was "Fan Appreciation Day," but the only reason to celebrate was that the Bullets' horrendous 1992-93 season had ended.For the record, the playoff-bound Celtics got a wake-up call in the last 17 minutes to overcome a 64-59 deficit and roll to a 106-99 victory.An ailing Kevin McHale probably played the final regular-season game of his 12-year career, and there were more tears shed for him than for the Bullets (22-60)

WASHINGTON -- Instead of having a sole focus on the Washington Wizards' fight for a playoff spot, forwards Chris Webber and Juwan Howard return home today to face questioning about a woman's allegations that she was sexually assaulted on Monday during a party at Howard's Montgomery County home.Montgomery County authorities have stressed that no criminal charges have been filed against Webber and Howard, but police did execute search warrants at each of the homes of the players on Monday and carried away bags filled with items from each residence.

LANDOVER -- The Portland Trail Blazers have not required outside help in compiling the best record in the National Basketball Association this season.But last night at the Capital Center, the defending Western Conference champions were aided by three ejections en route to a 105-96 victory over the struggling Washington Bullets before 12,289.In a two-minute stretch midway into fourth quarter, lead referee Steve Javie ejected Bullets starters Darrell Walker and Pervis Ellison and head coach Wes Unseld.

After suffering through more than three-quarters of the season and 42 losses, Washington Bullets coach Wes Unseld finally is getting to watch the type team he envisioned while making plans in training camp last October.Indeed, it was only a two-game winning streak the Bullets put to- gether last weekend when they beat two playoff-bound teams -- Atlanta and Philadelphia -- in games that went down to the buzzer.But the manner in which they accomplished the job, rallying to win both games, playing aggressive defense in crunch time and revitalizing a long dormant fast break, had to encourage Unseld about his team's future.

The 1991-92 NBA season has passed the first-quarter mark, but Washington Bullets coach Wes Unseld said he is just starting to make meaningful decisions concerning his team."

BOWIE -- With his struggling Washington Bullets (22-47) having lost five straight and all but guaranteed themselves a 1992 lottery selection, coach Wes Unseld yesterday accused an unspecified number of his players 14l of competing for contracts rather than concentrating on basketball.After holding a scrimmage at Bowie State yesterday in preparation for tonight's game with the Indiana Pacers at the Capital Centre, Unseld would not name his allegedly distracted players, but said that he has met privately in the past few weeks with each of them.

BOWIE -- Bernard King's surprising return on New Year's Day has caused a debate among Washington Bullets players and a dilemma for management.King, a 13-year-veteran who has not played since March 1991 because of knee surgery, had circled Jan. 11 as the day he expected to be reactivated.After his first intrasquad scrimmage Thursday, King declared himself fit to play. He saw no need for the Bullets to delay the decision to cut a reserve in order to have him in uniform for tonight's home game against the Milwaukee Bucks.

The 124-79 whipping the Washington Bullets received from the New Jersey Nets at the Meadowlands on Saturday night was not the worst defeat in franchise history.Bullets coach Wes Unseld, who suffered this latest embarrassment on the sidelines, was a participant in the record-setter -- a 151-99 drubbing by a then-youthful Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and the Bucks in Milwaukee on Jan. 10, 1971.That classic rout was memorable for several reasons. With little more than a minute left, and the battered Bullets hoping to catch a red-eye flight to California, high-flying forward Gus Johnson took off from behind the foul line.

There's something about Christmas and the Wes Unseld New Year's Classic, played annually at Catonsville Community College, that brings out the best in Broadneck High.Last night, the Bruins (3-1) used a stifling defense and a run-and-gun offense to rout Hammond (1-4), 75-42, opening defense of their tournament championship.The Bruins have won the past four Unseld Classic championships.Broadneck's Jeff Vincent had 26 points to lead all scorers. Tonight at 8 in a semifinal, Broadneck will face Mount St. Joseph, which squeezed by Edmondson, 70-69, in the tournament opener.