JVG never said he made it up. He apologized like hell for the trouble it caused and Stern thought it was acceptable. Of course JVG is still out 100k, but at least there is no suspension/expulsion.
It means he said what he had to say to shut Stern up. Both guys had reached the point of no return with their saber-rattling so JVG either had to give up a name or say it didn't happen. Stern knows that someone did say something, but this allows the whole untidy mess to be droppped.
I'm sure Stern gave JVG and ultimatum: Apologize and we'll let you off. And JVG did so. On a different note: i never remembered JVG saying he LIED. All I remember was him apologizing.
JVG just said on 610AM 2 hours ago that he would not throw someone under the bus because of something he said. He said if he had to do it over again he wouldnt have used the word "bias" and he wouldnt have mentioned a source. But JVG did apologize and sounded sincere. I think Stern told him to pretend he did not have a source, or maybe JVG is doing the pretending to Stern about not having one
To me it was obvious what happened. It is not that complex. The media backed both parties into corners which they had no intention of entering into in the first place. I don't think there was gonna be an investigation and I don't think JVG was ever at risk of being fired. Stern goofed with those comments. But once he did, the media put pressure on Stern to back up his comments. Which he had no intention of backing up. So he had to do something. And this is the end ressult and easiest solution in terms of getting the media to relent on "the investigation."
umm...I think JVG is more than glad this is all it came down to. The fine is really not a problem for JVG, he is making $4 mill per year in his contract. There is really no problem whatsoever in this regard. At least we can stop talking about this issue now, and the national media can finally shut its yap in a couple of days after talking about how "JVG backed down" or he took the easiest route out of the conflict by not revealing his source and protecting his source by "lying" to the league about him not having a source (when he actually did). Overall, this was the smartest route to take considering the options he had. I am glad he took that route.
I don't know. I couldn't afford to pay a fine amounting to 2.5% of my income before taxes out of pocket. It would take a few months, but I'm pretty strapped.
Dont be fooled JVG had his source 3PM today on 610AM they were wrapping up an interview with JVG. And then... "Hey wait Jeff before you go, do you have any further information on the impending investigation by David Stern??" almost catching him offgaurd. JVG said he was sorry that he used the word "bias" and was unaware of the implications it would cause. He apologized and it sounded sincere and practiced. He also mentioned if he had it to do over again, he would not have mentioned he had a source. Then 610AM asked if he planned on giving up his source??? JVG said he would not "throw someone under the bus" for something that he said. 2 hours later a story drops saying JVG has issued a formal statement saying he lied about the entire thing. I believe he did have a source, but it is best for the Rockets organization and the NBA for him to say he lied about it. Also Sterns harsh reaction, fine, and determination for investigation leads me to believe Van Gundy did have a source.
Wow. Great news??? So JVG is a flat out liar who had Rockets fans all over taking his side, and that's great news? Where's that Gundy thread again.... It's only great news if he really had a source and just backed off himself. I trust that this is the case.
JVG CERTAINLY had a source, I don't question that. I think, as I mentioned above, JVG just decided he wanted to put this whole distraction to rest and he thus told the league he "lied" abou the source and made that part up. So he got off the hook with that and his recent public appologies. Either that, or my fav theory would be that JVG threatened the league to ruin it forever with his hard evidence unless they let him off the hook, and would go on to discredit the NBA's business practices and write a "tell all" book. Stern understood the reprecussions of such action and had no choice but to give in
http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2056599&CMP=OTC-DT9705204233 NEW YORK -- Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy backed off from comments that a referee told him Rockets center Yao Ming was being targeted by officials in the first round of the playoffs, the NBA said Monday. The league said in a statement that it considered the matter closed. Van Gundy was fined $100,000 -- the largest ever for a coach -- after saying that a referee who was not working the playoffs told him that Yao was being targeted by officials following complaints by Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, Houston's first-round opponent. Van Gundy subsequently apologized publicly for the comments. "[Van Gundy] has also confirmed directly to an NBA representative that, during the Houston/Dallas playoff series, he did not have any communication with a referee [working or non-working] other than, of course, during an ongoing game," NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik said. "In fact, his only conversations with league employees during the series were with league personnel in the normal course. "In light of these circumstances, we now consider the matter to be closed." Van Gundy started the saga by telling three reporters at the team hotel in Dallas that a referee not working the playoffs called him after the Rockets went up 2-0 and warned that Yao was mentioned in an online evaluation from supervisor of officials Ronnie Nunn. Van Gundy also told the reporters that referees "were looking at Yao harder because of Mark's complaints" to the league office, referring to Cuban. Commissioner David Stern said at the time that an investigation into Van Gundy's remarks would continue once the Rockets were out of the playoffs. Houston was eliminated by the Mavericks in Game 7 of their first-round series on Saturday night. Stern threatened more punishment -- perhaps even banishment -- if Van Gundy did not cooperate and reveal the name of referee who was the coach's source.
[ESPN] Van Gundy Fiasco Closed http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=2056599 "[Van Gundy] has also confirmed directly to an NBA representative that, during the Houston/Dallas playoff series, he did not have any communication with a referee [working or non-working] other than, of course, during an ongoing game," NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik said. "In fact, his only conversations with league employees during the series were with league personnel in the normal course. "In light of these circumstances, we now consider the matter to be closed."
I do think JVG did what he had to do, and it was probably Stu Jackson and Les that made him do it. But "I stand by my statement" for three days and now "I made it all up". Jeez...
SOME NEW TWIST IN THE STORY!! SR610 says JVG just came out with a statement of his own, apparently contradicting what the league offices just came up with: JVG said in his statement that he meant that his source was a "league source" and not a "game official", saying that he was purposely vague. This is a weird thing, and could get JVG back in hot waters!!! WTH do you make of this?!!
