Lakers get their 2nd choice **

Or was it their third? Anyway, Rudy Tomjanovich was hired today to replace Phil Jackson as the suit on the Lakers bench. He's done business with the Lakers before, of course. After Lakers forward Kermit Washington shattered Rudy T's face with a right to the jaw in a game at the Forum in 1977, Tomjanovich sued the team and settled for a reported $2 million.

* Rudy LaRusso: He started opposite Elgin Baylor in the Lakers front court for eight seasons in the 1960s, and died this week at age 66. LaRusso had Parkinson's. Jerry Crowe has an obit in the Times.

** Hit the road, Shaq: Miami bound. ESPN, LAT