| | OAKLAND, Calif. -- Kobe Bryant returned to the lineup for
the Lakers on Wednesday night and said he has no intention
of appealing his one-game suspension for fighting with Chris Childs
of the New York Knicks.
Bryant's agent, Arn Tellem, said earlier Wednesday that he was
considering filing an appeal on Thursday with NBA commissioner
David Stern.
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| Childs |
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| Bryant |
"He mentioned it to me, but I said I don't want to," Bryant
said. "Truthfully, man, I really don't care, I really don't. Arn
is just being an agent."
Bryant lost about $100,000 by sitting out the game, and was
fined $5,000 by the NBA.
Bryant went to see the movie "Romeo Must Die" while sitting
out his suspension on Tuesday and then watched on TV as his
teammates won at Phoenix. He was back in the starting lineup
Wednesday night as the Lakers brought a 10-game winning streak into
their game with Golden State.
Childs and Bryant were fined and suspended by the NBA on Monday for fighting a day earlier in the nationally televised
Knicks-Lakers game. Childs was fined more because he was the
instigator of the fight.
Bryant said Wednesday he did not think Childs tried to goad him
into a fight.
"I think you give him too much credit. I don't think he's that
smart," Bryant said.
Childs, suspended without pay for two games and fined $15,000,
planned to appeal after learning of Bryant's lesser ban.
Since Bryant already served his suspension, the most he could
gain on appeal would be the recouping of some or all of his lost
salary -- $100,000, or 1-90th of his $9 million salary.
Bryant would have to appeal to Stern, instead of a grievance
arbitrator, since punishments for on-court behavior are solely the
discretion of the commissioner. Stern would have 20 days to rule
after granting a hearing.
NBA vice president Rod Thorn said Childs instigated the fight.
Bryant was disciplined for responding with a punch.
Childs is scheduled to sit out Thursday's home game against
Washington and Friday's game at Orlando. | |
ALSO SEE
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Shaq, Lakers take the fight out of Knicks
AUDIO/VIDEO
 Kobe Bryant and Chris Childs mix it up in L.A.
avi: 730 k
RealVideo: 56.6 | ISDN | T1
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