Stoudemire and Diaw have to be Suspended

[Amarelooms]

So, do you think we will find out tomorrow morning? The suspense is killing me...

late tomorrow afternoon likely

[pad300]

Rosen's Take:

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/6812256

"Say goodbye, Rob. See you in Game 6.

...


However, roused by Horry's cheap shot, both Boris Diaw and Stoudemire clearly left their bench with angry intent and tread the wrong side of the no-no line.

The next move is Stu Jackson's. If he fails to suspend Diaw and Stoudemire for Game 5, then he'll totally bankrupt the stay-at-home rule.

Is the rule bogus? Maybe yes, and maybe no. But it is the rule. Any bench player who sets foot on the court during a fight is automatically banished for the next game. Until, and if, the rule is changed it must be enforced as is.

So it could very well be (and should be) that Horry, Diaw, and Stoudemire will all be watching Game 5 on TV."

[x_roux_x]

If the Spurs actually benefit from a classless play by Horry which started the whole thing then the Suns should put in their 12th man and telling him to do his best to injure one of the Spurs top 3 players (punch, elbow, whatever)...if you gonna play dirty all is fair

That is a very re ed comment...oh wait ur a mavs fan...Nvm..Im sorry....I try not to pick on the handicapped

[SA210]

Whatever happens between Horry diaw and Amore.

I assure one thing..,,......................................... .........................,,,





mavfan is still gay.

I don't know how in the AHF and I agree on almost EVERYTHING basketball, and disagree on EVERYTHING in politics.

[kps0001]

..Stu Jackson regarding another alterction

Our rule regarding an automatic suspension for players leaving the bench was not intended to apply in a highly unusual situation like this one, where an altercation occurs in an access tunnel or hallway,'' NBA vice president Stu Jackson said. "In this cir stance, our judgment was that the players who left the bench were attempting to break up the fight and did not escalate the altercation.''

http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2002/1028/1452258.html

[dbreiden83080]

You can't claim it is the LETTER of the law and then claim precedents.

Yes he can there are too many examples of this for the league to just pretend like the Suns are special and not do anything to them.

[SpursFanFirst]

"Our rule regarding an automatic suspension for players leaving the bench was not intended to apply in a highly unusual situation like this one, where an altercation occurs in an access tunnel or hallway,'' NBA vice president Stu Jackson said. "In this cir stance, our judgment was that the players who left the bench were attempting to break up the fight and did not escalate the altercation.''

I don't see your point...this wasn't in a hallway or tunnel.

[bobbyjoe]

Ok, but isn't the vicinity clearly defined as the black part of the court at the At&T Center?

Vicinity is a word that (if this indeed is accurate) can be loosely interpreted. It's not hard and fast. This is what lawyer's do to leave themselves out's.

I would question though why Ewing was suspended if this was the case, but that was 10 yrs ago and it's hard to remember specifics.

It'd be smarter for the NBA to word it using "vicinity" instead of "leaving the bench" because then you get into the drivel about how if someone puts their toe one inch onto the court, they are suspended.

[bobbyjoe]

"Our rule regarding an automatic suspension for players leaving the bench was not intended to apply in a highly unusual situation like this one, where an altercation occurs in an access tunnel or hallway,'' NBA vice president Stu Jackson said. "In this cir stance, our judgment was that the players who left the bench were attempting to break up the fight and did not escalate the altercation.''

I don't see your point...this wasn't in a hallway or tunnel.

The point is that there is precedent for the NBA looking past the exact verbage of the law.

According to one school of argument laid out here, the rule is interpreted by the NBA SO literally that even if Mahatma Gandhi was a Phoenix Sun and calmly walked form the bench onto the court to hold back his teammate from Horry, he'd be suspended for literally leaving the court, regardless of what his intentions are.

Stu's comments here prove that there is precedent for dancing around the rule a little bit and considering the context of bench departures. However, this incident could be interpreted either way and probably is not as shutdown a case as the Fox incident. Either way, bottom line? Ridiculous rule.

Regardless of who did what to whom, I think most will agree this rule is poorly conceived. Better ways of the NBA to try to contain brawls.

[Kermit]

i think it's pretty obvious to anyone that the two were running towards the ruckus in an attempt to escalate the situation.

[spurspf]

I guess this whole thing proves that it's better to be an asshole than an idiot.

or a shocker, o wait...

[Trainwreck2100]

The point is that there is precedent for the NBA looking past the exact verbage of the law.

According to one school of argument laid out here, the rule is interpreted by the NBA SO literally that even if Mahatma Gandhi was a Phoenix Sun and calmly walked form the bench onto the court to hold back his teammate from Horry, he'd be suspended for literally leaving the court, regardless of what his intentions are.

Stu's comments here prove that there is precedent for dancing around the rule a little bit and considering the context of bench departures. However, this incident could be interpreted either way and probably is not as shutdown a case as the Fox incident. Either way, bottom line? Ridiculous rule.

Regardless of who did what to whom, I think most will agree this rule is poorly conceived. Better ways of the NBA to try to contain brawls.

the reasoning behind that tunnel ruling was the the Kings didn't know who was fighting, for all they know a fan attacked their player.

[mikekim]

Vicinity is a word that (if this indeed is accurate) can be loosely interpreted. It's not hard and fast. This is what lawyer's do to leave themselves out's.

I would question though why Ewing was suspended if this was the case, but that was 10 yrs ago and it's hard to remember specifics.

