NBA

Thrower of the punch gets a job

By wire services
Published January 30, 2005

For two decades, Kermit Washington wrote every NBA team and sent more than 700 resumes looking for a coaching job at any level.

But until last week, when commissioner David Stern helped make an assistant's job happen with the Asheville Altitude of the National Basketball Developmental League, Washington had been blacklisted because of one violent night.

"I know the reason I haven't been in the league, and I understand that ... I understand the perception of Kermit Washington," Washington said.

On Dec. 9, 1977, Washington, then with the Lakers, threw a punch after he spotted someone, out of the corner of his eye, rushing toward him. It was Rockets forward Rudy Tomjanovich, coming to restrain him.

Washington's punch fractured Tomjanovich's skull, jaw and other facial bones, putting him in the hospital for 15 days. Doctors said the injuries were life threatening.

Washington was fined $10,000 and suspended for 60 days. The Lakers traded him to the Celtics. Tomjanovich missed the rest of the season. He won a $3.2-million lawsuit from the Lakers, coached two championship teams in Houston, left the Rockets to battle bladder cancer, then returned to coach the Lakers this season.

Washington, now 53 and 27 years removed from the defining incident of his life, has finally received another chance.

"I'm not doing it for the change of perception. I love working with players. I could make more cleaning streets," said Washington, estimating his gross pay for the remaining two months of the season to be $12,000. "But I really appreciate what David Stern did for me."

Washington is cautious about not making this opportunity sound bigger than it is, but he's hopeful it could lead to an NBA job.

"It depends on how good a job I do, but I wouldn't be going to Ashland without that hope," Washington said, meaning Asheville, N.C., a place he confessed he had never heard of until last week.

REF INJURED: Official Michael Smith left the Knicks-Pistons game Saturday with a possible neck injury and was taken to a hospital for X-rays. Smith's neck snapped back when he was hit in the face with a basketball in the second quarter. After a brief delay, he stayed in the game. But with 3:50 left in the half, official Joe Crawford stopped the game and Smith was helped off the floor. The game resumed with two officials, Crawford and Eric Lewis.

PAY UP: Pistons coach Larry Brown was fined $35,000 for criticizing officials after a loss to Minnesota on Monday. Brown complained that goaltending wasn't called when Minnesota's Eddie Griffin blocked a layup attempt by Carlos Arroyo with 25 seconds left. He also said the Timberwolves should have been whistled several times for over-the-back fouls. "It's not fair. It's a joke. This has been happening too much," Brown said.

Information from the New York Times and Associated Press was used in the report.

[Last modified January 30, 2005, 06:27:21]