Henry Bibby was fired yesterday amid bizarre circumstances.

The decision by Sparks owner Jerry Buss apparently came just minutes before last night's home game against Sacramento. Warm-ups began without Bibby or Lisa Leslie, and then the PA announced Joe Bryant as the coach.

The official report was cryptic and silly: "Los Angeles coach Henry Bibby was not with the Sparks due to personal reasons, a situation that likely will not change. Assistant coach Joe Bryant ran the squad."

"I don't want to comment on what he will say," Buss said of Bibby. "But this is the way it's going to be."

Although no one was willing to comment on the record, Sparks officials told reporters that Bibby had in fact been fired, and that the offical word would come today.

"It's difficult to work under these conditions," Lisa Leslie said. "Everything is just crazy. You just don't know what to expect. I'm emotionally drained from everything that goes on in this organization."

The Sparks lost, putting them a game and a half out of the last playoff spot.