Kobe shows O'Neal how to land punches

NEW YORK (AP) - Kobe Bryant and Reggie Miller were each suspended two games without pay by the NBA yesterday for fighting at the end of a Pacers-Lakers game.

Both players also were fined - Bryant $12,500 and Miller $10,000 - for the fight that occurred after the Lakers won 96-84 on Friday night in Los Angeles.

Bryant missed and will miss Lakers' home games yesterday against the Houston Rockets and tomorrow against the New Jersey Nets. Miller missed yesterday's game against the Sacramento Kings and will be out for tomorrow's home game against the Orlando Magic.

The NBA suspended Bryant for "throwing a punch and fighting" and Miller for "retaliating against Bryant and fighting."

Lakers spokesman John Black said he hadn't spoken to Bryant since learning of the NBA's decision yesterday morning.

"I'm sure he won't contest the suspension," he said.

The fight took place near center court, after the final buzzer. Miller appeared to be walking toward Bryant after the game, apparently trash-talking, when Bryant suddenly threw a punch. The melee spilled over onto the scorers' bench before order was restored.

After the game, Bryant issued a statement through the team, saying, "If somebody comes at me, I'm going to defend myself."

Indiana coach Isiah Thomas said words apparently were exchanged.

"I saw Kobe take a swing," he said. "Before I knew it, everyone was trying to grab each other and hold each other and make peace. I don't know what they were saying or what it was about."

Cooper stays in-state with new position

CINCINNATI (AP) - The Cincinnati Bengals have hired former Ohio State coach John Cooper as a part-time consultant to help the Bengals scout college players and assess them for the NFL draft.

Cooper, 64, started as consultant/special assistant on Friday at the NFL's scouting combine in Indianapolis, the Bengals said Thursday.

"I feel like I can help them uncover the kind of information that teams need about players before they draft them," Cooper said.

Ohio State fired Cooper after the 2000 season. He had a 111-43-4 record as its coach, but a record of 2-10-1 against rival Michigan

Bengals owner and president Mike Brown is an admirer of Cooper and has long followed Ohio State, where his father, Paul Brown, coached 60 years ago.

"He has been a very accomplished coach," Mike Brown said of Cooper. "He knows good players and coaches and he's wired into the college football world."

This is Cooper's first experience with an NFL team.