Drama!
NBA’s labor union wants to tango with Stern again…Oh boy!
Word out of New York is that Billy Hunter, the NBA players’ union director, is steamed enough about the new ‘zero-tolerance’ policy that he’s considering taking legal action against David Stern and the NBA. Speaking to the Associated Press today, Billy said that “what may ultimately happen if it [the quick tech] continues to occur is we will probably be compelled to bring an unfair labor practice action or something. Try to seek some relief, at least to have the issue either heard or at least elevated so that it gets a lot more public attention than it’s currently getting.”
You see, the thing is that players get fined for every tech they receive–$1000 for each of the first five, with the amount increasing by $500 for the next five, and topping up at $2500 a pop starting with the sixteenth–and as things stand for the moment, the number of techs called has nearly doubled this year (according to the Elias Sports Bureau there have been 122 techs called so far this season, compared to 66 at the same time last season.)
Now, while I may agree with Billy Hunter’s (and the players) stance on the issue–it’s ridiculous to try and turn the players into a bunch of emotionless zombies–I just don’t see how he’s going to pull this off. What makes him (and the union) think he’s got a shot against Stern in court (the legal kind, and that of public opinion?) It seems as though Hunter is quick to forget what happened the last time he challenged Stern. Remember the disastrous lockout in 1999? Does he want to deal with a pissed-off Stern and his goatee again?
Don’t mess with the bull, people. You’ll end up getting the horns.
18 Responses to “Drama!”
Nov.9 at 2:57 am
Darksaber says:
Oh my, he really wants to go up against the empire AGAIN? Darth Stern does not play around players. This should make for a VERY interesting subplot (along with the remote controlled new balls) during this season. Oh, and what the f”*k are Avery and Dirk up to this season? O-4? Like that antichrist baby on family guy would say, what the deuce??
Nov.9 at 4:53 am
Boing Dynasty says:
-”122 techs called so far this season, compared to 50 at the same time last season” -”nearly doubled”
Check the math playa, i think they more than doubled.
1
Nov.9 at 8:49 am
Matthew says:
Let’s all read and do math together. Sounds like fun right??? “122 techs called so far this season, compared to 66 at the same time last season.”
- “nearly doubled”
Now that the reading portion is over, on to the math. 66 x 2 = 132… just 10 shy of 122.
Now, wasn’t that fun!!!!
Nov.9 at 9:05 am
mutoni says:
it’s been fixed, kids. relax
Nov.9 at 11:17 am
Matthew says:
my bad boing.
Nov.9 at 1:17 pm
Bryant Reeves says:
Math is fun. Taking on the David Sternbot is not. Good luck Billy. Is Michael Curry still doing his union thing?
Nov.9 at 1:25 pm
marcel mutoni says:
pretty sure Curry is still involved.
Nov.9 at 1:42 pm
Sam Rubenstein says:
David Stern as a lawyer is even more ruthless than Stern the commish. You know about how he saved James Dolan $22 mill. He was also one of the lawyers that fought to get Connie Hawkins blackballed in the 60’s.
Nov.9 at 1:58 pm
albie1kenobi says:
it’s a Stern world that we are living in. we are all just puppets.
Nov.9 at 2:23 pm
Darksaber says:
Yeah, and the players are hanging on his nuts..
Nov.9 at 2:44 pm
Max Airington says:
This has nothing to do with Stern, I hope, but RIP Ed Bradley. True professional.
Nov.9 at 3:57 pm
jbn74sb says:
During the Lakers debacle last night, Z-Bo threw the ball against the basket stansion, and the Lakers protest that he should have received a tech, as one of the changes this year was such an action was an automatic tech. The refs apparently told the Lakers coaches (within earshot of the Lakers announcers) that they received a memo that day, which amended the rule to only being a tech if the ball was thrown against the stansion “with force”. Which is a major improvement, but does not fully address the issue. Kobe, for instance, received such a tech earlier this season. If and when he gets to 17 or whatever it is that leads to an automatice one game suspension, this tech should be rescinded to be in line with the now current rule.
Nov.9 at 6:11 pm
FLUXLAND says:
I’m sure Billy is just barking to get Sternbot to relax and he probably will.. eventually.. he just wants the NBA to stop looking like a home-run daycare. What I would really like to know is if the players get a pay statement that reads something like: OCT 4th vs ATL. TECH $1000 SEASON TOT: 3
Nov.9 at 6:14 pm
FLUXLAND says:
Speaking of daycare.. M.M has a nice collage of Sheed getting his “BUT IT’S MY TOY!!” point across.
Nov.9 at 10:20 pm
The Crack Staff at Perkisabeast.com says:
Don’t mess with Stern - he’ll leave a dead guy on your cap!
Nov.10 at 11:48 am
Dr.Dray says:
…long live democracy!!…what stern says, goes!!…no if’s, no but’s…final!…hahaha, didn’t think that would be possible in this day and age…
Nov.10 at 4:48 pm
Steve says:
When that lady ref. saw Karl Malone comming she already Had her hands ready for a tec. foul.Mr Dick Beveda (sp) hates The Utah JAZZ enough hes just looking for any reason to “t”them up. If a player or coach gets in a ref’s face they should get a “t”. Buta wave of a hand is no more a “T”a anouncer saying that was a bad call. DAVID STERN GET REAL @ LET THEM PLAY!!!!!!!
Nov.12 at 2:20 pm
BETCAT says:
I am a Sheed fan and a Bobcat fan. All i know is that if the NBA wants to try and take Sheeds money they could have thought of a better way than this to do it