http://espn.go.com/nba/news/1999/1202/208596.html NBA takes $20,000 bite out of Barkley NEW YORK -- Charles Barkley of the Houston Rockets was fined $20,000 by the NBA on Thursday for his comments Wednesday night against referee Mike Mathis. There will be no suspension. Barkley, who was called for a foul while rebounding a missed free throw by his teammate Kelvin Cato with 3.5 seconds left in the first overtime of a 128-122 double-OT loss at Phoenix, placed all the blame on Mathis, one of seven officials reinstated by the NBA after they resigned last year following charges of tax violations. "We lost the game because of one reason -- Mike Mathis," Barkley said. "I ain't going to say nothing else. He's a bad official. He's been bad the whole time I've been in the league. He cost us the game tonight, and I hate that he's back in the league."
Mathis is a big pain in the ass. What ever happened to free speach?! Barkley should be able to say however he feels.
Players and coaches aren't allowed to blast the refs for some reason. It sucks. Nazi league - no free speech. I'm a little disappointed Charles would blame the loss on the ref though. If he among others had hit their free throws, it would not have been an issue. All these people booing Barkley lately (it's more than normal - don't know what's up with the booing)seem to be having a bad effect on his sportsmanship. Too bad.
DanielB: Watch out, Stern will fine you $20,000 Dollars, also. ------------------ Rockets' biggest problem is not player talent levels, it is the coach's ineptitude.
bbfanatic: Do you know what happens when you post the word "Nazis" on this site, you could be in trouble. ------------------ Rockets' biggest problem is not player talent levels, it is the coach's ineptitude.
Why is it bad to post the word Nazis? [This message has been edited by Francis3 (edited December 02, 1999).]
I believe it was a word used to describe Clutch (due to his style of BBS and putting threads in their proper forum) by a few drunkard Laker fans who were hanging around here during the potential Pippen to LA trade whispers. Either way, not a good choice of words
Whether or not the game was cost by Mike Mathis is in question (I personally think it WAS a foul). But by saying that, at least the refs know how bad they are, in case they haven't known it yet.
Well, it was ASSANINE! I mean, what kind of call was that anyway? I think the players should be able to speak their mind, to a certain extent. But then again, saying That is the Key reason they lost, is probably wrong. Although they WOULD HAVE WON IF it hadn't been called. Too bad Francis got injured~ since he's our great "clutch" shooter/scorer! I do think it is terribly ridiculous to fine someone $20,000 for speaking their mind though. But then again, Barkley knows his job. So... grrrrrrrrr...and the officiating has been a bit-- at times!
"This is like the third time it's happened. They got me for $10,000, $15,000. It's just escalated. If I think an official's bad, I'll say it. I don't think about it, don't worry about it too much. They're all tax-deductible," Charles Barkley said after the fine. Isn't this guy the MAN?
