<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It's spring, which means planting flowers, playing golf and, if you're an NBA player or coach, complaining about officiating. There has been quite a bit of that in these playoffs, and it didn't help when the NBA rescinded a technical against Michael Finley from San Antonio's overtime game against Dallas. As their series wound down, the Suns and Mavs were sending dueling complaints to the league office about the other's alleged cheap shots and dirty play. NBA Commissioner David Stern says he has had about enough. He believes the actions of the players and coaches trickle down to the fans and cast doubt on the game. He has quietly told the players and coaches to button it. "We've sort of delivered the message to the coaches," Stern said. "[When] a coach loses a game because a call went the wrong way, I'm never going to say you can't let off some steam. "When we started the season we said, `Let's tell the assistant coaches they don't have a lot to add to the dialogue with the officials,'" Stern said. "Next season's project will be to persuade the players. Since I've been commissioner there have probably been 35,000 calls, and the next call that gets overturned because a player complained will be the first. So it's not a productive enterprise." But if the NBA really wants to help the officials, it could do something about the block/charge, which remains the call most frequently questioned. So many players are flopping, you wonder if the "skill" is taught before dribbling in Europe. The league installed the small circle under the basket as a restricted zone where a player cannot draw a change. But the best way to end the bogus practice is to stop calling so many charges. A charge should be called only when a defender plays good defense and moves his feet and still gets run over by the player he is guarding. Even though zones are allowed now, hardly anyone plays them for more than a few minutes. Sliding over to get in front of a driver is hardly good defense. It's a trick, and it's time the NBA recognized that.</div> Source
As a fan, if my team gets screwed because of a bad call, I want the league to hear about it loud and clear, and I want them to recognize it.
Why all the hate for Stern? He's made one of the biggest impacts as a sports commishes out of anyone.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GatorsowntheNCAA:</div><div class="quote_post">Why all the hate for Stern? He's made one of the biggest impacts as a sports commishes out of anyone.</div> Because he cares more about the NBA's image than the integrity of the game?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GatorsowntheNCAA:</div><div class="quote_post">Why all the hate for Stern? He's made one of the biggest impacts as a sports commishes out of anyone.</div> Because he's on his own mission and really doesn't care what the viewers/public wants! Like the dress code thing, the age requirement thing, did he think of putting a poll on NBA.com? No. He's a zealot - I think that's the right word - basically he's got his vision and he's determined to create it. He's also unchecked in his power and answers to nobody. Not even CEOs or Presidents have that power.
He made the NBA what it is today. He is the main reason for the popularity in other countries and he is the main reason for the hype of these players. He was the first guy who really marketed players, such as Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Micheal Jordan, etc. He made what the public/viewers want. They want to see superstars, Stern created it. Did Tagliabue post his rule changes on NFL.com or how about Selig, did he post them on MLB.com. That's just not going to happen. What's wrong with him wanting to do his vision? He's the commissioner of the NBA, he's gotta make it how he wants it. He doesn't do things to piss the fans off. If you were a commish you would want to make the leagues image good, because that's what draws fans. For example baseball, they are losing fans and not gaining any because of the steroid problems, no one wants to see illegal actions in their league. The image of your league is extremely important. Yes he should maintain the integrity of the game, but the image of the NBA is very important to gain even more fans. What would you suggest on someone to check and balance it.
yet another reason for me to dislike david stern....how bout teaching the refs how to officiate a game the right way.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting THE DREAM:</div><div class="quote_post">yet another reason for me to dislike david stern....how bout teaching the refs how to officiate a game the right way.</div> Exactly, its not the fact that Stern is making bad decisions, its just that he has his priorities all mixed up, trying to improve the league officiating should be a higher priority on his list than banning players from wearing thermal tights.
Wow, this hate for Stern is alarming. He made the NBA what it is today, I see no reason for people to hate on him. He is, in my opinion, the best commish out of the 4 major North American sports leagues...BY FAR. From NBA broadband highlights, to the All-Star Weekends to the rule changes to modify and evolutionize the game, he's done his job to perfection and should be nothing but applauded for it. Just wait till he resigns and another coommish comes in and makes his changes. If the direction of the NBA goes south again, it'll be those same "I wish we still had Stern" comments again. You don't know what you have till it's gone. Cherish it and stop bickering about little things. Some of these coaches and players and fans complain about everything. It's damn annoying.
