if we win an nba title this yr... if we win an nba title this yr. stern will be heavily booed presenting the trophy,wouldnt that be sweet justice?
According to Stern, JVG violated some kind of taboo set by the league. If so, AND if Stern wants to be serous with it, JVG is in trouble. JVG can get out of this trouble by giving the name of that official, but i don't see that happen.
Rocks is not the chosen one to win the title this year. The writing is on the wall. Wake up, money talks, money buy foul calls, money buy titles. NBA is a show business.
That's ok. There's always next year. We've got the All-Star Game. He'll be booed if he shows his face at the Toyota Center that weekend. Then if Van Gundy or any of the Rockets players should win an award, he'll be booed when he presents it to them before the game. And of course, God help him if we do win the title in the not-too-distant future. He'll get a reception worse than that Sports Illustrated guy after the '95 title. Houston fans might not be the loudest or rowdiest bunch around, but we can hold a grudge like you wouldn't believe.
stern knows better than to ban jvg, i don't think he has the legal grounds to do so. you can't ban someone for impugning the reputation of the league, especially when there is validity to the claim (i.e. finley out of bounds). legally (to my knowledge) stern has no case, and this is merely a scare tactic for jvg and more importantly for other coaches who might corroborate jvg's claims. that would be stern's worst nightmare, for another coach to make the same claim, and stern obviously knows something he doesn't want to get out public...
$100,000 is too much money to fine a coach for saying that a former ref told him this -- unless you suspect a former ref DID tell him this. In that case, the fine is a way to squeeze the info out of the coach in subsequent private talks.
Stern, Stupidly, blew this one out of proportion. It would have been forgotten if he didn't declare WWIII. He shut Van gundy up. That strategy worked. But where he failed was now when Yao gets 5 fouls, the media will always bring it up, is Yao being treated fairly. His strategy backfired in the long term. I can't tell you what he should have done. Cause I don't know. But sometimes your better off doing nothing and letting someone blow off steem. Ironically, the same policy the refs follow during and after games.
<img src="http://img206.echo.cx/img206/4103/vangundycopy9cy.jpg" border="0" width="185" alt="Image Hosted by ImageShack.us" /></a> wassup? And everyone thought I was uptight, yo.
I think Stern actually is on ok terms with JVG. I mean, c'mon, Stu Jackson is like his brother. Who does Stern hate: Mark Cuban. What could you do to foil mark cuban? How about fine the opposing coach to give their team and fans a kick, and therefore take away from Dallas's momentum. Think about it, Stern even said when the Rockets end their run, even if it's after the finals - doesn't sound like he's betting against the Rockets there...hmmmmmm Maybe Stern is trying to protect the league, but he knows a good controversy and a Rocket victory will be good for his bottom line. Let's face, who is more compelling - A german and a bunch of aging ex-stars, or T-mac and Yao coached by the fiery JVG? Stern and JVG are working together, all to movtivate the Rockets and make the Mavs complacent. Masterful!
It's about time the sporting officials of China,who have been milking from Yao Ming,take a stand for their beloved basketballer.They have a powerful voice .Officiate Yao fairlly or they stop broadcastig any future NBA games.That will send the message across Loud And Clear to David Stern.We are not asking the refrees to give Yao a preferential treatment but just to officiate him fairly.That is not too much to ask i hope! Yao played hard, but his plays are inconsistance.This is due partly to himself but a lot of times it's due to the refrees.Often ,he doesn't know what constitute a foul, neither does JVG with the way the games are being called.He jumps,he is called for a foul.He stands with his hands upright ,he is whistle for a foul.He is been mug and there is no call.When the opponents flop, he is been assess for a foul. The ways he have been officiated is absurd and they have to be stop.PLEASE, let us hear from you ,China.
I still can't believe that there is talk from Stern's office about a lifetime ban for JVG's comments... Spree can choke the living crap out of his coach, and he sits out a few games. Ron Artest and company can go into the stands to beat up fans, and, we are talking suspensions for the rest of one season. The fact that a lifetime ban is being considered is a complete joke. As big a a joke as the officiating in this league.
