Can someone explain to me why the Kings just didn't activate him, sometime ago???? Webber faces drug penalty? The NBA violation is a factor in a likely 8-game suspension, sources say. By Martin McNeal -- Bee Staff Writer Published 2:15 a.m. PST Monday, February 16, 2004 LOS ANGELES - Injured Kings forward Chris Webber is expected to be suspended for eight games without pay for a combination of lying to a federal grand jury and violating the NBA's substance-abuse policy, sources close to and inside the league said Sunday night. The suspension of Webber, who has missed all 50 games this season as he attempts to rehabilitate his surgically repaired left knee, will not be announced by the NBA until he is activated off the team's injured list. Webber has been practicing for the past few weeks with the team, and Kings President Geoff Petrie said the power forward is not far away from being ready to rejoin the team. "It's certainly getting close," Petrie said from his Granite Bay home Sunday night when asked of the team's plans to activate Webber. "It could be in the foreseeable future, but it's still to be determined." Attempts to reach Webber and his Detroit-based agent, Fallasha Erwin, were unsuccessful Sunday night. Petrie and Kings owners Joe and Gavin Maloof said reports of the suspension's length and the reasons behind it have not yet been provided by the league. "First of all, this is a league process," Petrie said. "I'm sure at the time Webb is activated, the league will make a definitive statement. People can run around and say this or that. But it's not (the team's) position to say anything that would pre-empt the league's jurisdiction. "I'm sure people in high (NBA) places will be glad to tell you about it. But until there is a name or a face connected to a report, that's all I can say. This is another example of not trying to get it right but to get it first." Petrie said he was unaware of the origin of the suspension's reported terms and length. "I don't know where it came from," he said. "For all I know, it could be somebody down the street. But at the time it is announced, we will know. It never has been our decision to make, and it's not our announcement to make." The NBA has strict privacy policies regarding its substance abuse program. It rarely will divulge information about the specifics of a player's rehabilitation or abused substance. However, a player is not suspended for violating the drug policy until he tests positive for a banned substance for a third time or fails to comply with his aftercare treatment requirements. mar1juana, amphetamines, cocaine, LSD, opiates (heroin, codeine), PCP and steroids are considered banned substances under the collective bargaining agreement between the NBA and the players union. In July, Webber pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of criminal contempt, avoiding a perjury trial and possible imprisonment. In what was to be the final hearing before the trial's scheduled start in Detroit, Webber admitted he obstructed justice by lying to a federal grand jury in 2000. Webber admitted that he had repaid almost $40,000 to retire debts he incurred to numbers racketeer Ed Martin while starring for the University of Michigan in the early 1990s. Martin had publicly named Webber as a recipient of cash and gifts from the gambler. In September, Webber's sentence was deferred for two years, and he was ordered to perform 150 hours of community service in each of the next two summers. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- A look at the games Chris Webber would miss during his eight-game suspension if he were activated Tuesday * Tuesday: vs. Boston * Thursday: at Minnesota * Friday: at Chicago * Sunday: at Toronto * Feb. 24: vs. New York * Feb. 26: at L.A. Lakers * Feb. 27: vs. Utah * Feb. 29: vs. Phoenix Games that could be affected if Webber is activated after Tuesday * March 2: vs. L.A. Clippers * March 4: at Philadelphia * March 6: at Miami * March 7: at Orlando * March 9: vs. Golden State * March 11: vs. Dallas http://www.sacbee.com/content/sports/basketball/kings/story/8277794p-9208410c.html
The NBA is smarting from when the Kings circumvented the cap with the Corliss W. deal from a few years back, I'm sure they're trying to stay in semi-good graces by not having Webb sit out his suspension in crutches.
This could also be the Kings' way of sticking it to Chris. The guy takes forever to rehab, gets busted for pot, and never lets the team know what he's doing? Fer'instance, traveling with the team to L.A. for a Clipper game, but not actually going to the game -- instead, he's seen at a Thai restaurant with Tyra. Petrie's deciding to get him at 100%, then leave him prone to suspension to appease the NBA and send a message to Chris. While he can get away with it, better now than having to deal with unresolved issues in April and May.
looks like mo and Cweb have been chillin together. On a side note, they should of activated Webber earlier (even if he wasnt fully healthy) since they knew he had a suspension pending.
Same reason we didn't activate MoT for the last five games of the season he missed due to injury to wait out his suspension. The league doesn't like it when you try to circumvent the rules.
The NBA sent several memos to the Kings not to activate him early because of the suspension. I think the Kings have done so anyway, though not by much. I also think that the NBA lengthened his suspension a little just in case. 8 games is a bit much for his "contempt of court" conviction. Personally, I think the rule should be that the suspension begins after his first game back from the IL, just to "prove" he was healthy. Evan
It is clear by now that the real MVP of the Kings is not Webber. I don't think they miss him that much.
Webber only got three games for the contempt charge; the other five were for violating the league's substance abuse policy.
I'm curious what you Rocket fans think of CWebb's "drug violation"? Upset, angry at all? Yes, I know he's not on your team, but does this kind of behavior from an NBA player upset you? Just comparing reactions from various team forums... What's up Slim.
I am also curious about this. I havent heard anything about it till it was mentioned in this tread. Also, Webber is definaltly fully back 20-10 after 3Q.
Man, interesting to see how the Kings are going to be with Webber back. Side Note: Nets just beat the Nugz!!! Whoop!
Sorry, didn't check the thread that often. Sacramento signed Corliss to a 1-year deal, for 500k, after his career year in 1997-98. The deal was well below his market value, at the time at least, but it allowed them to sign Vlade Divac to a long-term contract. That summer, after an inconsistent 1999 season, the Kings signed CW to a long-term deal that was, well, pretty far over his market value. There was clearly an wink-wink deal made in January of 1999, Corliss played well below his 1997-98 level during the lockout year, and no other team would have given him a contract that rich. The NBA investigated it, but unlike the Timberwolves and Joe Smith's agents, the Kings weren't idiots. They didn't put it in writing. The league couldn't prove any wrongdoing but the whole thing stunk, an inauspicious debut for a new ownership team.
