http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2007/basketball/nba/02/06/bc.bkn.bulls.thomas.ap/index.html Bulls fine Thomas after dunk contest comments CHICAGO (AP) -- The Chicago Bulls fined forward Tyrus Thomas $10,000 on Tuesday, one day after the rookie said he only was interested in the money for the NBA's slam dunk contest. The first Bull since Scottie Pippen in 1990 to participate in the event, Thomas was quoted in Tuesday's editions of the Chicago Tribune as saying: "I'm just going to go out there, get my check and call it a day." When asked if being around some of the game's greats could be beneficial for a rookie, he responded, "I'm just into the free money. That's it. I'll just do whatever when I get out there." The winner of the Feb. 17 event in Las Vegas gets $35,000. The runner-up earns $22,500, with the third and fourth-place finishers getting $16,125. Joining Thomas are defending champion Nate Robinson of New York, Orlando All-Star Dwight Howard and Boston's Gerald Green. "This fine is an appropriate response to the remarks Tyrus made concerning his participation in the slam dunk contest," Bulls executive vice president of basketball operations John Paxson said in a statement. "It is a poor reflection on Tyrus individually and a poor reflection on the Bulls organization, and I am certainly disappointed. The league office has chosen Tyrus to participate in one of its All-Star events and that is an honor that should be accepted with humility. I spoke to Tyrus this morning and am confident he understands that he made a mistake with his words and that he also understands the importance of representing the Bulls and the NBA in a positive way." Thomas has appeared in 41 games, averaging 3.5 points and 2.7 rebounds.
Kids are pretty snotty these days... I guess we shouldn't expect much from him for the rest of his career if he's only doing it for the money.
funny story. It would be awesome if the NBA dropped his butt from the competition. Actually, they should if he doesn't want to be there.
i respect his candor. he will perform since this is on a national stage and he is still in a rookie contract
These punks don't know how good they have it.. I wish I got $35000 everytime I attended one of my intramural basketball games
I said this way before the draft: Tyrus Thomas will be an NBA bust. He was a waste of a #4 pick. I want to be wrong because I like the Bulls.
shoulda fined him 16,125. And I want him to participate, and I want everyone in Vegas to boo the hell out of him.
Wow! I agree, they should boot him from the competition. There are tons of players who would give their left nut, well, maybe not their left nut, to be there for the event. What an ass. The NBA should call and tell him, "Nevermind!"
Sam Smith with an absolute rip job on Tyrus: http://chicagosports.chicagotribune...smith,1,6169790.column?coll=cs-home-headlines
