<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Seattle Post-Intelligencer - Danny Fortson returned from a two-game suspension Monday with fire for NBA senior vice president of basketball operations Stu Jackson, calling the executive a "gangster" for the nearly $200,000 in fines Fortson was docked for his latest transgression with an official. Fortson paid $116,646 in salary as well as additional fines for the two technicals and the ejection during Wednesday's loss to Minnesota. Fortson was tossed out by official Sean Corbin for apparent comments made during a Sonics timeout. Fortson then charged Corbin and had to be restrained. He then made an obscene gesture before leaving the court. Jackson suspended Fortson for the second time this season. Fortson was angry that Kobe Bryant received the same penalty for a forearm shiver to Memphis' Mike Miller. "What Stu Jackson just did is criminal as far as I'm concerned, like a gangster, like somebody strong-arming somebody, taking their money," Fortson said Monday before the Sonics' 115-96 loss to Indiana. "Handing out (the same) fines and suspensions (for what) Kobe Bryant did and what I did, it's unfair. It's criminal. He needs to know that. It's criminal fines in the work force." Fortson then accused Corbin of lying to Jackson about the remark that caused the ejection. About a minute before the Sonics' timeout, Fortson was called for a rare "swinging elbows" turnover, which penalizes a player for swinging his elbows to clear space in a double-team. Fortson said he did not swing his elbows and claims he was fouled during the play. During the timeout, Fortson said he smiled at Corbin, who called the first technical. Fortson then charged Corbin and was ejected. "I tried to work things out, but (Jackson's) going to fine somebody $200,000 almost for something that a referee lied about," Fortson said. "He lied. I am standing by what I said. I don't care. He lied, as simple as that. He said I said something that I didn't say. As a matter of fact, I had the GM Rick Sund watching the game. He read my lips. The man is going to sit there and not investigate people, my teammates, my coaches and just go off something that an official flat-out made up and lied about."</div> http://www.realgm.com/src_wiretap_archives...r_says_fortson/
This is getting ridiculous. If Danny Fortson was consistently getting double doubles for us than I would maybe side with him on this but he has turned into more of a circus act than he has a contributor for this ball team. Here is some advice for you Danny. If you don't want to get fined, don't get suspended. If you don't want to get suspended, leave the referees alone. He knows he has a target on his back but yet he keeps trying to get the last word with the refs--and now Stu Jackson. He isn't playing well enough right now to even be remotely close to being a distraction. He came into camp overweight and injured. He has tried his best to work himself back into shape but it doesn't improve your conditioning to be sent home for avoidable confrontations. I never want Fortson to change how he plays but he needs to understand that whatever battle he thinks he is going to win against the referees and Stu Jackson--he's not. Take some of the advice that is quoted in my signature Danny--don't go to the papers like a little girl and start whining about how your being dogged as a professional. Talk to the person like a man and come to some sort of resolution/compromise.
