Practice Tough Amid Attacks

One by one, Coach Alvin Gentry approached his players before and during Sunday morning’s practice at the College of the Desert to deliver the news of the U.S.-led attack on Afghanistan.

Some had already heard before taking the floor about 10 a.m.

None were particularly surprised, although one took the news harder than the others did. Lamar Odom, born and raised in New York City, said he lost several high school friends in the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center.

“I don’t like to see innocent people get hurt,” Odom said. “It’s a real touchy situation. We had to defend ourselves, but I definitely don’t like to see innocent people get hurt.”

Odom, 21, is too young to remember his country at war. He said he only vaguely recalls the Persian Gulf War of 10 years ago. He fears for his family, which includes his two young children, who reside in Queens.

“I wanted to try to fly them out here today,” Odom said. “If something happened to them, I don’t what I would do.”

Meanwhile, the notion of playing games (the Clippers open their seven-game exhibition schedule Wednesday at Seattle) was a frightening one, according to the Clippers. Gentry has been told by the NBA to expect increased security when traveling.

“Mike Montgomery, our head of security, will talk to the team on Tuesday,” Gentry said. “Everything will change as far as security goes.”

Gentry did his best to keep the Clippers focused on basketball Sunday. He admitted it wasn’t easy and that his thoughts wandered far from the game and the team at times, as they have since Sept. 11.

“After what happened this morning, how can basketball be very important?” Gentry said. “It puts all sports into perspective. There are a lot bigger things going on in this country, things that are a lot more important than Michael Jordan coming back or wondering if the Lakers are going to repeat or whether the Clippers are going to be a good young team. For the first time in a very long time, I think sports is in its place.”

Gentry said his thoughts were with the parents of young people who will be fighting the war on terrorism.

“Gee whiz, there’s a lot of moms out there whose kids are going off to fight,” he said. “My wife and I have a good friend [from San Antonio] whose son just went to San Diego and his ship just went out and we don’t know where. Unless you’re a mom, you don’t know the feeling of having a son leaving on an aircraft carrier.”

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Jeff McInnis sprained his right ankle, Miles Simon strained his groin and Michael Olowokandi suffered from flu-like symptoms. None of them could complete practice Sunday, the final day of two-a-day workouts until the team returns to Palm Desert later this month.