** It's not that stern and his people didn't know about the trip, in fact they didn't even care until the news went national then THEY HAVE TO DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT or else they're going to look like a corrupt system. Once ever team and their momma knows that the rockets are breaking the rule, stern is going to have to set an example by fineing the rockets or there is going to be a lot of moaning and groaning from other teams. I hate Mark Cuban, he's an idiot. Anyone who lets a guy like Steve Nash go should just sell girl scout cookies for a living.
I hate stern. There isn't nothing wrong with relaxing for a couple days on your DAY OFF. These guys are regular people too, not just basketball players 24/7. Yes, we all know the NBA is like any other workplace but we all get days off. Now correct me if I'm wrong but aren't we allowed to do non-work related activites if it's our decision?
Who cares? Screw the league. Screw the fine. This just reinforces the "us against the world" mentality that the Rockets are trying to forge. This can only help the club build chemistry and togetherness as a unit. Eat the fine, have some fun, and lets get our team back on track.
WRONG. The Timberwolves got fined a staggering US$ 200K this August for doing EXACTLY the same thing as JVG planned for the Rockets.....team bonding in the midst of boredom and hectic schedule. http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2147455
We are 6-12...whatever the hell it takes man....I will chip in a buck to help pay the fine if it turns the team around. DD
I don't think it was the post-game interview when it was first mentioned. The commentators were talking about during the game, and then Charles Barkley and company followed up on that after the game. Anyway, it's ridiculous that they'd be fined for that.
It wasn't Barkley who spilt the news, Doug Collins and Reggie Miller were talking about it the entire game, saying they would like to stop by on their "road trip." David Stern and the league can suck my balls!! Ya, I said it. What a joke!! You schedule them a 6 game roadtrip where they play 3 games in 7 days and then 3 games in 4 days. What the hell are they suppose to do in those 11 days? Extra benefits to players? Players are getting paid $15-$20M per year and you have a problem with a weekend trip to Vegas?
I believe you are incorrect. They didn't get fined for "bonding". The Wolves got fined for an organized offseason practice. You didn't read your own article closely enough... "The league, which did not announce the fine, prohibits teams from conducting organized team practices or functions in the offseason."
its for tax and investor reasons, generally its not good for companies to pay for their employees' pleasure trips. if you were an investor, would you like knowing that your money was spent so that the employees could take a vacation in vegas? People do it yes, its a form of compensation, but its not good to toot it because it upsets potential investors, which is why the league has measures to prevent people from openly discussing it.
The NBA is not a corporation. Who is investing what? Besides, there is no additional cost from undertaking this trip. Instead of sleeping and eating in Portland they'll sleep and eat in Vegas
I hate your anaology and think it is in error. However, to use it for just a moment, I think each subsidiary has more autonomy than you are suggesting, and I hope we consider a hostile takeover or leverged buy-out before Stern`s legalistic meglamania destroys the NBA. I hope the Rockets go to Las Vegas, get fined, and refused to pay it. The NBA needs to rid itself of that tyrant. I could actually get back on the JVG bandwagon if he would stand up to Stern. That may be exactly what the Rockets need! To have allowed him to have the heavy hand he has is the #1 problem in the NBA. His leadership stylre is a sick and archaic business model and I would love for there to be a complete abandonment of the existing structure by all of the owners to such an extent that the teams threaten to realign and reconstitute themselves into a new league or force Stern to leave. Someone needs to stand up to this over rated, arrogant, phony mama`s boy!!
I guess if you really want to get nit-picky the cost of flying could be factored. However, in response to Stack24's response, each team is a FRANCHISE. Yes, they are part of a bigger business overall, but you would think each individual franchise would have some of it's own rules and go by it's own schedule.
read on... "The two-day Vegas stay included practices and scrimmages, but the Wolves likely would have been subjected to a fine even if there was no basketball involved. The Sacramento Kings were fined $25,000 in the summer of 1999 for providing 10 players with an all-expenses-paid bonding trip to Vegas. "
It seems that the other teams got into trouble because their respective organizations funded the trip to Vegas. I wonder if there would be a problem if each player would have to pay out of their own pocket for air-fare, hotel, meals, etc... Per diem given to players on the road would also have to be waived while in Vegas.
Yes i know my analogy is a bit off and each team is a franchise, i was making somewhat of a general statment not being exact. But the Franchises are part of a league that is governed by another set of rules. To be a part of the league these franchises have to understand and cooperate, to be part of the NBA and make the money they are.
