<table border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="210" align="left"> <tbody><tr> </tr> <tr> <td> </td> </tr> </tbody></table> <div class="bodytext"></div><div class="bodytext"><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>This sets up so perfectly for Larry Bird, you wonder if the Indiana Pacers president didn't plant that blunt in Shawne Williams' car's ashtray.</div><div class="bodytext"></div><div class="bodytext">For months now -- actually, years -- we've been told that once Bird ascended to the top of the organization, he would install a tougher, law-and-order regime, would bring down the hammer on anybody who perpetuated the Indiana Trail Pacers reputation (and, boy, do they hate it when I call them the Trail Pacers).</div><div class="bodytext"></div><div class="bodytext">There would be no more enabling, no more coddling, no more looking the other way. That might have been the way Donnie Walsh, Rick Carlisle and Mel and Herb Simon handled misbehaving players, but Bird continually hinted that when it became his call to make, he would hold his employees accountable.</div><div class="bodytext">Well, here's Bird's chance to back up his talk the way he always backed up his talk as a player.</div><div class="bodytext"></div><div class="bodytext">Judging by his statement Tuesday, it sounds like Williams chose the wrong time to make a bad decision.</div><div class="bodytext"></div><div class="bodytext">"We are extremely disappointed concerning the arrest of Shawne Williams early this morning,'' the statement read. "Although the legal process needs to be followed, we will not accept Shawne putting himself in this position, regardless of innocence or guilt. We as an organization in general and our players in particular have to take into consideration our accountability to our fans in our decision-making.</div><div class="bodytext"></div><div class="bodytext">"This was clearly a bad and unacceptable decision. We will be meeting with Shawne at some point to discuss this and pursue any disciplinary action we can take."</div><div class="bodytext">Well, then.</div><div class="bodytext"></div><div class="bodytext">Somebody's going into timeout, wouldn't you say?</div><div class="bodytext"></div><div class="bodytext">Look, what Williams is accused of doing is pretty minor in the grand scheme of things. An improper lane change. Expired tags. Marijuana in the car (not his, he said). A passenger in possession of a stolen firearm -- although it should be mentioned that Roderick Helton, the gun owner, previously has been arrested for cocaine possession with intent to sell, according to the Shelby County, Tenn., Sheriff's Department.</div><div class="bodytext"></div><div class="bodytext">Compared to what Stephen Jackson was convicted of doing, and what Jamaal Tinsley and Marquis Daniels have been charged with doing, it's no more disturbing than Britney Spears' weekend television performance.</div><div class="bodytext"></div><div class="bodytext">But everything in life is about timing, and Williams couldn't have chosen a worse time to test Bird's patience.</div><div class="bodytext">With Bird firmly in charge for the first time since he returned to Indianapolis, he has no choice but to come down hard on Williams and make a statement about the new sheriff in town.</div><div class="bodytext"></div><div class="bodytext">The Pacers have options, options they possessed but chose not to exercise in previous years -- decisions that produced calamitous results.</div><div class="bodytext">They can suspend the player. They can fine the player. They can terminate the contract of the player.</div><div class="bodytext"></div><div class="bodytext">It's safe to assume Bird will do two of the three -- a fine and a suspension -- if only to make a statement to his team and, more importantly, to his team's fan base.</div><div class="bodytext">Terminating his contract? That's over the top, wa-a-ay over the top. It's like giving the death penalty for a parking violation.</div><div class="bodytext"></div><div class="bodytext">Only two NBA players have had their contracts terminated: Latrell Sprewell and Qyntel Woods. And good luck getting that one past the players' union.</div></div><div class="bodytext"></div><div class="bodytext">Source: IndyStar</div>
