<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Baseball has a seemingly exhausting system of appeals whenever a player gets suspended by the league. Kobe Bryant wished the NBA had one, too. A day after sitting out a game because of a league-imposed suspension, Bryant said it "definitely would be nice" if the NBA had an appeals system. "This way, you can't just suspend somebody all of a sudden without hearing them out a little bit," he said Wednesday. After the league suspended Bryant for striking San Antonio guard Manu Ginobili in the face last Sunday, the NBA players' association took the unusual step of demanding an instant appeal on Bryant's behalf Tuesday afternoon. It was pretty much ignored by the league. "This is not the process that we use at the NBA," said Stu Jackson, the league's main disciplinarian for on-court actions. "Certainly in theory, given the fact that the Lakers were in New York, we could have heard an appeal. But again, we never have, as it's not part of our process." Bryant was suspended without pay and could appeal at a later date to try to recoup the $161,080 financial hit he took. But as he said with irritation creeping into his voice, "I'd like an opportunity to win the game back." The Lakers lost Tuesday to New York, 99-94. Bryant returned Wednesday night with a 45-point, eight-rebound, eight-assist effort in the Lakers' 111-98 victory over Boston.</div> Source
So since Stu Jackson justified Kobe's suspension stating that players have to be protected from the neck up, is he going to suspend Labron James for last nights hard foul against Wade? He even got a flagrant foul? Kobe did not. If he does not get suspended, there is some serious issues in the NBA and a lot of Kobe hatred.
I completely agree with Bryant with this one. I thought it was obvious that is needed when Stu Jackson stated that an appeal isn't in the league's policy, but never followed it up with an explanation of what the current policy is. At the very least, it would force the NBA to less unpredictable with their rulings and hopefully get them to co-operate with the players instead of ordering them around.
<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I completely agree with Bryant with this one. I thought it was obvious that is needed when Stu Jackson stated that an appeal isn't in the league's policy, but never followed it up with an explanation of what the current policy is. At the very least, it would force the NBA to less unpredictable with their rulings and hopefully get them to co-operate with the players instead of ordering them around.</div> But what if the foul is obviously malicious? Should a player be allowed to control when he gets suspended?
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">But what if the foul is obviously malicious? Should a player be allowed to control when he gets suspended?</div> You said it. If it "is obviously malicious" - deserves a suspension. Are you impliying that Kobe accidental hit on Ginobli was an obvious malicious foul? Because your wrong.
<div class="quote_poster">Pablo23 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You said it. If it "is obviously malicious" - deserves a suspension. Are you impliying that Kobe accidental hit on Ginobli was an obvious malicious foul? Because your wrong.</div> Kobe dismantling the Boston Celtics was obviously malicious on his part.
I don't see a game thread against the Wizards, but I just had to post this: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Caron Butler played a full season with Kobe Bryant. He knows Kobe Bryant. And he knows that Kobe Bryant is going to come out like an unleashed pit bull tomorrow night. I asked Caron how many times he thinks Kobe has watched Gilbert's 60-point game. Caron: "Oh, he's big into film. I guarantee he's watched it a bunch. Kobe's the kind of guy who circles the calender for certain games and this is one of them." </div>
<div class="quote_poster">Karma Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I don't see a game thread against the Wizards, but I just had to post this:</div> We need to take down the Pacers first.
<div class="quote_poster">Pablo23 Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You said it. If it "is obviously malicious" - deserves a suspension. Are you impliying that Kobe accidental hit on Ginobli was an obvious malicious foul? Because your wrong.</div> No, Kobe's foul wasn't obviously malicious. But it can be a bit of a gray area. Some players might want to hurt another player for some reason, but they disguise it by feigning concern after hitting them and saying the contact was accidental. How should such cases be dealt with?
<div class="quote_poster">durvasa Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">But what if the foul is obviously malicious? Should a player be allowed to control when he gets suspended?</div> An appeal process doesn't necessarily mean that the player will get out of a suspension or that a player will even be granted an appeal. But, the option should be there. At the very least, it creates more understanding of the rules, forces the league to be more consistent, and decreases the dissatisfaction with the league among the players/fans.
