| | WASHINGTON -- Washington Wizards point guard Rod Strickland,
fined and suspended for an exhibition game this week over an
unexcused absence, was not at practice again Friday.
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| Strickland |
"I thought until he got his head squared, I didn't want him to
be out there," said coach Gar Heard, who spoke to Strickland by
phone Friday.
Heard said he didn't know where Strickland was and didn't ask.
Heard said Strickland would be with the team Saturday for an
exhibition game against Cleveland at Baltimore, but would not say
whether Strickland would play.
Strickland was fined and suspended for Thursday night's game at
Cleveland after missing practice Wednesday. Strickland had been
allowed to skip Tuesday's practice to attend a funeral in New York,
then called the Wizards' offices Wednesday to say that he had missed
his fight home. The Wizards did not release the amount of the fine.
As to why Strickland still wasn't around Friday, Heard wouldn't
say. He referred questions to general manager Wes Unseld.
"I'm not at liberty to tell you what went on with him
personally," Heard said. "Wes is going to handle it at his end
..."
Unseld refused to comment, other than to say that the matter was
being handled "in-house."
Calls to Rod Strickland's agent, David Falk, were not
immediately returned.
Strickland has been a standout performer for the Wizards since
joining the team in 1996, but his three seasons in Washington have
been clouded by a drunken driving conviction, a fight with a
teammate in a hotel room, routine tardiness at practices and games,
and a poor diet that sometimes has him getting sick during games.
He also is scheduled to appear in court on another drunken driving
charge next week.
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