Michael Ray Richardson was kicked out of the NBA for violating the substance abuse policy. He was a great player who had a great number of demons. A life dominated by addiction is always a tragedy but at some point everyone must face the consequences of their actions. Michael Ray Richardson did face those consequences. He lost a life that many can only dream of. Now he is back on the radar; this time, as shocking as it seems, as a coach. Not surprisingly, he’s in trouble again. Reading the headlines it would appear that he went John Rocker, tossing out a gay slur and providing some anti-Semitic commentary. In today’s world you don’t get away with saying things like that. Despite our pride in free speech there is nothing free about the speech of hate. Formal punishment of speech, even if it is hate, always rubs me the wrong way but I understand why leagues are so strict and sensitive on the topic. They are protecting a product that they are trying to make as inclusive as possible. I’m fine with a suspension for uttering a gay slur at a heckler. That kind of thing is unacceptable and should be addressed accordingly.
Tag: NBA
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All Star Game? What All Star Game?
In theory, the All Star game in any sport is designed to showcase the best of each league and at the same time, entertain the fans with the skills of each professional athlete. Really? If that is so, please let me know when that happens.
By Trevor Freeman
So I finish up my weekly podcasts yesterday and I’m settling in to watch a little Wright State versus Butler. Because there was a berth into the NCAA Tournament at stake, I decided to honor the moment with a Yuengling. The conversation in my head where I convinced myself that this game was worth drinking for is a different story for a better time. I boot up my e-mail and in it I find this gem from my friend LeAndre…..
I never thought I’d find myself writing these words. I thought they’d go the distance. I thought they were stronger than this… stronger than Andre and Steffi, stronger then Mia and Nomar. And yet, this President’s Day weekend, the earth-shattering news broke: Alex Rodriguez and Derek Jeter are no longer best friends forever. You read that correctly, folks – A-Rod and Jeter are BFFs no more. How will we go on? How will we cope? Can the Yankees even bring themselves to compete in light of the biggest of big chills?
Right.
Gilbert Arenas sounded off against Coach Eddie Jordan following Sunday’s loss to the Portland Trail Blazers.
What a year it has been for Gilbert Arenas. Sure, prior to this season he was a well-known player, an All-Star, and a must-start for any fantasy basketball team. This season; well, let’s just say Gilbert’s stock went up like Apple’s in the 80’s. Arenas shot into superstardom – becoming a household name, appearing in Adidas commercials alongside KG, T-Mac, and Duncan, dropping 60 points in Kobe’s face, and scorching the Suns and Steve Nash for 54 more (ending Phoenix’s 15-game winning streak).
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30 Reasons to Watch the NBA in 2007
The Best Storylines Going into the All-Star Break
Now that the NFL season has come to a close, I can really focus on some basketball. And since I had so much success with this article NFL style, I figured, why not give a NBA version a try. Well, from what the little bit I’ve watched, the 2006-07 NBA season is already shaping up to be a doozy. The usual powerhouses are dominating and the usual losers are, you guessed it, still stinking it up every other night. But beyond that, some things have been flying under the radar. But that’s what you have me for, so here we go…
by Trevor Freeman
It is a league that is desperate to get back the prestige it had in the 1980s and early 1990s. Not only has it fallen behind its “super” cousin but it must be “maddening” to watch its younger brother be the version more preferred. In a series of articles last year, we dissected the NBA Draft and wondered aloud why NBA General Managers consistently avoided the common sense approach of drafting the best collegiate players available. That a basketball version of Billy Beane could walk into the league right now and be the new Red Auerbach. Today, we take a look at the words of some of the journalists covering the game and more importantly their bias against last season’s college superstar, Adam Morrison, and their tendency to push the first overall pick, Andrea Bargnani.
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Good to be Green… for now
By Rob LaBrie
Five games ago, they were the worst team in the worst division in sports, a broken franchise with no hope of being fixed. Their young players were absolutely terrible, their coach had absolutely no idea, their GM was an absolute failure, and their only star was playing with absolutely no help.
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David Stern’s word dilemma
Apparently, I’m the only one who notices the hypocrisy that has enveloped David Stern in his old age.
Now, I admit that I haven’t watched more than two quarters of any NBA regular season game since the lockout and I admit that before Hurricane Katrina, I thought the Hornets were still in Charlotte, so I’m probably missing something, but how does Stern get off forcing his employees to wear suits to the games but refer to them as players when they complain about the game ball? I think that’s hypocrisy.
By David J. Cohen
Coming into the NBA season several teams have received a lot of publicity. Out west the Suns are everyone’s favorites if F Amare Stoudemire is healthy. The Spurs and Mavericks are the other top contenders out west. And the biggest surprise last year, the Los Angeles Clippers, return stronger and with more experience.
In the Eastern Conference analysts and commentators would make you believe only two teams exist. The Miami Heat will try to defend the title with an aging core mixed with the possible arrival of several young players. The Chicago Bulls add C Ben Wallace to the best defense in the league and hope it is enough to win a championship. Everyone else in the east is pretty much invisible. However, like the Clippers last season, there is a team ready to make a huge step forward on their road to a possible title in the future. It started after the all-star break last year and will continue this year. It’s the NBA’s biggest sleeper team: The Orlando Magic.