Fitch Won’t Discuss Spat With Rogers

Forward Rodney Rogers, who started the Clippers’ first 50 games, played a season-low five minutes in Sunday’s 99-86 victory at Milwaukee after a dispute with Coach Bill Fitch at practice Saturday.

“He threw a bad pass and Fitch started calling him all kinds of names,” a Clipper said. “Rodney said, ‘Who are you talking to?’ and Fitch started cussing at Rodney.

“Rodney just walked off the court.”

Rogers declined to discuss the incident.

“You want to know why I didn’t start, ask Coach Fitch about it,” Rogers said. “His word is the one that counts. I don’t want to talk about it.”

Fitch, who has closed practice to the media since he was hired in 1994, said it was a private matter.

“There’s nothing to say,” Fitch said. “Our practices have been closed ever since I got here. What happens between me and my basketball team is my business. If somebody else wants to talk to you about it, fine.

“There isn’t anything that happens in my practices that you or anybody needs to know about other than my team. Print what you heard.”