Coach shows his chip off the old block

Just like dear old dad.

The Big 12 Conference suspended Texas Tech Coach Pat Knight for Wednesday’s game against Texas for complaining about the officials after a loss to Texas A&M; over the weekend.

Knight was hit with a technical foul for arguing a foul call during the second half of Saturday’s 79-73 loss to Texas A&M;, then told reporters afterward that the officials should have to stand at the podium and be grilled by the media.

He also complained that his team had a hard enough time playing against Texas A&M; and didn’t need to “add somebody else they have to play against,” saying he didn’t care what the Big 12 thought about his comments.

“I wasn’t surprised because I broke a rule,” Knight said during the Big 12 coaches teleconference Monday. “I know the rules, but sometimes you have to lay on a grenade to get your point across.”

Sounds and acts just like his dad, the one and only Bob Knight, who just happened to have turned over the head job at Texas Tech to his son Pat.

No-fly zone

A helicopter stopped play in a domestic cricket game in India after the pilot mistook the pitch for a landing pad, local media reported Sunday.

Players were forced to abort Saturday’s one-day game and scurry for cover when the hapless pilot set the chopper down on the letter “H” painted in the corner of the cricket ground.

The “H” stands for the name of the Himachal Pradesh team in the northwest Indian state.

A fire near the stadium added to the confusion of the pilot, who misinterpreted it for smoke signals, according to the Hindustan Times.

The unscheduled arrival of the helicopter, owned by a private airline, halted play for almost half an hour before the red-faced pilot buzzed off again.

Trivia time

Name the Lakers who have won the NBA’s most valuable player award.

As the Worm turns

Dennis Rodman, yes that same Dennis Rodman who once wore a wedding dress to a book signing when he played for the Chicago Bulls, has found his way back on television. This time, he will be on “The Celebrity Apprentice” with host Donald Trump, which airs Sunday night on NBC.

Wonder if “The Worm” will have special outfits for the show.

Trivia answer

Kobe Bryant (2008), Shaquille O’Neal (2000), Magic Johnson (1987, 1989, 1990) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1976, 1977, 1980).

And finally

From Brad Dickson of the Omaha World-Herald: A New Jersey man pleaded guilty to impersonating Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain to get free meals in restaurants. The scheme unraveled after two years of free meals when he stopped looking like Joba Chamberlain and became a dead ringer for CC Sabathia.

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broderick.turner@latimes.com