Admit it, you thought the whole new ball business was behind us. The players wanted leather, the lack of leather spooked them and us, and the return of leather seemed to set all right in the world. Well, Stern plans to march on with his plan. Except now, there's an added wrinkle: the players, or some of them, will help with the development. From the New York Daily News:
By this time next year, the league hopes it will be using a better version of the synthetic ball that was thrown out Jan. 1. Rather than depend on input from ex-players who are now part of its broadcasting partners - as the NBA did last year in consulting Steve Kerr, Reggie Miller and Mark Jackson - the league is doing the right thing by putting current players on a committee that will work on improvements concerning the new ball.Yeah, you heard the insinuation that the jury was biased. There's even an anonymous GM quoted later as claiming that "the deck was totally stacked." This time, though, it looks like Stern is willing to listen to voices he can't bully around. The current frontrunners are Nash, Kidd, Players Association Derek Fisher-and Kobe Bryant.
It was no accident that the league obtained his commitment a day before it suspended him for striking San Antonio's Manu Ginobili in the face. If the suspension had come down beforehand, the league feared that Bryant would have declined the invite.That still doesn't address the most important point: that Kobe is not exactly feeling the league's authority figures these days. There's the real proof that Stern's serious about listening; he put Kobe on knowing full well dude would probably be looking to dissent.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-11-2007 @ 7:37PM
mutoni said...
the genius evil of stern on full display yet again.
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2-11-2007 @ 9:01PM
MRay said...
If I must put it politely, the NBA SUCKS!
There are so many problems; I don’t even know where to start. Let’s go to the top; Commissioner David Stern. What is this a dictatorship? Is he going to be the commissioner forever, like a Fidel Castro in Cuba?
Oh how I long for the NBA back in its purest form in the 80's and early 90's. The Bulls-Pistons, Celtics-Lakers, Bulls-Knicks. Grinding physical basketball that if played nowadays would foul out the entire Bad-Boys team.
Final scores in the mid 80’s, hard cloths-line hits that would be “Play-ons” as opposed to fouls, scuffles breaking out that would result in MAYBE a technical foul. Now this no-defense basketball runs up scores into the 140’s, you take a look at an opponent and it’s a foul, and if you decide to set a hard screen you’ll be fined and suspended for 20 games.
And then don’t even get me started on the foreign players coming into the league and taking over. I would love to have seen a Pau Gasol coming into the lane to be met by the brick wall of a Bill Laimbeer, Rick Mahorn, or Charles Oakley.
Here’s a start to my list of solutions;
1. Get Rid of David Stern
2. Get Rid of 4-6 Teams (NBA is too watered down)
3. Bring back more of the physical game
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2-11-2007 @ 9:30PM
point 23 said...
why is stern so dedicated to getting rid of the leather ball? to increase offense? make more money? both, neither?
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2-12-2007 @ 1:26AM
Brian said...
Because the PETA types want an eco-friendly ball. It was initially proposed by the wife of the Houston Rockets owner and they're all into environmental concerns.
Mind you that's while flying around in disastrous emission private jets but hey don't let that get in the way of forcing one's principles on others.
Leather shoots and handles better, quit messing with the game.
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4-15-2007 @ 6:03PM
Carisa said...
I believe Joe Crawford should be fired for his repetitive unprofessionalism. Citing the latest incident in the April 15, 2007 NBA game between the San Antonio Spurs vs. Dallas Mavericks. Tim Duncan received (2) technical fouls for absolutely nothing - just because Joe Crwaford's ego was hurt. Please?! The first technical may have been warranted, due to the fact Duncan did speak something regarding his last offensive foul call (which was absurd as well). The second technical was insane!!! Since when isn't a player allowed to laugh on the bench? He said absolutely nothing to Crawford, but apparantly Crawford isn't a professional referee. Either that or his old-geyser mind was playing tricks on him & he thought he heard Duncan say something to him. He's old & unprofessional! I think it's time the NBA got some fresh meat on the court. Force him into retirement-NOW-before another player has to endure what Duncan did today! It's okay for Dirk Nowitzki to whine on the court regarding a foul, but not okay for a player to laugh on the bench about something which probably wasn't even related to the incident simply because a ref with a huge ego thinks he's being mocked??? What has the NBA come to? Mark Cuban can sit on the side-lines yelling about every "bad" call & nothing happens to him or his team. When is he going to be ejected from a game? Or is some under-handed exchange of money taking place? This arises all sorts of questions & should be addressed by David Stern immediately!!!
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4-15-2007 @ 10:28PM
carl holder said...
Please check to see whether or not the bald headed official in the Mavs-Spurs game Sunday had money bet on the outcome? He had to know that kicking Duncan
out for laughing would seal the deal. Look at the replay, Horry was laughing too! Why else would he
call a technical on such a simple gesture? I can almost guarantee that he profited from that call.
If not, then he is the stupidest and most incompetent official of the group and should be investigated and relieved of his job. Just review the film and look at how many times the Mavs objected to calls with no penalty.
Investigate this guy---please!
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4-15-2007 @ 10:32PM
carl holder said...
Fire Joe Crawford! He officiates as though he has money bet on the game. Investigate the reason for
the technicals against Tim Duncan Sunday. See if he personally profited for those calls. Why else would
such ridiculous calls be made? Investigate this official or lose many loyal NBA fans?
Reply
4-16-2007 @ 8:02PM
Boss said...
David Stern keeps talking about controlling the players...he may want to focus on his referees. Joe Crawford may have been a good ref, but the key term in that sentence is "been". What was Crawford thinking? I mean, Duncan did nothing to warrant either of those fouls. I had friends at the game and they all said that nothing was said. The tape needs to be reviewed and Crawford better be fined and suspended. I mean, determining the outcome of a game like that by kicking out the best player on the Court besides Dirk for laughing? You've got to be kidding me. Now, I'm not a big fan of the NBA players. I think they are all spoiled brats like all professional athletes, but come on? I mean, let them do their job and play. A referee is there to control the game not determine it. Crawford changed the entire outcome of that game and did it purposefully. His brother (a MLB umpire) has to be ashamed. I'm at a loss for words.
All I know is that if David Stern does nothing and backs Crawford without a full investigation, without some type of punishment, and if Crawford is reffing the playoffs there's a problem with this league and I want no part of it. Crawford's paid good money and obviously by his actions the other night, not good enough, because it was clear he was betting on the Mavs in that one... Get off your high horse Stern and actually earn your money...Do something right for once and show professional sports that the referees can't do whatever they want or do nothing Stern and show us what we're all thinking- that they can.
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