Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, January 22, 1994 TAG: 9401220148
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KEN RODRIGUEZ MIAMI HERALD
DATELINE: MIAMI LENGTH: Medium
He swung open the front door and, lo, a surprise: balloons, chocolates and a card from his bride, Weslea, 23.
"The card said, `Don't worry, here's a kiss,' " said Coles, the Heat's slumping, backup point guard. "It made me feel a lot better. When I go on a road trip, I know I have something to look forward to. She's always doing things for me."
In this season of streaks, slumps and injuries, marriage has been a steadying influence on the former Virginia Tech star. Weslea, who married Bimbo on June 20, has been nurse, friend, lover and exhorter.
"She's been real supportive," said Coles, 25, who is questionable for tonight's game against the Los Angeles Clippers because of a lower-back strain. "When things aren't going well, she's there to help and relax me."
Things haven't been going well for Coles of late.
"I don't feel very good at all about the way I've been playing," said Coles, who is shooting 41.2 percent from the field and averaging 7.4 points. "I don't like the way things went on the West Coast trip. I'm trying to get better."
It's hard to get better when you're sitting on the bench - harder still when you can't practice because of a sore back.
"You lose confidence when you don't play well. And when you don't play, that doesn't help your confidence, either," said Kevin Loughery, the Heat's coach. "He's been in a streaky-type situation."
Streaky?
In his fourth season with the Heat, Coles started the season hot, slumped, regained his shot, then slumped again. He might score 19 points off the bench, as he did when he sank five of seven 3-point attempts Nov. 18 against Utah. Or he might go 5-for-15 from the field, as he did Dec. 7 against Boston.
Loughery has experimented with a three-guard lineup in recent games, mostly using Steve Smith, Harold Miner and Brian Shaw. Where does Coles fit in?
"I really don't know," he said.
Said Loughery, "He'll be in the rotation."
The only certainty in Coles' life is Weslea.
Less than two weeks after returning from his honeymoon in Maui, Coles tore a shoulder and chest muscle in a pickup game in West Virginia. He needed surgery, and doctors said he might be out of action for five to six months.
"I was probably the worst person to be around," Coles said. "Those first few months, I was frustrated, mad every day. But Weslea got me through that."
Now nursing the lower-back strain, Coles remains upbeat about his recovery. Upbeat because of the woman who is helping him along.
"If I was single," he said, "I'd be here by myself, thinking about all this."
by CNB