Stern fines Cuban $100,000 and Kerr 10,000 for LeBron comments

[djohn2oo8]

Damn, I guess you can't discuss anything in the NBA. It would be interesting to see Stern try to fine the Russian dude



The NBA fined Dallas Mavericks (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=dal) owner Mark Cuban $100,000 Saturday for his recent comments about Cleveland Cavaliers (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=cle) superstar LeBron James (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=1966)

News, notes and analysis of the Mavericks from ESPNDallas.com's Jeff Caplan, Tim MacMahon and the rest of our team. Blog (http://espn.go.com/dallas/columns/mavericks/blog).



Cuban confirmed the fine through his Twitter account shortly before the league announced its punishment for Cuban's remarks which violated the league's anti-tampering rules.


"For those of you who care about these things, NBA just fined me 100k for comments regarding another teams' players," Cuban wrote.

NBA rules prohibit team officials from commenting on potential free agents until the market opens on July 1. Earlier this week in a CNNMoney.com interview, Cuban was asked he if is interested in signing James. Cuban said he is hopeful that James will try to force a sign-and-trade, which would give the Mavericks an opportunity to acquire him.


"Come July 1st, yeah, of course, anybody would be interested in LeBron James," Cuban said in the interview. "And if he leaves via free agency, then it's going to be tough. If he does like I'm guessing, hoping he will, which is say, 'I'm not going to leave the Cavs high and dry,' if he decides to leave -- there's still a better chance he stays -- then he'll try to force a sign-and-trade and that gives us a chance."


The league more or less slapped Cuban on the wrist considering he and the club faced a maximum fine of $5 million and the possibility of not being able to pursue James in the case he does become a free agent. The league sent a memo to all 30 teams in 2008 directing team officials to decline comment about potential free agents when asked by the media.

The league also fined Phoenix Suns (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/clubhouse?team=pho) president of basketball operations Steve Kerr (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=425) $10,000 for comments he made regarding James on a radio show on May 14. Kerr joked that he would like to sign James for the mid-level exception, "About five-and-half million, I think he'll take it. Don't you think?" Kerr said.


Kerr was then asked where he thought James would end up next season. Kerr said, "I have no idea. I want him to stay in Cleveland. I think that's good for sports when you've got players you connect to over a long period of time, so I hope he stays."

A Suns spokesperson said the team would have no further comment on the matter.


http://sports.espn.go.com/dallas/nba/news/story?id=5210828

[j.dizzle]

100,000 to a billionaire is lunch, no big deal.

[Udokafan05]

Kerr said that on the Dan Patrick Show, the greatest radio show, and he said it while laughing. Funny how ESPN wont say it was on his show.

[BRHornet45]

sons the NBA is the biggest joke in all of pro sports. the sad thing is that the NBA truly needs that $100,000 and $10,000. they are in so much debt its not even funny. hopefully this scripted, sports entertainment crap will eventually fold.

[lil_penny]

one question where the hell does the money from fines go??? charity? nba advertisements? sterns pockets???

[BRHornet45]

one question where the hell does the money from fines go???


sterns pockets

[pauls931]

10,000 a joke seems a bit pricey these days.

[badfish22]

Cuban fine history

1. Nov. 14, 2000 Fined $5,000 for criticizing the officiating after a win over the Clippers.
2. Nov. 20, 2000 Fined $15,000 after a near-court confrontation with a ref during a game with the Jazz.
3. Nov. 22, 2000 Fined $25,000 for criticizing officials over a goaltending non-call after a loss to the Sonics.
4. Jan. 4, 2001 Fined $250,000 for criticizing referees after a loss to the Pistons. (Cuban send freeze-frame photos of a missed offensive goaltending call to the media).
5. Jan. 11, 2001 Fined $100,000 for sitting on the floor near the baseline during a game against the T’wolves.
6. Feb. 16, 2001 Fined $10,000 and suspended from two games after running onto the court to attempt to break up a fight with the Cavs. (The Cavs were upset because Cuban’s team was trying to score 100 points to give free Chalupas to the fans in attendance.)
7. April 13, 2001 Fined $100,000 and suspended him for one game for allegedly making a derogatory gesture during a 111-106 loss to the Suns.
8. Jan. 8, 2002 Fined $500,000 for remarks about officiating after a loss to the Spurs. Included in the remarks: “I wouldn’t hire (NBA's director of officials Ed Rush’’ to manage a Dairy Queen.’’
9. Dec. 6, 2003 Reportedly fined $100,000 for comments made about officiating after a game against the Grizzlies.
10. March 16, 2004 Fined $10,000 for "inappropriate public comments" after seeming to have encouraged Josh Howard to retaliated against the Spurs’ Bruce Bowen.
11 Oct. 9, 2004 Fined $100,000 for criticizing the rules that limit the times of training camp practices.
12. May 10, 2006 Fined $200,000 for going onto the court to complain during a playoff loss to the Spur and then blogging about officiating.
13. June 20, 2006 Fined $250,000 for "acts of misconduct" after an overtime loss to the Heat in the NBA Finals. Among the offenses: Screaming at/toward NBA commissioner David Stern.
14. Jan. 16, 2009 Fined $25,000 for interacting with the Nuggets’ J.R. Smith and accusing him of throwing elbows.
15. March 29, 2009 Fined $25,000 for criticizing the referees on Twitter after a loss to the Nuggets.
16. May 22, 2010 Fined $100,000 for comments uttered in a CNNMoney TV interview in which he answers in the affirmative when asked if the Mavs would be interested in acquiring LeBron James. (Worth noting: Phoenix Suns president of basketball operations Steve Kerr has also been fined this weekend, $25,000, for his similar public comments.)

[Venti Quattro]

100k is loose change for these owners. Non-issue

[duncan228]

one question where the hell does the money from fines go??? charity? nba advertisements? sterns pockets???

This is old, I'm not sure if it's still handled the same way.


The NBA and National Basketball Players Association (NBPA), per the league's collective bargaining agreement, equally split fines paid by players, then donate the respective shares to the charities of their choice.


Fines levied by the NBA against teams, owners and game officials are not shared with the NBPA. According to Sylvan, that money can go directly into the league coffers, since the direction of such fines are not stipulated in the league's constitution or collective bargaining agreement.

http://assets.espn.go.com/nba/s/2001/0406/1168454.html

[LakerHater]

http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp93/thankyoudonnie/SternFine.jpg

[Jacob1983]

Stern might want to be nice to that Russian guy. There's no telling what kind of connections that guy has.