PROTECT THE PAINT

Stephen Jackson was fined $25,000 for speaking his mind. His thoughts were later deemed detrimental to his team, hence the fine.

Don Nelson backed up his player, stating he will remain team captain.

In reality Don Nelson is probably out getting drunk while laughing off the entire situation, knowing damn well why a player with as much heart as Jackson would want to leave a team hovering slightly above a rebuilding season.

Trade me to a contender- I don't want a pretender! (Credit: picapp.com)

I find that odd. How about you?

How many times will Stephen Jackson be the victim of the NBA’s administrative branch?

David Stern would deny the fact he has a short list of players under his “bad-boy” microscope, but it seems quite obvious that he does.

Atop this list: anyone involved in the infamous Nov 19, 2004 brawl between the Indiana Pacers and Detroit Pistons fans. Among those players involved: Stephen Jackson.

Go figure, huh?

This is just another failed example of what the NBA considers to be flexing their punitive “authority”. By fining Jackson a relatively minute  (by NBA salary standards) quantity of cash ($25,000), they believe they are making a statement.

What I want to know is: Why even bother?

When the NBA issues their discipline and fine, Jackson ultimately wins.

Media will regurgitate the tale of Jackson’s trade demands. They will re-explain the story causing these fines being levied. His statements demanding to be traded to a contender will now live on to see another day.

Again yet another seed of a potential trade is planted into the minds of everyone reading what the press publishes. The last time I checked, most General Managers are educated, and read newspapers.

Why do they always pick on me? (Credit: picapp.com)

Why not let it slide? Instead of focusing the attention on delegating to grown men on what they can and cannot say via twitter, amongst other various social networking outlets.

Better yet, why not just yield a iron fist, and censor everything and anything a player can say publicly?

Isn’t this America? Is this not the country in which we all possess the freedom of speech?

Is Jackson being honest, and sharing his opinion more detrimental to the team than perhaps, riding a moped?

Players make trade demands in all professional team sports, and in some instances these demands are met. The truth of the matter is he did not criticize or belittle anyone by name. He did not throw anyone under the bus. All he did is expressed a genuine wish to end his career on a wining franchise.

That is the truth being spoken by someone with championship experience. Oh yeah, he was a vital contributor to winning a title with the Spurs in 2003.

It usually ends to the detriment of the team by not granting a player’s trade demands. Discontent players usually make malcontent a part of their agenda rather than concern with the team aspect of the game.

It makes me wonder, in a world where Pat Riley and his staff are taking a self inflicted pay cut, what would happen if a player such as LeBron James were to make such comments?

The league’s future basically hinges upon LeBron’s will, so I ask you: do you believe he would be fined if he spoke the words of Stephen Jackson?

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