What’s-his-name welcomed

When an obscure school tries to raise its profile by hiring a nationally recognized name as its men's basketball coach, it's probably a good idea to get the name right at the introductory news conference.

But when Florida International University provost Ronald Berkman introduced Hall of Famer Isiah Thomas on Wednesday, he mangled the well-known name.

"On behalf of (FIU) president (Modesto A.) Maidique, I'm glad to welcome you all and to welcome Isiah Thompson as FIU's basketball coach," he said.

Thomas probably wished he had a different name in recent years, when he made headlines for all the wrong reasons.

A former national champion at Indiana University and two-time NBA champion with the Detroit Pistons, Thomas was fired as coach of the New York Knicks after last season, when he guided the team to a 23-59 record.

In 2007, a jury ordered the owners of the New York Knicks to pay $11.6 million to a former team executive who alleged she was sexually harassed by Thomas, who maintained his innocence and never was found liable.

In October, police responded to Thomas' home in New York after a 911 call reported someone had overdosed on sleeping pills. Police said a 47-year-old man was taken to the hospital and treated for an overdose of sleeping pills, and several media outlets reported that police confirmed it was Thomas who went to the hospital. But Thomas said his 17-year-old daughter, Lauren, required treatment, not him.

While ridiculing Berkman's mistake on his ESPN show "Rome is Burning," sports commentator Jim Rome played clips of other miscues, including boxing promoter Don King calling former slugger Barry Bonds "Larry Bonds" and professional golfer Mark O'Meara getting Rome's name wrong twice in the same interview, first calling him "Travis," then "Mike."

• MASTER OF SPIN CONTROL -- After tying for 38th place at the Masters Sunday, Spanish golfer Sergio Garcia blamed his poor performance on the conditions at Augusta (Ga.) National Golf Course.

"I don't like it. I don't think it is fair," he said. "Even when it's dry you still get mud balls in the middle of the fairway. It's too much of a guessing game."

On Tuesday, Garcia apologized for his comments.

"I made comments in an interview that I regret and want to apologize for," he told London's Daily Telegraph. "I blamed the golf course instead of putting the blame where it belongs, on myself.

"Augusta National is one of the most iconic golf courses in the game, and playing in the Masters each year is an honor. I apologize to the members of Augusta National and the fans who rightfully treasure this golf course."

• THE HOWARD RULE -- A Sports Illustrated cover story on Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard reveals his technique for clearing space under the basket.

"He fools around at practice, during press conferences and during shootaround, where Magic coach Stan Van Gundy has had to institute a no-flatulence rule because, as forward Rashard Lewis says, 'Dwight really likes to cut the cheese.' "

COMPILED BY TODD DEWEY LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL