David Stern exerted his power and further vilified his persona when he fined the San Antonio Spurs $250,000 for sending home star players Tim Duncan, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli and Danny Green on a flight instead of having them at the nationally televised Miami Heat game. Many think it was about ratings and money with Stern but according to him that’s not the case. Read more after the jump.
In announcing a $250,000 fine against the San Antonio Spurs Friday for resting players, NBA Commissioner David Stern said owners addressed the topic at the Board of Governors meeting in April, 2010, just before the playoffs began.
Stern said then that resting healthy players is “sole discretion of the team … unless that discretion is abused.”
Near the end of his opening remarks – after giving cursory updates on collective bargaining, revenue sharing, salary cap, the use of video review for referees, the Orlando Magic’s new arena, sales, marketing and sponsorships – Stern said this:
“And we also had what I would call a spirited discussion on the subject of players being rested down the stretch. And I think it’s fair to say that there was no conclusion reached, other than a number of teams thought that it should be at the sole discretion of the team, coach, general manager, and I think it’s fair to say that I agree with that, unless that discretion is abused.
“And so it’s something we’ll be watching carefully with respect to next season, recognizing that it probably should be a team issue, and I’ve seen my colleagues in other sports deal with it or not deal with it, particularly in the NFL this last time leading into the playoffs.
“So I know it’s not an easy issue, but I think it’s not an issue that’s going to be taken precisely off the table, and it’s going to be a continuing conversation between me and the teams. And that’s the way we left it.”
So according to Stern coach Gregg Popovich was abusing the system and that is why the fine was levied. Many people think it is egregious and unfair and also that Stern doesn’t have the right to hand down such a fine. What do you think?
