Fast Break
NBA
Don’t you miss the Sonics?
The Washington Wizards didn’t care that they beat a team with only three wins. They were just happy they won at all.
The host Wizards beat the Oklahoma City Thunder – the former Seattle Supersonics – 104-95 on Saturday night in a matchup of teams with the two worst records in the NBA. They broke an eight-game losing streak.
The Thunder entered with an NBA-worst 3-27 record, with the Wizards at 4-23. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, there had never been an NBA game matching teams with individually lower winning percentages – .100 for Oklahoma City and .148 for Washington – and each squad having played at least 25 games.
The Thunder were coming off a last-second loss Friday in Detroit and have lost 12 of 13.
“It’s no fun having three wins, but it’s important we stay together and we continue to compete for one another,” said Oklahoma City interim coach Scott Brooks (in photo).
“Not one guy in this locker room is a loser.”
Soccer
Son has given up on former star
Paul Gascoigne’s son fears the former England midfielder is losing his struggle with alcoholism and mental health problems.
“He’s probably going to die soon,” 12-year-old Regan Gascoigne told a British TV channel in a documentary to be shown in 2009. “I don’t think there’s any point helping him – we’re wasting our time. If I could wish, I would wish that he would go away from us.
“Everyone thinks he’s Gazza, but because he’s the top player doesn’t mean he’s a good dad or a good person to be with, does it, really?”
The film crew tracked down the 41-year-old fallen soccer star at a hotel in Portugal.
“I’ve got food disorder, got bipolar, mood swings, anxiety,” he said, in extracts released Saturday. “I drank when I was sad. And yes, I must admit I thought of dying.”
The gifted player dazzled at the 1990 World Cup, the high point of a 57-game international career that was cut short by injuries and off-field troubles.
College football
Coach, look out for the fine print
St. John’s (Minn.) football coach John Gagliardi, 82, to the St. Paul Pioneer Press, about his job security:
“The monks give me a lifetime contract because they figure I can’t last much longer. But there’s a clause in there that if we start losing games, they can give me the last sacraments and declare me dead.”
College basketball
Go figure
Texas Southern, which lost to Gonzaga 84-42 11 days ago, dropped a 63-55 decision to visiting Portland State on Saturday night. PSU beat GU in Spokane 77-70 on Tuesday.