I need to write
Now that Mr. Stern has meted out punishment (fines and suspenions) for Saturday's "brawl" between the New York Knicks and the Denver Nuggets, I need to write...
First, why does the national media seem to forget to write articles which criticize Major League Baseball players and managers when fights erupt in baseball as well as completely disregard the hockey fights in the NHL?
I'm not saying Saturday's fracas is not newsworthy; but, I don't recall this many columns written during the bench-clearing brawl between the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox. Pitchers ran from the bullpen to home plate just to get involved in that ugly incident.
Today, all NBA run-ins are now compared to the Pistons - Pacers brawl in 2004; however, where was the collective indignance when Kevin McHale clotheslined Kurt Rambis in the NBA Finals twenty years ago in the Great Western Forum? Or when Robert Parish repeatedly punched Bill Laimbeer at Boston Garden in the NBA Playoffs? Or the "Malice at the Palce" between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Detroit Pistons? Each of those incidents took place years ago; but, I don't believe David Stern handed out lengthy suspensions then like he did today.
The NBA game was played at a much higher quality in the 1980s and the early 90s compared to now; however, the League is much more "image conscious" today. I guess the Commissioner has more people (Big Corporate) to satisfy today by "dropping the hammer" than he did in the past.
David Stern says he wants the NBA to be the leader in sports for good behavior; and, I commend him for that goal; however, he needs to talk with his friends at FIBA (basketball's international federation governing body) and get them to clean up their act regarding all of the fights and object tossing incidents (that go unseen by the American public) which occur overseas. The NBA is a global game so don't forget to work to stop the fighting overseas, too, Mr. Stern.
Lastly, please explain to me why David Stern fined the Knicks and the Nuggets' organizations $500 K for the actions of their players involved in the skirmish. Ownership can tell players the importance of acting professionally (on and off the court) until they're blue in the face; but, players need to accept responsibility for their actions. Period.
First, why does the national media seem to forget to write articles which criticize Major League Baseball players and managers when fights erupt in baseball as well as completely disregard the hockey fights in the NHL?
I'm not saying Saturday's fracas is not newsworthy; but, I don't recall this many columns written during the bench-clearing brawl between the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox. Pitchers ran from the bullpen to home plate just to get involved in that ugly incident.
Today, all NBA run-ins are now compared to the Pistons - Pacers brawl in 2004; however, where was the collective indignance when Kevin McHale clotheslined Kurt Rambis in the NBA Finals twenty years ago in the Great Western Forum? Or when Robert Parish repeatedly punched Bill Laimbeer at Boston Garden in the NBA Playoffs? Or the "Malice at the Palce" between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Detroit Pistons? Each of those incidents took place years ago; but, I don't believe David Stern handed out lengthy suspensions then like he did today.
The NBA game was played at a much higher quality in the 1980s and the early 90s compared to now; however, the League is much more "image conscious" today. I guess the Commissioner has more people (Big Corporate) to satisfy today by "dropping the hammer" than he did in the past.
David Stern says he wants the NBA to be the leader in sports for good behavior; and, I commend him for that goal; however, he needs to talk with his friends at FIBA (basketball's international federation governing body) and get them to clean up their act regarding all of the fights and object tossing incidents (that go unseen by the American public) which occur overseas. The NBA is a global game so don't forget to work to stop the fighting overseas, too, Mr. Stern.
Lastly, please explain to me why David Stern fined the Knicks and the Nuggets' organizations $500 K for the actions of their players involved in the skirmish. Ownership can tell players the importance of acting professionally (on and off the court) until they're blue in the face; but, players need to accept responsibility for their actions. Period.
posted by Kris G @ 8:26 PM
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