Top > Sport > 2006 > April > 2006-04-19

Blazers Suspend Randolph

Zach Randolph was fined and suspended by the Portland Trail Blazers for behavior that was not compatible with the team`s spirit. Trail Blazers General Manager John Nash announced that "Zach Randolph committed a series of separate actions that were insubordinate and detrimental to the team culminating in his decision to leave the arena during the third quarter of Saturday`s game while on the inactive list," said Nash.

Some critics are saying that Randolph has a bone bruise on his knee and wasn`t likely to play this season anyhow, what makes this suspension a bit uncalled for. Randolph makes roughly $10.7 million this season. Divide that by 82 and this one-game suspension when he wasn`t going to play anyway really is a fine for a tad over $130,000 - or roughly three years of work for the average citizen.

Hopefully the action taken by the team`s management will show that the Trail Blazers won`t put up with such conduct, and other players realize that Nash means business.