The Commissioner is on now, VERY fiery conversation, very intriguing stuff. Sir Charles called in so you know he has something to say too. And D'Antoini will be on later in the show. Better tune in or you will be missing out on a LOT...
Dan Patrick is a gutty interviewer. he doesn't suck up to his guests. i missed his David Stern interviewer but did catch a snippet of it right now. fiery would be an understatement.
The whole interview was basically the incident in the Spurs/Suns game and the suspensions. Dan told the Commissioner point blank, "you just decided the outcome of this series". The Commish was obviously not too happy about that or other suggestions that may be he should consider the fact that Amare is a 'marquee player', or that the instigators (Spurs in this case) are basically rewarded for beating up on Nash, and that may be if the league didn't allow Steve Nash to continually get roughed up by Spurs defenders throughout the series and let things come to head when Horry body slammed him in the last game. BTW: Dan just said the interview will be repeated in the next hour. SO SOMEONE PLEASE CAP THE AUDIO AND POST IT HERE FOR THE REST TO HEAR Oh, and Suns coach D'Antoni will be on next hour as well... This is the best radio show bar none. Dan is a huge NBA fan and compared to the rest of the nationally-syndicated radio shows, he's the only one who consistently talks about the NBA.
Exactly. If they had stepped up and suspended Bowen when they should have, this may not have happened. I hope the Suns fans are merciless tonight. I hope someone finds out where they're staying and eating. Time to give someone food poisoning.
I'm a Patrick fan. I agree about his interviewing. He also doesn't get baited into shouting matches like some might. I forgot who, but he interviewed a baseball legend and asked him his thought on Bonds and, in his opinion, Bonds was top 5 of all time. The dude would not answer the question, in fact wouldn't answer any questions, on what he thought about Bonds. And it wasn't necessarily 'bad talk' concerning steroids either. Patrick was cordial, ended the interview nicely, and went on. Too bad I've caught this thread too late. Is this thing going to be made available as a podcast later or do I have to be a coveted 'Insider' to dl them?
I love the increased NBA talk... I just hate that its not about the games itself, but more about interpretations of rules, re-writing the rules, playing favorites, "fixing" the results, controversy, etc. etc. etc. The worst thing about it is that this wasn't some dull series like Cavs-Nets that needed a spark... the play of the Suns-Spurs spoke for itself for the first 3.9 games. A hard foul in a meaningless situation should never be the focus of a series.
Just listened to it on ESPN insider. Awesome. Really chippy, but the kind you get when two friends are going at it. Dan Patrick (trying to interject as Stern is rolling all over him): "Commissioner! I understand- Stern (cutting him off): "You don't understand anything Dan!" David Stern for President. Honestly. He'd decimate anyone in any debate. Decimate. Personally, I do want a rule change. Stern is 100% right about how this can't be an interpretation rule. Every time it would happen, players would appeal that they weren't trying to do anything and that there wasn't "proof" of intent. I'd propose: Step off the bench, automatic fine of one game check. Step off the bench and touch ANY person on the court (own teammate, ref, coach, opposing player, mascot, fan, anyone) - automatic two game suspension. Only exception being bench guys grabbing other bench guys that took a step onto the court. Touch = touch. Any physical contact no matter what it is - breaking things up, holding guys off from getting into it, whatever. Become a part of fight itself and you obviously get more topped on. Don't suspend guys that wander on the court reflexively to see what's happening. Suspend them for getting involved. Evan
I don't see how. Leave bench during an altercation, get suspended one game. That's what happened. If you're referring to the Duncan business, he stepped off the bench but there was no altercation. No suspension. It's awful that the Spurs benefit from being dirty in this series, but it's hard to do anything about it. Only thing I can think of would be a one-game suspension for Pop. Evan
He thought there was going to be an altercation. There was no reason for him to leave the bench. And the Suns guys made it nowhere close to the altercation. Stu Jackson even admitted they reviewed the Duncan incident and determined there was no altercation so no suspension. Right there, they admitted that they had to interpret the rule.
I fully agree with that. That's exactly what I was saying. Stern just told Dan Patrick that he's NOT going to "read minds" and attempt to guess what the intentions were; "the rules are the rules" he said. But then to turn around and 'interpret' the situation with Duncan when he did the same thing is the height of hypocrisy. On the flip side, I've always liked Stern because love him or hate him, he's willing to go on a number of radio and tv shows to explain himself and the league and to take the heat from the sports nation, and at times even dish some heat right back at his critics, which is something I love. He's approachable and he makes himself available to the media. This is why he's by FAR the best commissioner in sports.
Dan Patrick is an idiot. Just tries to stir up bias and emotions. I have to agree with David Stern said on Dan Patrick, "You dont understand anything.". That's why David Stern is the commissioner. Everyone want a good show. Even David Stern doesnt want to suspend anyone and he wants to give you the best show he can. But David Stern has a organization - a huge organization to run. Is it too much to ask to stick your ass on the bench when there is altercations? That's for everyone's best interest. No more Rudy T got sucker punched. No more Heat vs Knicks brawl. As simple as that.
There have been, and will continue to be brawls, cheap shots, scuffles, undercuts, ball-grabbing, racking, and Bowen... THAT is what is getting lost in all of the talk about the technicalities of rule interpretations/etc. The initial incident, which didn't need to happen, is barely being criticized. Why do NBA players deliver cheap shots or decide that playing aggressive/borderline dirty should be condoned? Why doesn't Stern simply go back and review all the cheap shot/dirty tactics and retroactively suspend guys for much bigger penalties than simply stepping onto a court from the bench. Make it 20 games, and I guarantee guys will start behaving. If Stern really wants to eliminate the "thug-life", he needs to take harder stances on the initial incident that spurs controversy. Eliminate it at the source.
Can't hear while at work because of outdated wmv and other stuff so hopefully they put it in podcast form or someone puts it in another form because I MUST hear this interview.
Wow, Nick. This part of what you said is incredibly ignorant because this has NOTHING to do with any perceived "thug-life" that is the NBA. Hard fouls have always been a part of the NBA playoffs. From the late 80's/early 90's Pistons to the great Magic's Lakers and Bird's Celtics contrasting styles' clash. The hard fouls existed back then and surely you are not accusing the Bird and Magic teams of being thugs and low lives? How about Robert Horry? I suppose after this incident, according to you, he is now part of the "thug-life" culture? I can't believe people are so ignorant sometimes.
They want to suspend players. It is fine. Just delay the suspension until next season. Now this series get ruined and the NBA is indeed fixed by the top. This is cool with me though. NBA is becoming a girls' league anyway. No hard fouls, a lot of flops, stupid dress code, terrible refs and banning emotions from players. I am not that big a NBA fan now than I am used to be. I can care less about David Stern and Stu Jackson. These two guys can go to hell.
