MILWAUKEE Bucks fire Stotts

[Taco]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2798530

MILWAUKEE -- Terry Stotts was fired Wednesday as coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, who are struggling this season after injuries to key players.

An interim coach was not announced for Thursday night's against San Antonio, general manager Larry Harris said.

"Terry has done the best he could in a difficult situation, especially with all of our injuries," Harris said of his coach for less than two seasons. "I felt it was in the best interest of our organization to make the decision now and move forward, rather than wait until the end of the regular season."

The Bucks have dealt with a spate of injuries, including the loss of Michael Redd for 20 games as the team went 3-17 without him. The team is 23-41, last in the Central Division.

Stotts was hired as the team's ninth coach in June 2005 after Harris let Terry Porter go. Stotts was a favorite of owner Herb Kohl. The U.S. senator got to know the 13-year NBA veteran coach while Stotts was an assistant under then-Bucks coach George Karl.

Stotts and Harris made good on their promise to return to the playoffs in 2005-06, but the Bucks stumbled badly down the stretch and finished 40-42 with the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

[shelshor]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2798516

NBA fines Bogut $25K for obscene gesture
Associated Press


MILWAUKEE -- The NBA fined Milwaukee Bucks center Andrew Bogut $25,000 on Wednesday for directing an obscene gesture toward fans.

Bogut's outburst came near the end of Milwaukee's 108-93 loss at home to Toronto on Monday night. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2005 draft was ejected after committing a flagrant foul against Toronto's Chris Bosh with 49 seconds remaining, and then he directed an obscene hand gesture toward fans as he left the court.

Bogut apologized to fans Tuesday.

"Our fans have been very supportive of me since I came to Milwaukee and they certainly didn't deserve my reaction coming off the court," Bogut said. "I got caught up in the heat of the moment and let my emotions get the best of me."

Bogut also apologized to his teammates, coaches, organization and the league.

"My reaction reflected poorly on all of them, which would never be my intent," he said.

Bucks general manager Larry Harris said the incident was "out of character" for Bogut.

"Our organization does not condone such actions by our players and we apologize for it," Harris said.

In January, the league fined Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith $25,000 for making an obscene gesture to the crowd after being ejected from a game against the Charlotte Bobcats.

Smith raised both middle fingers as he was about halfway through the tunnel, apparently reacting to two technical fouls and being heckled by fans.

Copyright 2007 by The Associated Press

[CubanMustGo]

As further punishment, Bogut has been named acting coach for Thursday's game against San Antonio.

[MrChug]

Great....GREAT! Team's always get fired up after their coach gets fired!! Who do they get to get fired up against?!?!?!? 3 guesses.

[shelshor]

As further punishment, Bogut has been named acting coach for Thursday's game against San Antonio.

[Bob Lanier]

About ing time.

[resistanze]

"Terry has done the best he could in a difficult situation, especially with all of our injuries," Harris said of his coach for less than two seasons. "I felt it was in the best interest of our organization to make the decision now and move forward, rather than wait until the end of the regular season."

COOOOOOOLD BLOOOODEEEED

[degenerate_gambler]

Great....GREAT! Team's always get fired up after their coach gets fired!! Who do they get to get fired up against?!?!?!? 3 guesses.

Seems to happen alot...at least initially. And Milwaukee for the most part usually gives SA a pretty good game too.

[Nashfan]

As further punishment, Bogut has been named acting coach for Thursday's game against San Antonio.

[JMarkJohns]

They never should have fired Porter. He was a much better coach than this Stotts fellow and, I believe, he was a native of the area.

[timvp]

Still trying to figure out why they fired Terry Porter and hired Stotts in the first place.