Wizards Fire Collins, Will Offer Refund To Fans

WASHINGTON (AP) Having rid the Washington Wizards of both Michael Jordan and Doug Collins, owner Abe Pollin figures it's time for a money-back guarantee.

Pollin fired coach Collins on Friday, a much-anticipated move that came three weeks after Jordan was denied a return to the front office. What wasn't expected was Pollin's refund offer, which he has included in a soon-to-be-mailed letter to season-ticket holders.

"My pledge to you: If you are not satisfied with the direction of our basketball franchise after this summer, I will refund your season-ticket deposit in full," Pollin wrote. A copy of the letter, dated June 2, was obtained by The Associated Press on Friday.

To back up that pledge, Pollin will need to find a name that will help people forget that way he discarded the very popular Jordan. Larry Brown, who resigned from the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this week, could be a prime candidate to both run the front office and coach, although he is already a serious contender for coaching openings with the Houston Rockets and Los Angeles Clippers.

"If they can get Larry Brown, they've hit a home run," Collins said.

The availability of candidates such as Brown is the reason Collins felt he was fired Friday. Pollin had previously said Collins' fate would be decided by Jordan's replacement.

"I think everybody had a sense all along that I was going to be fired," Collins said. "It was just a matter of when."

In a statement, Pollin said he made the move when he did to give Collins time to pursue other coaching jobs, but Collins said he was in no rush to coach elsewhere. He was a well-regarded television analyst before Jordan lured him back to the sidelines two years ago, so the microphone might beckon again.

"Whatever I do next in my life, I want it to be well thought out," Collins said.

Jordan was the Wizards' president of basketball operations when he hired Collins in April 2001. Jordan then decided to return as a player, putting Collins in the unusual position of coaching the person who hired him. The Wizards went 37-45 both seasons and failed to make the playoffs.

Collins had two years remaining on his four-year contract, but his days were numbered once Pollin decided not to let Jordan, who had retired as a player again, return to the front office.

"With Michael hiring me, it was natural that I would be the next one to be dismissed," Collins said.

The Wizards said Pollin would have no further comment. In his letter to season ticket-holders, Pollin said he has "interviewed and will continue to interview the brightest available basketball minds in the business."

Pollin has said he wants to have a new president of basketball operations in place by the June 26 draft. Outgoing general manager Wes Unseld is in charge of draft preparations. Unseld, who held the title in name only while Jordan ran the team for 3 1/2 seasons, is taking a leave of absence after the draft for health reasons.

Collins coached Jordan and the Chicago Bulls from 1986-89 and the Detroit Pistons from 1995-98. His two seasons with the Wizards were his only two full seasons in which he did not lead his team to the playoffs, and this season ended with him criticizing his players for showing disrespect.

"It's my job as a coach to win," Collins said, "and that didn't happen."

The Wizards said no decision had been made concerning assistant coach Brian James. The contracts of assistants Larry Drew and Patrick Ewing are expiring, and assistant John Bach retired at the end of the season.