NBA Commissioner Adam Silver yesterday said that he has had "'several direct discussions' with NFL commissioner Roger Goodell on the topic of domestic violence as part of the league’s increasing vigilance on the topic -- and to avoid the types of missteps that have bedeviled the NFL," according to Mitch Abramson of the N.Y. DAILY NEWS. The talks "suggest the NBA is open to amending its policy on domestic violence, which has yet to be revised." Silver following the NBA BOG meeting yesterday in N.Y. said, "Our offices have discussed the experts that they've hired. We've (also) brought in our own experts." Silver said that the NBA "plans to hold an educational-based training session with the players to 'focus on prevention' as part of a larger program on domestic violence." He also said that a presentation on domestic violence "was given at the meetings" by NBA Exec VP/Social Responsibility & Player Programs Kathy Behrens, and that he also has "broached the topic" with NBPA Exec Dir Michele Roberts. Silver spoke of making team execs "more sensitive to the issue of diversity in the workplace," although he "didn’t mention them by name" (N.Y. DAILY NEWS, 10/23). USA TODAY's Sam Amick notes while a "violent felony conviction leads to a 10-game suspension, the policy does not specifically address domestic abuse and no action is required on the part of the team until a ruling is made." Amick: "What's more, players who have their charges lessened or plead no contest avoid punishment as well." In the NBA's "most recent domestic abuse case" involving Hornets G Jeffery Taylor, the team "placed him on paid leave and barred him from practice and game activities" (USA TODAY, 10/23).
STAYING WITH THE STATUS QUO: NBA owners yesterday voted down reforms to the draft lottery, and Silver said that he had "no qualms with the way the current system worked." He added that it "helped bad teams rebuild ... without allowing the worst of the worst to collect all the top picks." In N.Y., Scott Cacciola notes at the same time, Silver "acknowledged that he was concerned with the public perception" of teams tanking to get the top draft pick. He said that there could be "pressure on some teams ... to 'somehow underperform because it's, in some people's view, the most efficient and quickest way to get better.'" Silver: "We all recognize that we need to find the right balance." He added that the "issue would be sent back to the league's competition committee for additional study" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/23). In Philadelphia, Bob Cooney writes the 76ers, whose current rebuilding effort was seen as one of the reasons behind the proposed reform, "might have gotten their biggest win of the season before it even started" with the lottery news. Sixers coach Brett Brown: "The league is run by smart people, and the league spoke, and that's what they decided to do, and here we are and here I am, just moving forward coaching" (PHILADELPHIA DAILY NEWS, 10/23). Meanwhile, GRANTLAND's Zach Lowe wrote several of the 12 teams that voted with the 76ers against lottery reform are "somewhere between uncomfortable and angry with Philly’s ultra-aggressive approach to tanking" (GRANTLAND.com, 10/22).
JOB WELL DONE: The NBA yesterday announced that it has established the David J. Stern Sports Scholarship, following a unanimous adoption at league BOG meetings in N.Y. The scholarship will be awarded annually to a student who has completed his/her freshman year of college and wishes to study sports management. Each recipient will receive $30,000 toward tuition, an NBA internship after their junior year and direct mentorship from former NBA Commissioner David Stern (NBA).
