Hope this hasn't been posted... Article Link Alexander supports coach Rockets owner backs Van Gundy, saying aim wasn't to question ethics of NBA or officials By JONATHAN FEIGEN Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle Les Alexander loves the fight, the "toughness" as he called the quality that makes Jeff Van Gundy so maniacal, so driven. There is no battle from which Van Gundy will shrink. If he had to burn his eyes dry searching the tapes for an edge hidden there somewhere, he would. When he decided he had to rage against the NBA machine, he did. But now, Van Gundy finds himself fighting on two fronts, with the Rockets seeming increasingly overmatched on one and Van Gundy suddenly forced to battle with no chance of winning on the other. "He's a tough guy," Alexander, the Rockets' owner, said admiringly. "He's always willing to battle as hard as he can. That's why the city loves him." But Van Gundy's charge that Mavericks owner Mark Cuban's complaints to the league have led to greater scrutiny of Rockets center Yao Ming than other players led to a $100,000 fine, a record for a NBA coach. By saying he had been tipped by an officiating friend with access to the league's Web site for officials, and his refusal to reveal the official to the league, Van Gundy found himself pitted against a seething commissioner David Stern. Stern was so livid that he said the league's investigation will resume after the Rockets' season ends. He added that if Van Gundy, whom Stern called a "perpetrator," did not cooperate and that additional sanctions — including suspensions or even a ban from the league — could be in order. So while the Rockets' loss in Dallas on Monday dropped them within one defeat of elimination heading into Thursday's Game 6, Van Gundy also faced a battle with a commissioner seemingly determined to exert his authority. And Alexander was left to defend his coach without saying anything that might agitate the already piqued Stern. "My concern is that I don't want to say anything that might cause more problems," Alexander said, also declining to discuss his conversation with Stern. "I called Jeff. In no way were his any of his actions meant to impugn the ethics of the league. He was making the point that big men in the league, all big men, are not treated the same way as smaller players. "I've been associated with Jeff for almost two years. I have never known him to be anything other than completely honest. He said he didn't do it to impugn anyone at the league and I believe him 100 percent." Van Gundy has insisted that his complaints were about the process of "disseminating information" to officials — in this case, when Cuban's complaints about moving screens led, according to Van Gundy, to extra attention on Yao. Van Gundy said his complaints were not about any individual's ethics but rather the system in which officials view points of emphasis on the private NBA Web site. "The coaches were spoken to this year on this very subject," Stern said. "I don't plan to parse each of his words and each of his statements at this time. Suffice it to say, in their totality they merited the highest fine we've had (for a coach). "This is the first case I can remember when an allegation has been made and the perpetrator hasn't cooperated. At this time of year, there usually is a craziness in the land that has to do with referees as coaches jockey for position. This one, in our view, set a new low for that. "That's why the fine is what it was," Stern said, "and that's why the investigation is continuing." When asked his reaction to Stern's anger, threat and apparent determination to uncover Van Gundy's source, Alexander would not comment. Asked if he would advise Van Gundy to show more contrition about his comments, Alexander said, "If that is something I would do, I would not advise him in the newspaper." "I'll let everybody evaluate what I said," Van Gundy said. "If it's that bad, I guess that's for (Stern) and Stu Jackson (the NBA vice president for basketball operations) to determine." Stern left little doubt that he had already determined how he felt, leaving the issue hanging over the series. "It's troublesome when we're in the middle of an unbelievably hard battle to have this kind of problem," Alexander said. A week ago, the Rockets came home from Dallas giddy, rolling with a 2-0 lead in the series. A week later, they returned home having suffered three consecutive narrow losses. They find themselves on the brink of playoff elimination and at the center of a national firestorm over the fine and the commissioner's threats to hit Van Gundy with possibly much greater penalties. If he chooses, Van Gundy will likely find Stern to be a powerful adversary. For now, the Mavericks have proved a stern enough challenge. But at least on that front, he and the Rockets can come out fighting.
Stern is not the "boss" of the owners... he's more of a managing partner of the firm, with the owners being the other partners... and they are all the "bosses" of the players, who are represented by the players association.
I think Stern works for the league owners - he is not an owner - someone had to hire him for that job (dispite his actions, he is NOT royality)
This reminds me of the Sopranos when Tony S. wouldn't give up his cousin Tony B. to Johnny Sack, even though Tony knew there was no way he could take on the New York family.
Yah, JVG and Les are "New Yookers", they're tough as nails, they won't back down. Stern, you have just met your match
"My concern is that I don't want to say anything that might cause more problems," Alexander said, also declining to discuss his conversation with Stern. "I called Jeff. In no way were his any of his actions meant to impugn the ethics of the league. He was making the point that big men in the league, all big men, are not treated the same way as smaller players. I disagree with Les' interpretation here.....This is NOT the point VG was making. I'm guessing Les doesnt want to rock the boat just yet. I watched the actual interview where VG revealed that a very good friend who is an official told him what was on the website...he never said anything about big players/small players etc.
That's right. Stern is the CEO. The owners are the board of directors. The board has ultimate veto authority on anything...but generally, they'll let the CEO do their thing...with some guidance.
Crazy thing is , up until this incident (and I'm not just saying this because it has to do with the Rockets)...I always have thought that Stern was by far, the best commish of any major sport. I have always thought of him as fair and open minded and that he helped form a salary structure (i.e. the bird rights/rookie pay scale/etc) that was a model for all leagues. I'm anxious to see how this unfolds
What kind of crap is this -- only New Yorkers (yawkers) are tough? Or tough enough? I, and other real people, stand up to all, back down from none. NYs or Dallasites or anyone.
I actually agree with you. I always had some respect for Stern. I'm hoping that Stern just had a knee jerk reaction and that he will come to his senses and restore my level of respect. But I doubt it. Stern can't back off or he'll look weak. So, he's just another addition to my long list of asses.
I'd call Stern's bluff on this. The last thing he's going to do is draw more unnecessary attention to the plight of a superstar by putting more public actions on Van Gundy even further after the fact. He levied his fine, he's not going to do more.
He won't do anything during the playoffs, but I'm betting three to five game suspension at the beginning of next year.