It'd be smarter for the NBA to word it using "vicinity" instead of "leaving the bench" because then you get into the drivel about how if someone puts their toe one inch onto the court, they are suspended.

I understand what you're saying but:

c. During an altercation, all players not participating in the game must remain in the
immediate vicinity of their bench. Violators will be suspended, without pay, for a minimum of
one game and fined up to $50,000.
The suspensions will commence prior to the start of their next game.

And I still understand what you're saying even taking the above into account...but it does state "IMMEDIATE vicinity." Vicinity means "the area near or surrounding a particular place." Immediate means "nearEST or next to in space." Now you can take that last "next to" and still say it's somewhat vague, and you would be correct, I think. But the combination of the words put together in succession to say "immediate vicinity," I think, emphasizes that the NBA means "really, really close to or sitting on the bench."

[x_roux_x]

Horry Will Be Gone For 2 Games

1 game most likely

[x_roux_x]

You are a moron...why are some Spurs fans on here such homers lol. Marion was going for the ball and hit his eye/face... happens. Horry made no play on the ball what so ever and clearly was trying to injure. Game was over and really no need to foul in the first place.

It was a foul that needed to be made..just not in that manner...18 or so seconds left down by what.....4 or something....a foul needed to be made.,...he made it...it was just an ugly one...and I dont believe he was trying to really injure anyone...and it if he was...im not making excuses but thats sports for ya...dont like it then watch American Idol...We know Dirk is...

[Spurs rock]

If they do get suspended, Spurs better in' win!

[x_roux_x]

Hey I saw Nash out of bounds with 18 seconds left in the game...I want the ball back!!!!

[x_roux_x]

Cheap shot flopping pussys....taste ur own medicine... but it was uncalled for....

[johngateswhiteley]

i agree the Spurs fans are acting ridiculous...but what else is new. i for one am happy with where the Spurs are, 2 wins away from the conference finals, just gotta win once on the road...so what, no need to panic. game 5 should be fun and i expect the Spurs to win that one and then game 6 at home.

...the loss tonight was shocking, but if you believe the Spurs are the better team, there is no reason to think they can't win 2 of the next 3. some of you Spurs fans need to quite acting like a bunch of es and grow up. there is no reason the Suns should have anybody suspended for the next game; quit acting scared.

[Nash2STAT]

Cheap Shot Rob hip checks Steve Nash into the scorers table, then throws an elbow to the face of Raja Bell. Yet, some Spurs fans think Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw should be suspended for taking a couple of steps on the floor and did not touch a single Spurs player nor get anywhere near the "altercation". If you are someone who thinks this is what the ruling should be, and you claim to be a fan of basketball, I call you a liar.

I understand that both teams and their fans want to win this series and a championship, but if one has to degrade themselves to hoping for an injury to another teams player or for someone to be suspended on a technicality, they themselves have no dignity and no validity in my opinion.

I think the only player who should be suspended is Cheap Shot Bob, not because of his foul on Nash but because of the blatant, unprovocted, elbow he threw at Raja Bell. That was completely uncalled for, he just escalated his own brand of dirty basketball and should be held accountable.

[Trainwreck2100]

Cheap Shot Rob hip checks Steve Nash into the scorers table, then throws an elbow to the face of Raja Bell. Yet, some Spurs fans think Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw should be suspended for taking a couple of steps on the floor and did not touch a single Spurs player nor get anywhere near the "altercation". If you are someone who thinks this is what the ruling should be, and you claim to be a fan of basketball, I call you a liar.

I understand that both teams and their fans want to win this series and a championship, but if one has to degrade themselves to hoping for an injury to another teams player or for someone to be suspended on a technicality, they themselves have no dignity and no validity in my opinion.

I think the only player who should be suspended is Cheap Shot Bob, not because of his foul on Nash but because of the blatant, unprovocted, elbow he threw at Raja Bell. That was completely uncalled for, he just escalated his own brand of dirty basketball and should be held accountable.

Ewing got suspended for a toe over the line

[Kevin Blackistone]

Cheap Shot Rob hip checks Steve Nash into the scorers table, then throws an elbow to the face of Raja Bell. Yet, some Spurs fans think Amare Stoudemire and Boris Diaw should be suspended for taking a couple of steps on the floor and did not touch a single Spurs player nor get anywhere near the "altercation". If you are someone who thinks this is what the ruling should be, and you claim to be a fan of basketball, I call you a liar.

I understand that both teams and their fans want to win this series and a championship, but if one has to degrade themselves to hoping for an injury to another teams player or for someone to be suspended on a technicality, they themselves have no dignity and no validity in my opinion.

I think the only player who should be suspended is Cheap Shot Bob, not because of his foul on Nash but because of the blatant, unprovocted, elbow he threw at Raja Bell. That was completely uncalled for, he just escalated his own brand of dirty basketball and should be held accountable.

Talk to the NBA league office. They made the rule, not any fans. It doesn't matter what anyone here thinks, all that matters is that the NBA made the rule and have enforced it for much less than what Amare and Diaw did tonight. Take up your "I'll call you a LIAR!!!" bull with them.

[Obstructed_View]

Ewing got suspended for a toe over the line

They changed the wording of the rules after that event specifically to allow for judgment calls by the league.

[Nash2STAT]

Kobe Bryant was suspended for "accidentally" elbowing Manu Ginobili in the face yet Bruce Bowen wasn't for "accidentally" kneeing Steve Nash in the groin. What's your point?

[Obstructed_View]

"unprovocted"?