Tim comments on Joey Crawford...

[Summers]

Taunting is an offense worthy of a technical foul. Tim Duncan was laughing at Jerry Stackhouse when he missed the freethrow. He should have been gone right then. He continued to laugh and clap anytime a foul was called against the Spurs or the Mavs missed a shot.

Tim Duncan completely embarassed himself and the Spurs today. He acted like a 9 year old on the bench.

Now, I'm obviously a Mavs fan, and I'm not bragging about the win (I will if you tempt me, don't worry!), so I don't see a lot of Spurs games. So, maybe you're all just used to Duncan acting this way, but as an outsider, let me tell you that it's not normal behavior. I guess you're all desensitized from him acting like a child all during his career. If not, you should all be complaining about the way he acted.

You all get on Cuban anytime he does stupid stuff. Duncan was acting like Mark Cuban today.

Tomorrow, when all the talking heads discuss this and express their disbelief over this ejection and nobody shares your sentiment that Duncan embarrassed himself, will you go away and take your idiot friends with you?

[T Park]

did angel flip off the camera or what

[ManuTim_best of Fwiendz]

the way this story unfolded

Makes me forget we even lost today! (not that i cared anyway)

[angel_luv]

did angel flip off the camera or what

I don't even think my fingers can go that way- have never tried.
And I had nothing to do with it.

[ploto]

Joey Crawford will not be banned from reffing Spurs games. It just is not going to happen. People act like this is something new for Crawford. EVERY player knows that you can be T'ed up easily by him. Doesn't make it right, but Tim is over the line saying he has a personal vendetta against him.

[THE SIXTH MAN]

but Tim is over the line saying he has a personal vendetta against him.

And your a dumb sack of for thinking that refs don't have bigger egos than the players.

[td4mvp21]

Joey Crawford will not be banned from reffing Spurs games. It just is not going to happen. People act like this is something new for Crawford. EVERY player knows that you can be T'ed up easily by him. Doesn't make it right, but Tim is over the line saying he has a personal vendetta against him.

Once again, you think Rasho is good. Therefore, your logic is automatically registered as bull .

[angel_luv]

Joey Crawford will not be banned from reffing Spurs games. It just is not going to happen.

Of course you are right; just wishful thinking.

Doesn't make it right, but Tim is over the line saying he has a personal vendetta against him.

I don't know what word Timmy could have used to be more accurate.

While I agree with you that Joey wasn't up premeditating the call, he definitely had a non basketball, ego prompted agenda when making that second call.


Have you seen the replay yet? It was ridiculous.

[Kobulingam]

The scoreline of the game looked decent only because of the last second plays (had to force a three, then Mavs got 2 freethrows at the end).

If it wasn't for Duncan ejection and that bad stretch when Spurs just went retarted (2nd period), Spurs would have handed Mavs their ass.

Mavs aren't looking like they're midseason selves. Golden State could drop a load of on Avery. Let's watch the drama unfold

[chevcmr68]

imagine TD 21 vs. baldy crawford at the alamodome...according to crawford he has asked tim to fight... haha stupid crawford i call for a resignation...

[T Park]

uh oh, the rasho fans disagree with each other.

I think this is armagaeddon

[td4mvp21]

uh oh, the rasho fans disagree with each other.

I think this is armagaeddon

[FromWayDowntown]

I don't necessarily disagree that Duncan acted boorishly. I don't think that that sort of boorish behavior is the sort of thing, however, that warrants two technical fouls within one minute -- on separate trips up the floor -- and an ejection.

With more time to reflect on it, the thing that bothers me is that I don't see how Joey Crawford could have conceivably determined that Tim's laughter was necessarily based on his call. Crawford would have had to necessarily be looking at Duncan (I think) to figure out that the laughter was based on the call -- and clearly it was -- and not on something that might have been said on the bench. That would further suggest to me that Crawford was looking for an opportunity to run Duncan, which seems highly inappropriate to me.

Thus, even if Duncan acted inappropriately, I'm not sure how one can escape the conclusion that Crawford did as well.

Given Duncan's post-game comments, and particularly his accusations about what Crawford may have said to him, I'll be somewhat su ious if the league doesn't investigate the situation and interview all who were involved. If it turns out that other Spurs (or Mavs) heard Crawford utter fighting words towards Duncan, his already questionable conduct will be aggravated. If, on the other hand, Duncan somehow imagined that exchange -- I don't think he did -- then his conduct should be punished as well.

Duncan is going to take a huge fine. He criticized an official, he didn't leave the floor in a timely fashion, and he uttered an expletive on his way out. He deserves whatever fine the league imposes. I don't think, however, that he deserves any sort of suspension. I have some sinking feeling that the Commish, in the era of trying to protect the league's image, will impose a suspension and that it might run into the playoffs, just to make a point. If that happens, what was already a bull situation will have become a complete travesty.

[Kori Ellis]

Duncan is going to take a huge fine. He criticized an official, he didn't leave the floor in a timely fashion, and he uttered an expletive on his way out. He deserves whatever fine the league imposes. I don't think, however, that he deserves any sort of suspension. I have some sinking feeling that the Commish, in the era of trying to protect the league's image, will impose a suspension and that it might run into the playoffs, just to make a point. If that happens, what was already a bull situation will have become a complete travesty.

