The NBA fined the Timberwolves $25,000 Friday and fined
five of their players another $2,500 each for wearing their
shorts too long, according to Steve Aschburner of the
Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE. League rules say that shorts must
be no lower than one inch above the top of the knee and the
league had a representative check the team's shorts before
Thursday night's game. But Coach Flip Saunders said that
Starter, which provides the Wolves' uniforms for the first
time this season, "should be responsible" for the low
shorts. A Starter rep had met with the team for "another
fitting" of shorts. Saunders: "We've had Starter in, the
league in. It's not like we're trying to be defiant." But
an NBA spokesperson said, "Every other team has managed to
find a way to comply with this rule, including teams
outfitted by Starter" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/15).
But team rep Doug West said an NBA official had cleared
players for Thursday's game and that the union would file a
grievance over the fines (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/17).
GET SHORTY: Saunders brought a tape measure with him on
the floor for Saturday night's game and Wolves VP Kevin
McHale called the fines "ridiculous." McHale: "I'm sure one
of our white, upper-middle class people decided it was a
gang thing. Because they're pretty hip with the gang
scene" (Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 11/16).
