Tuesday 21st February, 2012 13 Kobe criticizes Lakers about potential Gasol trade

BY BOB BAUM team deal before the season that would have brought Chris Paul to the Lakers. PHOENIX (AP) — Kobe Bryant But NBA Commissioner David Stern lashed out at Lakers man- blocked the trade. agement Sunday night for leaving “It’s hard for Pau because of all teammate Pau Gasol wondering this trade talk and stuff,” Bryant said, whether he’s about to be traded. bringing up the subject even though In a postgame monologue punctuat- no one asked him about it. “It’s hard ed by a couple of profanities, Bryant for him to kind of invest himself com- said the Lakers either need to trade pletely or immerse himself completely Gasol or come out and say it won’t into games when he’s hearing trade happen. talk every other day. I wish manage- Bryant’s comments came in the ment would either come out and either aftermath of a 102-90 loss at Phoenix trade him or not trade him.” on Sunday night. He said he doesn’t Bryant said the Lakers have the want Gasol to be traded but it’s unfair foundation for another run at the NBA for his teammate to try to play when title with Gasol, who had 17 points and he doesn’t know if he’ll be somewhere 12 rebounds in the loss to Phoenix. else the following day. “It obviously starts with myself As Bryant put it: “If they’re going and Pau and the emergency of Andrew to do something, I wish they would (Bynum),” Bryant said, “but you can’t have one of our pillars not knowing if Kobe Bryant just ... do it.” “Listen, he’s been the consummate he’s going to be here or not. Do some- professional,” Bryant said. “He’s going thing. One way or another, do some- out and he’s trying to do what he can. thing. If they trade him at least you But let’s be real. If you didn’t know have some type of closure, he gets you were going to be here tomorrow, if some type of closure.” your head’s on the chopping block and Bryant, as usual, was the last play- you feel like you’re just waiting, it’s er to speak to reporters Sunday night. tough to put all yourself in the game.” Gasol had already left after talking Trade rumors about Gasol have cir- about the game but mentioning noth- culated since the team thought it had ing about a potential trade. shipped him to New Orleans in a three- British investigates Chisora’s behavior

LONDON (AP) — Dereck seven hours of questioning Chisora could face sanctions by police. His coach, Don from British boxing’s governing Charles, also faces a charge body for his behavior before, of assault for his involve- during and after his loss to WBC ment in the melee. champion . The pair have returned The British Boxing Board of to England. Control said Monday it has Chisora and Charles opened an investigation into were detained at Chisora’s conduct in connection airport at 10:30 a.m. Sunday to Saturday’s bout in Munich. and taken for questioning Chisora slapped Klitschko at the to Munich police headquar- weigh-in and spat water in the ters. Chisora was initially held on suspicion of assault, causing grievous bodily harm and of making a threat. Chisora was heard vowing to shoot Haye. More serious charges were reduced when police were unable to find Haye despite searching for the boxer at his hotel. Wladimir Klitschko said Monday he was “shocked and deeply embarrassed” by Chisora and his team. Klitschko says “these kinds of actions ... must be stopped, otherwise the sport of boxing is going to go down the hill fast.”

Dereck Chisora face of his opponent’s brother, Wladimir, before the fight. He then brawled with former WBA champion at the post-fight news conference, lead- ing to him being questioned at length by German police on Sunday. The BBBC said Monday that it is investigating Chisora on a misconduct charge. The body is looking into his behavior “prior, during and after his contest” against Klitschko, BBBC General Secretary Robert Smith said in a statement. “A further statement will be issued once the stewards have decided on what action will be taken.” Chisora taunted his fellow Londoner Haye about losing the WBA belt to Wladimir Klitchko in July, leading to a heated exchange before the pair came to blows. Haye also fought with members of Chisora’s entourage, and his coach, Adam Booth, was bleeding from a cut on his head. Haye, though, looks likely to escape sanction by the BBBC because he officially retired after his defeat to Wladimir Klitchko. “Mr. Haye is not a licensed boxer with the British Boxing Board of Control and therefore no longer under the jurisdiction of the British Boxing Board of Control,” Smith said. Chisora faces a charge of sim- ple assault in Germany but was released Sunday after nearly