Stern Says He Has Not Ruled Out Action On Knicks, Thomas
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Stern Says He Could Still Take
Punitive Action Against Knicks |
NBA Commissioner David Stern indicated that he has “not ruled out the possibility of taking punitive action” against the Knicks or President of Basketball Operations & coach Isiah Thomas after a jury found them liable in a sexual harassment lawsuit filed by former Knicks exec Anucha Browne Sanders, according to Ian Whittell in a special to ESPN.com. Stern “reacted angrily to media reports that he is planning no action,” saying, “Once again the New York Times headline writer said something that didn’t appear in the text of my remarks, and the remarks themselves were badly mangled. …. What I said then was it was still under consideration. … And further, I said that I wanted to discuss this with the [NBA BOG].” Stern noted, “The headline said ‘Stern not taking any action,’ but the article will be searched in vain to find me saying that. Now that has been picked up as a fact because it appeared in a New York Times headline” (ESPN.com, 10/10).
DONAGHY: Stern also indicated that the league will “not be firing any more of its referees after interviewing all 60 on staff in an attempt to unearth further conduct violations following the Tim Donaghy betting scandal.” Stern: “We will be dealing with our referees in a fair way, listening to their concerns, how we can continue to have the best officiating in the world.” He added that changes to the league’s officiating program in the wake of the Donaghy scandal are “underway.” Stern said, “I’ll have something more to say before the regular season begins, which was my (original) schedule. We remain, based upon all the information we have, of the strong view that Donaghy was an isolated instance of criminal activity.” Stern “ruled out the possibility of making referees’ internally graded performances public” (ESPN.com, 10/10).
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Stern Says Most Important Part
Of NBA Europe Live Is Games |
EXCHANGE RATE: In Boston, Steve Bulpett writes Stern “isn’t so sure about the new concept” that had the Celtics, T’Wolves, Raptors and Grizzlies hold their training camps in Europe. Stern: “I’m not sure that they’re all that I wanted them to be, because it’s hard to move them and then to make sure that the teams have the opportunity to really train. … So I had this great idea. I take full responsibility for it. I’m not sure it’s the best idea I ever had. The more important thing is the games.” Meanwhile, Stern said of possibly having an All-Star Game overseas, “It would require a lot in terms of our season. It would change our formatting. But it certainly is something that gets knocked around” (BOSTON HERALD, 10/11). F1 driver Lewis Hamilton and Chelsea F Didier Drogba were part of the sellout crowd of 18,689 in attendance at the O2 arena in London for yesterday's Celtics-T’Wolves game. The NBA also introduced former NBAer B.J. Armstrong and Basketball HOFers Rick Barry and Bill Russell at the game, with Russell getting the “greatest ovation in a show of British NBA knowledge" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 10/11). In London, Whittell writes, "The fact that basketball already has a strong foothold among certain demographics of British society was illustrated by the young faces in the crowd and the celebrities sitting courtside" (LONDON TIMES, 10/11).
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