It was just announced on my local coverage. I'll post a link as soon as it's out.
Thanks Mel_13.
LeBron’s postgame media snub costs him $25,000
Brian Mahoney
LeBron James knows he was wrong to snub the Magic and the media, and David Stern decided the NBA was wrong when it didn’t punish the MVP for it.
So the commissioner changed his mind and fined James $25,000 for skipping the postgame news conference after Cleveland lost to Orlando in the Eastern Conference finals.
Stern said Thursday night that he spoke with the Cavaliers star on Wednesday, a day after James had surgery to remove a benign growth near his jaw, and that James admitted he was wrong to not congratulate Orlando’s players and coaches after the loss.
“He asked that I express to the media, the Magic and the fans his apology, and particularly the young fans, because he knows he has a responsibility to all of our fans, and that sportsmanship is appropriate whether you win or whether you lose,” Stern said near the start of his annual NBA finals press conference.
“He understands why it was necessary for me to fine him $25,000 for missing the media availability.”
The league first said James wouldn’t be penalized, citing his usual cooperation with the press. Stern said he reconsidered after thinking about it more.
“Certainly as it related to the media, we have a rule, you guys know that we’ve had some interesting issues over the years with some of our coaches and the like, and it was inappropriate for me to give someone a pass here,” Stern said.
Last edited by duncan228; 06-04-2009 at 09:43 PM.
Lebron: " that's it ???? I may have a coin in my pocket "
that is bull
it should have been a postseason game
or atleast a regular season game
Stern said Thursday night that he spoke with the Cavaliers star on Wednesday and that James admitted he was wrong to not congratulate Orlando’s players and coaches after the loss.
only after the media made sure they pointed it out
and he thought he better save face
lets take about james now instead of the two teams that made it to the finals in the finals
lame to make the announce day of finals game
wtf??? is this serious? how the can the league fine a player for not "congratulating" the other team?
The fine is for skipping the post game news conference.
LeBron said he was wrong for not congratulating the Magic, but that's not what the fine is for.
Having to talk to the media because of some mandatory rule is lame anyway.
It was never about not congratulating the Magic. It was always about skipping the presser. LeBron walked off the court in Boston last year without congratulating the Celtics and no one heard anything about it.
i think lebron uses 20's for toilet paper no big deal. its just more symbolic for stern because of the outrage
so he got scared of the backlash?
NBA is a joke.
Stern you bas , you have no idea how much that fine will hurt LeBron.
:-/
a bit harsh even for skipping a press conference. unless he signed a contract saying he would attend it in advance.
I like how Stern had to call Lebron and ask if it was ok to fine him.
And mandatory press conferences are stupid but players have been fined in the past for skipping it. Where did this debate whether to fine Lebron or not come from? Meanwhile Amare was suspended for a game 6in the WCF no questions asked because his foot crossed a dumb little line. Basically gifting the Spurs a series that they should have lost.
Isn't the fine coming a little late? Game 6 was last Saturday and he got the fine almost a week later. That's weak if you ask me. Then again, that's how the NBA is. A player can wait 1, 2, 3 days to find out if he's suspended or fined. Or if a call in a game is changed. I really have a problem with that. If a guy doesn't get a technical foul or flagrant foul in the game, then he shouldn't get one the following day when the game has already been played. Also, a flagrant 1 should not be upgraded to a flagrant 2 after the game has already been played.
David Stern and NBA take sweet time fining LeBron James for media snub
BY Mitch Lawrence
Daily News
How thoughtful of David Stern to finally get around to fining LeBron James, a full five days after he blew off the media in Orlando following the Cavs’ final game of the season.
Here’s how we’re scoring it - and unlike the NBA’s officiating department, it didn’t take us until the next day to get the call right: Turnover, Mr. Commissioner.
Stern’s decision to wait almost a week to fine LeBron the standard $25,000 for his Flagrant II boycott of the interview room makes the league look bad.
"It was inapproprate of me to give someone a pass here,'' Stern said last night before the Finals opener in L.A.
My two cents: If LeBron didn’t want to shake hands with Dwight Howard and other Magic players, well, that doesn’t make him an ax murderer. Not everybody shakes hands and not doing it has nothing to do with poor sportsmanship. We’re not talking about a CYO basketball championship involving sixth-graders, after all.
In fact, I’d much rather see LeBron walk off, angry about his lousy fourth quarter in Game 6, and steaming over his team’s failure to force a Game 7, than have him try to act like he’s happy to see Howard move onto the Finals. He can accept losing to Tim Duncan or Kobe Bryant, but bowing to a relative playoff neophyte like Howard is clearly beneath him.
But shame on the King for not going to the interview room. He has a responsibility to take questions, and not just because he’s the recently-crowned MVP. Win or lose, it’s part of his job. And that means right after the game, by the way, not the next day up in Cleveland.
But Stern also cited LeBron's lack of sportsmanship.
"He knows that sportsmanship is appropriate whether you win or lose,'' Stern said.
This was one of LeBron’s very few mistakes as a pro. Otherwise, his record is virtually spotless when it has come to comporting himself in a professional manner. He's always been more than accommodating with the media. He came into the league at 18, going on 30.
Maybe one day he’ll figure out he can’t win ‘em all. Come to think of it, despite calling himself a winner, he still hasn’t been seen holding the Larry O’Brien Trophy. But let’s not dwell on such trivial details.
The commish’s job was to send a message to James right away, reminding him that he’s not bigger than the sport.
At last check, no one is.
LeBron,
With that at ude, you will never win a Championship!
lol @ Stern taking six years to finally fine him.
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