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Leagues and Governing Bodies

Michele Roberts Contends Suspension Of Hornets' Taylor Violates CBA, Offers Appeal

NBPA Exec Dir Michele Roberts called the NBA's 24-game suspension of Hornets F Jeff Taylor "excessive, without precedent and a violation" of the CBA, according to Rick Bonnell of the CHARLOTTE OBSERVER. Roberts suggested that the union is "prepared to appeal the suspension on behalf of Taylor." Roberts said the CBA "contemplates a minimum 10-game suspension in any case involving a conviction for a violent felony, including domestic violence. In contrast, Jeff Taylor was charged with a misdemeanor that likely is going to be dismissed at the end of a probationary period.” Bonnell notes NBA Commissioner Adam Silver acknowledged in his statement Wednesday that this 24-game suspension "strays from previous punishments for similar crimes" (CHARLOTTE OBSERVER, 11/21). Roberts said that the union "is ready to file an immediate appeal, but that the choice is Taylor's." ESPN.com's Marc Stein cited sources as saying that Taylor "is likely to make a public statement Friday in Charlotte." He can "appeal the suspension to an independent arbitrator" (ESPN.com, 11/20). USA TODAY's Sam Amick notes since she began her tenure in late September, this is "hardly the first time Roberts has been outspoken about her views and how they differ" from those of Silver. Roberts' public statement on the Taylor decision was "true to her early form, incredibly candid" (USA TODAY, 11/21). 

DOES THE UNION HAVE A CASE? ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan said the 24-game suspension "makes sense based on all the public outcry we’ve seen." But she added, "When you start talking about reviewing these on a case-by-case basis and you are giving that power to the commissioner of the league that oversees and answers to your owners, you’ve got problems almost immediately. You know the Players Association is going to weigh in on this and you know they’re going to say, ‘Why don't we get an independent arbitrator to look over these cases,’ and they would be right.” ESPN’s Pablo Torre said, “If it’s a case-by-case basis, what you’re doing is making rulings without a defined system of justice. If you're creating a system of justice, how much is a punch worth, how much is a scratch worth? How does this equate to 24 games specifically?” ESPN’s Israel Gutierrez noted the “problem is having Adam Silver make these decisions -- or any commissioner make these decisions -- and I think it requires an independent party to do so” ("Around The Horn," ESPN, 11/20). YAHOO SPORTS' Kelly Dwyer wrote there are few things "more abhorrent than the act" Taylor pleaded guilty to, but the NBPA is "doing its job, and it is absolutely well within its rights to appeal the league’s solitary decision." The union "is not condoning domestic violence when it points out that the league went against a legally-binding agreement that is less than three years old." Dwyer: "The NBA needed to make a strong move, and ... it would have been in both the NBA and NBPA’s best interests if they would have met in the wake of Taylor’s arrest to discuss lengthening the penalties for crimes like these in the wake of a societal conversation that we all should have engaged in a very long time ago" (SPORTS.YAHOO.com, 11/20).

THE BEAUTY OF BEING SECOND: L.A.-based KFWB-AM's George Wrighster said Silver "was decisive" in his punishment for Taylor. Wrighster said, "It was immediate and I like the fact that he waited for the case to be adjudicated and then there’s nothing else for people to talk about because he handled it. He’s suspended, it’s going away. If the NFL had taken a page out of that book, you wouldn’t have articles and articles written and people wondering if the commissioner should keep his job.” TWC SportsNet’s Chris McGee said, “Isn’t this the beauty of going second? Watch the NFL and Roger Goodell fail and then we’re going to do it so quickly and so swiftly” (“Rome,” CBS Sports Network, 11/20). ESPN's J.A. Adande said, "It is appropriate to take the public poll and temperature to see the way things are going” (“Around The Horn,” ESPN, 11/20). ESPN's Bomani Jones: "Adam Silver is really good at this meting-out-punishment thing. He hasn’t been on the job for very long, but he seemed to have gotten every single one of these things right.” ESPN’s Dan Le Batard: "He is taking firm positions nobody can argue with that are hugely popular” (“Highly Questionable,” ESPN2, 11/20). BLOOMBERG VIEW's Kavitha Davidson wrote with his first disciplinary action against a player in a domestic violence case, Silver is "letting you know: The NBA is not the NFL" (BLOOMBERGVIEW.com, 11/20).

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