Sprewell Is Suspended for Vulgarity

Latrell Sprewell of the Minnesota Timberwolves was suspended for one game by the NBA on Tuesday for yelling a sexual vulgarity at a female fan Saturday while playing the Clippers at Staples Center.

Sprewell’s response to a heckler was clearly picked up by a courtside microphone and broadcast by television stations KTLA in Los Angeles and KSTC in Minnesota.

“Our policy is that you can’t do it,” said NBA spokesman Tim Frank. “When you do it, you’re going to get suspended.”

This is the latest in a series of problems for Sprewell, 34. He was suspended for one year -- later reduced to 68 games -- for choking Golden State Warrior coach P.J. Carlesimo at practice in 1997.

In December 2003, Sprewell was fined $25,000 by the NBA for cursing at New York Knick Chairman James Dolan and screaming at the team’s bench. In 1999, Sprewell was fined $10,000 for making obscene remarks to fans during a game.

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As expected, ABC announced Tuesday that retired Memphis Grizzly coach Hubie Brown has been hired as the network’s lead NBA analyst, working alongside Al Michaels.

Brown and Michaels will be courtside at Staples Center tonight, using the Lakers’ game against Phoenix to practice working together. Their first real assignment for ABC will be the Christmas Day matchup between the Lakers and Miami Heat.

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Houston was awarded the 2006 NBA All-Star game, the second time the city will play host to the midseason event. The 1989 game was played at the Astrodome.

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New Orleans Hornet owner George Shinn reached a deal to regain full control of the team he founded in 1987, the Times-Picayune reported.

Shinn will pay $65 million to buy out minority partner Ray Wooldridge, who paid $56 million for a 35% stake in the team in July 1999, if the deal is approved by the NBA’s Board of Governors, the newspaper reported.

Shinn has said he hopes to find investors from the New Orleans area to show his commitment to the city.

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Grizzly point guard Jason Williams was put on the injured list because of a sprained right ankle, suffered Friday against Philadelphia.