If you were watching the Celtics-Cavs game yesterday, you know that one thing was missing: Danny Ainge the fan. The Celtics’ general manager was recently fined $25,000for waiving his towel in a futile attempt to distract the Cavs’ JJ Hickson when JJ was shooting a free throw. The question circulating around the league has been whether or not Ainge acted inappropriately, and the league offices believe he did cross one boundary or another. But is the Stern administration, with a particular emphasis on David Stern and Stu Jackson, taking it too far with the recent deluge of fines?
There’s no doubt David Stern is managing the league – as commissioner, he’s supposed to, right? What I’m debating, though, is if he’s starting to micromanage the NBA. Earlier in the 2000s, Stern enforced a dress code, with controversy over the rule specifically targeting the NBA’s well-populated demographic of African-Americans. However, after some analysis it seemed like Stern’s policy made sense. After all, it is the National Basketball Association and with so many people tuning in, do you want to be the leader of a thug league? As a testament to how many people followed the league, the rapper Nas referred to the commissioner as “David Stern with his fashion issues” in his song “Hip Hop Is Dead.” Regardless, not that I’m a psychologist – though I do try to read Malcolm Gladwell whenever I get a chance – it seems like people are primarily judged by three things: their appearance, their actions, and what they say.
Needless to say, it’s awfully difficult to control people’s actions and what they say. Yet, he’s come very close with his implementation of fines. His sarcastic “make my day” phrase makes me wonder how he feels whenever Phil Jackson opens his mouth and/or when Mark Cuban blogs. I could wrap my head around the fines when there were issued for misconduct on the court (thus, restricting actions) but I don’t know if it’s justified, or even constitutional, to fine personnel for comments or for just being an ordinary fan.
I argue the first amendment right, “freedom of speech”, overrides the current discipline policy, laws being something David Stern is well aware of. According to the book, Great Jews in Sports, “he began handling legal business for the National Basketball Association in 1967 as an attorney with the law firm of Proskaur Rose Goetz…Persuaded in 1978 by [NBA commissioner Larry] O’Brien, Stern left to become the league’s general counsel. Two years later, O’Brien created the position of ‘Executive Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs’ and gave Stern the job.”
But I guess currently the prevailing argument is for defamation. When the refs are criticized, the credibility of the league is criticized, which makes the criticism defamatory. If the players think the game was poorly officiated, so what? The next time they encounter the same ref(s), they’ll notice a grudge and keep quiet to avoid further bad calls. My opinion, like that of others, is very likely influenced by Tim Donaughy’s actions as an official, the existence of grudges proved when he documented that many officials held a grudge against Allen Iverson, thus resulting in unfair calls. By handing out fines, it’s almost like a settlement: trying to keep someone quiet because you know you’re guilty. In this sense, the fines are defaming the league’s credibility.
As for Danny Ainge and waving a towel, the league should appreciate the passion. Every GM should be spotted banging thunder sticks when the opponent is shooting free throws and love their team as much as the fans. If teams’ front offices show up to the arena and proved how much of a fan they are and just how much they support their team, the players and coaching staff would undoubtedly feel more appreciated. And when the players and coaches are, chances are the results will be better. So, David Stern, if you want to keep issuing your fines, you should bill the Utah Jazz’ Energy Solutions Arena for “Fisher sucks” chants, take action against the people who printed the “Fear the Deer” shirts, frown upon the Thunder’s fans for being fans, and from now on have the Golden State Warriors play in front of an empty crowd at home.
There’s no doubt David Stern is managing the league – as commissioner, he’s supposed to, right? What I’m debating, though, is if he’s starting to micromanage the NBA. Earlier in the 2000s, Stern enforced a dress code, with controversy over the rule specifically targeting the NBA’s well-populated demographic of African-Americans. However, after some analysis it seemed like Stern’s policy made sense. After all, it is the National Basketball Association and with so many people tuning in, do you want to be the leader of a thug league? As a testament to how many people followed the league, the rapper Nas referred to the commissioner as “David Stern with his fashion issues” in his song “Hip Hop Is Dead.” Regardless, not that I’m a psychologist – though I do try to read Malcolm Gladwell whenever I get a chance – it seems like people are primarily judged by three things: their appearance, their actions, and what they say.
Needless to say, it’s awfully difficult to control people’s actions and what they say. Yet, he’s come very close with his implementation of fines. His sarcastic “make my day” phrase makes me wonder how he feels whenever Phil Jackson opens his mouth and/or when Mark Cuban blogs. I could wrap my head around the fines when there were issued for misconduct on the court (thus, restricting actions) but I don’t know if it’s justified, or even constitutional, to fine personnel for comments or for just being an ordinary fan.
I argue the first amendment right, “freedom of speech”, overrides the current discipline policy, laws being something David Stern is well aware of. According to the book, Great Jews in Sports, “he began handling legal business for the National Basketball Association in 1967 as an attorney with the law firm of Proskaur Rose Goetz…Persuaded in 1978 by [NBA commissioner Larry] O’Brien, Stern left to become the league’s general counsel. Two years later, O’Brien created the position of ‘Executive Vice President, Business and Legal Affairs’ and gave Stern the job.”
But I guess currently the prevailing argument is for defamation. When the refs are criticized, the credibility of the league is criticized, which makes the criticism defamatory. If the players think the game was poorly officiated, so what? The next time they encounter the same ref(s), they’ll notice a grudge and keep quiet to avoid further bad calls. My opinion, like that of others, is very likely influenced by Tim Donaughy’s actions as an official, the existence of grudges proved when he documented that many officials held a grudge against Allen Iverson, thus resulting in unfair calls. By handing out fines, it’s almost like a settlement: trying to keep someone quiet because you know you’re guilty. In this sense, the fines are defaming the league’s credibility.
As for Danny Ainge and waving a towel, the league should appreciate the passion. Every GM should be spotted banging thunder sticks when the opponent is shooting free throws and love their team as much as the fans. If teams’ front offices show up to the arena and proved how much of a fan they are and just how much they support their team, the players and coaching staff would undoubtedly feel more appreciated. And when the players and coaches are, chances are the results will be better. So, David Stern, if you want to keep issuing your fines, you should bill the Utah Jazz’ Energy Solutions Arena for “Fisher sucks” chants, take action against the people who printed the “Fear the Deer” shirts, frown upon the Thunder’s fans for being fans, and from now on have the Golden State Warriors play in front of an empty crowd at home.
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