Clippers’ problems go beyond Dunleavy

After firing general manager Mike Dunleavy on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Clippers not only threw him under the bus for the team's poor play, they stepped on the accelerator, Toyota style, and ran him over.

''The team has simply not made sufficient progress during Dunleavy's seven-year tenure,'' the organization said in an e-mail announcing the firing. "The Clippers want to win now. This transition, in conjunction with a full commitment to dedicate unlimited resources, is designed to accomplish that objective.''

Dunleavy, who quit as coach Feb. 4 but stayed on as GM, has been replaced as coach by Kim Hughes and as GM by Neil Olshey, whom the Clippers clearly credited in their statement for pretty much any positive move made by the franchise in recent years.

Don't get us wrong, Dunleavy probably deserved to be fired a few years ago. But the Curse of the Clippers is bigger than any one man. The franchise has been terrible since the Jimmy Carter administration.

A perpetual lottery team, the Clippers went 19-63 last season and fell to 25-39 on Tuesday after a 26-point loss to Orlando, after which Magic coach Stan Van Gundy defended Dunleavy.

''It's just hard to comment on anything another organization does because you don't know why or how, and multiply that about 10 with the Clippers,'' he joked. ''No knock on Kim or anybody else, but they haven't exactly taken off since the coaching change.''

n PARTING SHOT -- Don't expect former Browns quarterback Derek Anderson to be greeted warmly if he ever returns to Cleveland with another NFL team.

Anderson fired a bitter parting shot at Browns fans Tuesday when Cleveland cut him after five seasons.

''The fans are ruthless and don't deserve a winner,'' Anderson wrote in an e-mail to The News-Herald of northern Ohio. ''I will never forget getting cheered when I was injured.

''I know at times I wasn't great. I hope and pray I'm playing when my team comes to town and (we) roll them.''

Anderson was named to the Pro Bowl in 2007 but suffered a season-ending knee injury in 2008 and struggled last season.

On Wednesday, Anderson issued an apology for his comments.

''I wasn't taken out of context, but I was speaking out of my frustration after my career with the Browns came to a close.''

That's a first. Most players are frustrated when they're with the Browns and relieved when they're let go.

n BEAU OF THE BASKETBALL -- Los Angeles Lakers forward Lamar Odom, who is married to reality TV star Khloe Kardashian, isn't fond of his ''Mr. Kardashian'' nickname but apparently loves being called a ''Laker beau,'' whatever that means.

''I didn't marry her to sell T-shirts, but I'd probably marry her to be called a beau,'' he said. ''That's the one thing I do want out of the relationship, to be called a beau.''

It's great to have lofty goals. Never give up on your dreams, Lamar.

COMPILED BY TODD DEWEY
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL