David Stern is a hypocrite! What am I talking about? Lets take a stroll down memory lane. It’s 2006 and Game 4 of the NBA Western Conference finals. The Spurs and Suns are in epic battle for the right, no, the privilege to represent the West in the Finals. With eighteen seconds left in game, Robert Horry who ironically known for his late game shots, takes a shot of a different nature, he gives a Steve Nash “cheap shot”, sending him into the courtside tables. Boris Diaw and Amare Stoudamire clear the bench. As a result of a arcane NBA rule that states, “all the players who are seated on the bench must remain in that immediate vicinity. If the rule is violated, the Basketball Operations Department is notified and each guilty individual is subject to a suspension of a minimum of one game and fine up to $50,000. The head coach and/or assistant coaches may assist in acting as peacemakers.”
As a consequence, Boris and Amare are suspended for one game. Although, no one threw a punch or was directly involved any brawl. Commissioner Stern instantly drew fire for the suspensions. During a contentious interview with Dan Patrick on ESPN Radio, Stern said Stoudemire and Diaw should have known that there is no room for interpretation in the leaving-the-bench rule, which players are reminded of before the season and again before the playoffs. “The players knew the rule…” So, Stern believes that a rule is a rule, right? Apparently not!
Fast forward to today’s news conference regarding NBA officials and gambling. An internal review discovered more than half of the league’s 56 returning referees technically violated the N.B.A.’s prohibition on nearly all forms of gambling, Stern said at a news conference after meeting with the league’s board of governors. “Our ban is absolute,” Stern said. “It’s my view it’s too absolute, too harsh, and not particularly well enforced over the years. After some careful deliberation, I have decided that I will not be taking punitive action against the referees that violated this rule.””I determined going into a casino isn’t a capital offense” Capital offense?( I guess wearing urban wear is a capital offense) Furthermore, he states, “I am not going to punish individuals for violating a rule that I am going to change anyway.” Huh? what happened to a rule is a rule? David, the referees knew the rule, there is no room for interpretation! I am sure Phoenix fans that the aforementioned rule was “too absolute, too harsh.” Tisk, Tisk! David, fine these dudes and or suspend them. You can’t flip flop, a rule is a rule! As the commissioner of the NBA, the owners and players have to view you as civil minded and even keeled.
Ok, Ok, I know that some of my fellow web2freedom bloggers, will say, who gives a damn if a referee wants to play the slots or online poker as long as it’s in the off-season and has nothing to do with basketball. I believe that allowing referees to gamble in any format is a mistake. Gambling is an addiction. These new rules will serve a gateway for someone to get into debt and owing large sums of money is nothing more that incubator for point shaving. David Stern, your out of bounds!
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