BULLETS FIRE LYNAM: Jim Lynam was fired as coach of the Washington Bullets, who are making a mess of a season that began with high expectations.
General manager Wes Unseld flew to Denver and met with Lynam before announcing the firing. Assistant Bob Staak directed the team on an interim basis in a 106-104 loss to Denver. Assistant Buzz Braman also was fired.After a 19-15 start, Washington lost nine of 12 games and was coming off a 30-point loss to the Los Angeles Lakers and a 22-point defeat at Utah when Unseld made the move. Lynam was 82-128 in 2 1/2 seasons with the team.
KICKEE ARRESTED: The cameraman who gained national attention when he was kicked by Chicago Bulls forward Dennis Rodman was arrested and accused of threatening his girlfriend, according to reports.
Eugene Amos was arrested Tuesday night and booked after his girlfriend told police he went to her house and threatened her. The woman also filed a domestic assault report Jan. 14, a day before Rodman kicked the cameraman. She obtained a restraining order against Amos the same day.
Amos, who received a $200,000 out-of-court settlement from Rodman, was charged with fifth-degree misdemeanor assault in the earlier altercation.
ALL-STAR MOVES: Chris Gatling of Dallas, Kevin Garnett of Minnesota and Chris Webber of Washington were picked to replace three injured players in the NBA All-Star game Sunday.
They will replace Western Conference stars Clyde Drexler of Houston and Shaquille O'Neal of the Los Angeles Lakers and Eastern Conference center Patrick Ewing of New York. Garnett, 20, will be the second-youngest all-star ever, older only than Magic Johnson in 1980.
KINGS' RANSOM: The Sacramento city council voted 5-3 to loan the Sacramento Kings $70 million, which majority owner Jim Thomas said he had to have to keep the team in town. Thomas plans to use the money to refinance his purchase of Arco Arena, the Kings' 9-year-old home court.