Somehow I believe it's not in Stern's interest to mistreat Yao and the Rockets. Therefore, I would not imagine that Stern, personaly sent out the memo to refs to target Yao more harshly. However, I still believe those refs are definitely biased towards some teams and some players, with Yao probably on top of the list. My wild guess is that the refs simply took the matter into their own hands, and acted without Stern's knowledge. Those refs are a quite powerful bunch, and they stay together as a unit to cover their own a$$es. When the whole thing blew out, Stern is really upset, because it really harms the already shaby image of NBA. By handing out a record fine to shut JVG up, and to shut the refs and Cuban up at the same time. Meanwhile, I would guess that he would press the refs a little bit, make sure they don't become public enemy No. 1. Therefore, I would hope some NBA legends walk in with a softer tone to act as some kind of mediators, to cool down this whole thing a little bit. I liked that Les and CD stay out of the microphone for now, and JVG does not further criticize them. The most important thing for the Rockets for now, is to win the next game, and then the next one. If Stern doesn't just act tough, he actually keeps pushing JVG, then, some serious action shall be followed. While fans, the media, and everybody else keep the pressure on, the Rockets as an organization shall step back a little bit, for now. As for suggestion to get Chinese officials involved, I am against the idea. Americans normally have super egos (not to bash, and not too bad a thing). If Chinese are involved, you are pushing Stern to take the hard stand, coz his base is still NBA in US. Remember those letters sent from Britains to urge Americans to vote for Kerry? Everyone asked was offended, rightfully so. This matter should not be any different. You don't want to hit the nerve and push the button to force them play hard ball. It's just wise to leave room for them to back off without "losing face". Of course, that's just my wild imagination and humble opinion
Clearly Stern must have served in the Korean war and got a Chinese bullet stuck up his a$$ and he's taking it out on Yao. It's not Yao's or JVG's fault MacArthur got greedy.
I don't think David Stern will play hardball with the Chinese.He wanted the Asian market and that's why he sent The Rockets and The Kings to play in China.NBA ,just like any sports, is after one thing and that's MONEY.Stern can't afford to lose that piece of pie.As long as the Chinese keep their protest in private,David Stern had to rectified the officiating problems.
Bingo. When I saw the size of the fine, I immediately though: "wow, jeff's telling the truth." If you think it's garbage, you laugh it off. Making a big deal about it only attacts more media attention. Stern doesn't want JVG. he wants to nail the ref. And unless JVG's a complete idiot, he's not going to give a name, no matter what. So, this is perhaps Stern's way of being petulant...and using what leverage he has.
A couple of thoughts- Stern has an ego larger than the state of Texas. - He will take full credit for NBA success and growth... On Mon A.m. on 610 - Jonathan Feigen from the Chronicle was asked about this - he said he was told by JVG about Cuban's complaints to league about Yao moving screens-that Cuban initiated something with the league. JVG has a long term friend who told him of a directive by officials to target Yao specifically and watch for the moving screens based on Cuban's complaints. A reaction by the refs in response to numerous complaints by Cuban. JVG was warned by this mysterious person that Yao was their target. In a separate conversation after this - Feigen talked to Cuban - Feigen did not mention anything about the JVG conversation- Cuban told him about complaining about the moving screens. Something is going on and I believe JVG has very high integrity. He will not release his source. ON Rome yesterday - Jim Rome observed that JVG had backed himself into a corner- either he gives Stern the name and any other information Stern wants and becomes CAnseco to the NBA, or 2- JVG lies and says he made the whole thing up, of 3) JVG stands pat and does not reveal anything and risks being banned for life. With 3 years plus on his contract with the Rockets- if Stern was to ban JVG for life the Rockets have very real damages done to them by the NBA and Stern. Mr. Alexander should get this lawsuit (if JVG is banned)in the Beaumont Texas courthouse and let a Jefferson county jury decide what the NBA owes the Rockets in damages. Alexander has Michael Goldberg of Baker and Botts as legal cousel to the Rockets- they should hire a local plaintiffs attorney in Beaumont -there are some excellent ones who know th turf and take on large corporations every day and win. The Rockets would win a very large judgement in Jefferson county. Stern is an attorney and will respond to legal threats. He is an stubborn egomanniac who will not give in. This will get more serious for JVG and Rockets....
