Benjamin Loses Cool; Clippers Lose 11th in Row

Clipper center Benoit Benjamin, who has been maligned by fans, players, coaches and the media for his lethargic performance this season, finally blew his cool.

Benjamin made an obscene gesture and comment to a season ticket-holder who was heckling him in the first half of the Clippers’ 117-108 loss to the Golden State Warriors Tuesday night at the Sports Arena.

The heckler, Loren Ausing of La Mirada, was seated behind the press table. When Benjamin first entered the game, Ausing said: “Careful Ben, you might break a sweat.”

Ausing directed another barb at Benjamin, who finished the game with no points and 3 rebounds in 10 minutes off the bench: “What are you paralyzed? At least you could blink.

“Everyone was yelling at him. I guess what I said was the straw that broke the camel’s back,” Ausing said.

When Benjamin went to the bench with 6 1/2 minutes remaining in the second period, he made an obscene gesture and comment to Ausing.

“I saw his hand fly up, and I could see that he was giving me the finger,” Ausing said. “I didn’t take it personal.

“I’m not offended. I’ve supported him in the past. I just want him to put out some effort. If he starts playing well, I’ll start cheering for him.”

Benjamin, however, said Ausing made disparaging remarks about his father.

“He said something about my father that I reacted to. How would you feel if someone said something about your deceased father?

“I’d do it again if he said something about my father. I’m sorry for the outburst and I apologize. I said what I had to say. I heard something and I reacted poorly to it.”

Reporters and radio broadcasters, who witnessed the incident, didn’t hear comments about Benjamin’s father.

Clipper General Manager Elgin Baylor said he would fine Benjamin the maximum for the gesture. Under NBA Players Assn. rules, the maximum fine is $250.

“It was totally out of line,” Baylor said. “I’ll speak to Benoit about that. A fine is in order. There’s no excuse for that. He’ll be dealt with, believe me. He’s a frustrated young man, that’s very evident.”

Said Clipper Coach Don Chaney: “No, I didn’t see it. But I think it was very unprofessional. I think it was childish. . . . He’s going to be fined. He’s a professional and he’s expected to behave as a professional.”

Said Clipper forward Michael Cage: “You should never acknowledge a fan in that way because that same fan is going to be cheering for you next year.”

The Clippers (12-67), who have lost 11 straight games, were outscored 18-0 during the third and fourth periods as the Warriors built a 19-point lead early in the fourth period, but they rallied behind guard Lancaster Gordon, who had 26 points, including 14 in the fourth period.

Gordon was starting his first game this season in place of the injured Quintin Dailey (broken thumb).

Center Joe Barry Carroll led Golden State (40-39) with 22 points and 7 rebounds.

Clipper Notes The Clippers end their home schedule Thursday night with a game against the Seattle SuperSonics. They close out the regular season on the road with games in Phoenix on Saturday night and Golden State Sunday. . . . Clipper forward Michael Cage, who will be a free agent at the end of the season, said a team executive told him the club wants to resign him. “(Clipper executive) Andy (Roeser) said he was relaying a message from (team owner) Donald Sterling that he wanted to commend me for the way I’ve played and that they will sign me. It’s the first time I’ve heard it coming from him.”