LAKERS: SNOWBOARD LEAVES RADMANOVIC LYING.Byline: ROSS SILER Staff Writer Lakers See Lake poets forward Vladimir Radmanovic was about as good a liar as he was a snowboarder, which was why he arrived at the team's practice facility Friday and decided to come clean to coach Phil Jackson
Philip Douglas "Phil" Jackson (born September 17, 1945 in Deer Lodge, Montana) is the current coach of the Los Angeles Lakers, an American professional basketball team. and general manager Mitch Kupchak Mitchell "Mitch" Kupchak (born May 24 1954 in Hicksville, New York) is a retired American basketball player and current general manager of the Los Angeles Lakers since the 2000-01 NBA season after predecessor Jerry West moved to the Memphis Grizzlies organization. . Radmanovic did not suffer a separated right shoulder by falling on a patch of ice on a trip for coffee Saturday afternoon in Park City, Utah Park City is a city located in Summit County, Utah, United States. It is one of two major resort towns in Utah, the other being Moab. It is considered to be part of the Wasatch Back and a part of the Salt Lake City metropolitan area. . Instead, he was injured while snowboarding in what he admitted was a violation of his contract. The Lakers do not plan on voiding the five-year, $30.2 million deal Radmanovic signed last July. But Radmanovic, who will miss six to eight weeks with the injury, does face a possible fine and/or suspension. "I did a stupid thing snowboarding, but I don't want to be a liar," Radmanovic said. "That's not something that I am. "Obviously, I lied but there was a way to correct it and hopefully this is going to help." Jackson said his last words Last words are a person's final words before death. For a list of well known last words, see or use the link at right. Last words may refer to:
Although snowboarding is not prohibited in the standard player's contract, skiing and other activities with an injury risk are. "Unfortunately, before I stepped on that board, I wasn't really thinking about it," Radmanovic said. "Until things happen, you don't believe it's going to happen to you. ... Hopefully, it's going to be a lesson for me." Jackson was skeptical at best of Radmanovic's story when he first heard it Tuesday, joking to reporters about having "Pinkerton" detectives investigate the case and later calling it "a situation that's a curiosity, for sure." "We can have a relationship now that feels comfortable," Jackson said. "The last couple of days have not felt totally comfortable. "This we can feel comfortable." It was the latest turn in Radmanovic's disastrous first season with the Lakers. He suffered an injury to his shooting hand during training camp, was dubbed a "space cadet space cadet n. Slang One who shows difficulty in grasping reality or in responding appropriately to it; a spacy person: "the screwups and the space cadets " by Jackson in December and was averaging just 6.9 points and 3.4 rebounds. Radmanovic told the story of his coffee-run gone awry a·wry adv. 1. In a position that is turned or twisted toward one side; askew. 2. Away from the correct course; amiss. See Synonyms at amiss. to Jackson and Kupchak after the Lakers reconvened Tuesday following the All-Star break. He said he "panicked" after the injury and was afraid of the repercussions repercussions npl → répercussions fpl repercussions npl → Auswirkungen pl . The truth ate at Radmanovic for two days, until he decided to call his agent Thursday night and tell the real story. He asked to talk to Jackson and Kupchak on Friday morning, but was waiting for the right time to address his teammates. Kupchak said Radmanovic's decision to tell the truth would be taken into consideration as the Lakers decide what penalties he will face. He added that owning up to the embarrassing truth publicly was "to some degree a punishment." "We'll discuss it internally over the next couple of days on what we may or may not do," Kupchak said. "If it's something that we feel needs to be shared, we'll share it with you. If not, it'll stay internally." Lakers owner Jerry Buss Dr. Gerald Hatten “Jerry” Buss (born in 1934) is an American professional basketball team owner, former real estate developer, and poker player. Early life Raised near Kemmerer, Wyoming, Buss earned a B.S. nevertheless made a rare appearance in the locker room before Friday's game. He sat between reporters and said, "I will mull Mull, island, 351 sq mi (909 sq km), Argyll and Bute, NW Scotland, largest island of the Inner Hebrides, separated from the mainland by the Sound of Mull and the Firth of Lorn. it over," to a question about possible punishment for Radmanovic. "It shows a lack of maturity and respect for his obligation to the Lakers and his teammates and the fans of Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. ," Kupchak added. "Based on my conversation today, I think he realizes that. I think the remorse you see is real." Radmanovic, who said he never before had been snowboarding, was prepared for whatever punishment awaits. His injury could not have come at a worst time, with the Lakers already down two injured starters in Kwame Brown and Luke Walton Luke Theodore Walton (born March 28 1980 in San Diego, California) is an American professional basketball player for the Los Angeles Lakers of the National Basketball Association (NBA). His position is small forward. . "Obviously, coming out and telling the truth is going to have some penalties," Radmanovic said. "But I'm willing to take them because I was responsible for it. Before I stepped onto that snowboard I was probably not thinking about the things that could happen and this could be something that could finish my career." ross.siler@dailynews.com (818) 713-3610 CAPTION(S): photo Photo: VLADIMIR RADMANOVIC Admits to the Lakers that he separated his shoulder while on a snowboard, not getting coffee. |
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