I don't think he'll get suspended into the playoffs. But I do think he'll get a huge fine. Not only for these reasons "He criticized an official, he didn't leave the floor in a timely fashion, and he uttered an expletive on his way out" but mainly because saying the "vendetta" part is something that will really piss Stern off. He hates when the integrity of the league is questioned.

But I definitely think they need to gather as much sound/interviews as they can and see if Crawford actually was asking Duncan if he wanted to fight. If they find that on tape, something is going to happen to Crawford. That behavior can't/won't be tolerated.

[angel_luv]

uh oh, the rasho fans disagree with each other.

I think this is armagaeddon

Because people could never have varying views and benefit from discussing them with each other.

[Capt Bringdown]

Mission accomplished by Cuban. Not only do the Mavs get benefit of every call, but now he's got our best player distracted and bent out of shape.
Tim was wronged, but he needs to get over this obsession pronto.

[1Parker1]

I'm surprised ESPN isn't showing coverage of the game and post game quotes.

[MrMichiganGuy]

lol, I cant imagine what Sheed' would have done/said if Crawford said that to him.

[td4mvp21]

Stern shouldn't get pissed when people question the integrity of the referees if there is material that could be questioned. He should deal with that referee so there will be no question. Today was very questionable. Based on what other thing's I've read on Crawford (his temper, etc), that only worsens his side of the story.

[CubanMustGo]

I'm surprised ESPN isn't showing coverage of the game and post game quotes.

Yeah, I find it interesting how bland the coverage on both CNNSI and ESPN.com is. You would think there would be plenty of video/audio to review to prove/disprove what both are saying. Makes you wonder if the L has asked for an embargo while they review it themselves.

[1Parker1]

I don't necessarily disagree that Duncan acted boorishly. I don't, however, think that that sort of boorish behavior is the sort of thing, however, that warrants two technical fouls within one minute -- on separate trips up the floor -- and an ejection.

With more time to reflect on it, the thing that bothers me is that I don't see how Joey Crawford could have conceivably determined that Tim's laughter was necessarily based on his call. Crawford would have had to necessarily be looking at Duncan (I think) to figure out that the laughter was based on the call -- and clearly it was -- and not on something that might have been said on the bench. That would further suggest to me that Crawford was looking for an opportunity to run Duncan, which seems highly inappropriate to me.

Thus, even if Duncan acted inappropriately, I'm not sure how one can escape the conclusion that Crawford did as well.

Given Duncan's post-game comments, and particularly his accusations about what Crawford may have said to him, I'll be somewhat su ious if the league doesn't investigate the situation and interview all who were involved. If it turns out that other Spurs (or Mavs) heard Crawford utter fighting words towards Duncan, his already questionable conduct will be aggravated. If, on the other hand, Duncan somehow imagined that exchange -- I don't think he did -- then his conduct should be punished as well.

Duncan is going to take a huge fine. He criticized an official, he didn't leave the floor in a timely fashion, and he uttered an expletive on his way out. He deserves whatever fine the league imposes. I don't think, however, that he deserves any sort of suspension. I have some sinking feeling that the Commish, in the era of trying to protect the league's image, will impose a suspension and that it might run into the playoffs, just to make a point. If that happens, what was already a bull situation will have become a complete travesty.

Completely agree. Duncan was acting somewhat childish, but it didn't warrant a double tech like that.

As for a suspension, I highly doubt that would happen...at least not one that would go into the playoffs. If the league suspended players ejected for "critizinging an official, not leaving in a timely fashion, and uttering expletives on his way out" guys like Rasheed Wallace would have a lot more suspensions to their name

[Summers]

lol, I cant imagine what Sheed' would have done/said if Crawford said that to him.

Worse than, "Hey, you, you piece of "?

[FromWayDowntown]

I certainly don't think that precedent supports any suspension. And like I say, I think a suspension would be unwarranted in this cir stance. But, in a year in which the league committed itself to insulating officials from criticism on or off the floor, this might be just the sort of thing that could cross the line. And I could see Stern imposing an "into the playoffs" suspension to make a point. I think it would be bull for him to do so, but I could see it happening.

Stern might argue that this is close the the Van Gundy situation from the playoffs a couple of years ago -- IIRC, that got JVG a $100,000 fine and Stern threatened a very, very long suspension. I don't think the situations are particularly close. Players who criticize officials should be fined, but players who've suggested the same sort of thing that Duncan said today have only ever faced fines. Thus, a suspension of any length would basically be unprecedented.

I don't think he'll be suspended, but at the same time, it wouldn't surprise me if that thought proved wrong.

[Summers]

But I definitely think they need to gather as much sound/interviews as they can and see if Crawford actually was asking Duncan if he wanted to fight. If they find that on tape, something is going to happen to Crawford. That behavior can't/won't be tolerated.

I'm really curious about that... Surely it's all caught on audio somewhere. I'd love to be able to hear exactly how it played out.

My husband had an interesting take. I think he's probably wrong, but it was worth thinking about. He said what if Crawford meant something like, "do you want a fight to break out?", as in behave or things are going to get out of hand.

[missmyzte]

Yeah, I find it interesting how bland the coverage on both CNNSI and ESPN.com is. You would think there would be plenty of video/audio to review to prove/disprove what both are saying. Makes you wonder if the L has asked for an embargo while they review it themselves.

I agree, where is all the coverage on this??