Reply With Quote
While we're on the subject of current Spurs as fine upstanding citizens...
sourceThe league on Wednesday slapped Nick Van Exel with a seven-game suspension and an NBA-record $25,000 fine for the incident during the Nuggets' 98-91 victory Tuesday. Van Exel shoved referee Ron Garretson onto the scorer's table following Van Exel's second technical foul. The ejection carries an additional, automatic fine of $1,000. Van Exel was arguing a call with Garretson during a timeout and received a technical foul with 3:23 left in the game. Van Exel argued briefly near the scorer's table and was slapped with a second technical, calling for an automatic ejection. Van Exel began to walk away from Garretson, but then suddenly turned back and pushed the referee onto the scorer's table. Johnson stepped between the two and held Garretson while Van Exel was restrained by a team official.
sourceFirstar Bank has sued Denver Nuggets guard Nick Van Exel, saying he fraudulently claimed he couldn't afford to pay his $19,000 credit-card balance.
The former University of Cincinnati standout, who signed a $50 million contract with the Nuggets last year, refused to comment. He referred questions to his lawyer, Scott Boatman, who said Friday that the issue is “largely a misunderstanding.”
“We are close to working this out and I anticipate it being done by next week,” Mr. Boatman said.
The suit, filed Friday in Hamilton County Common Pleas Court, alleges that a representative claimed Mr. Van Exel “lacked the financial ability to make full payment” on the $19,000 balance on his platinum Visa card.
A Firstar employee, unaware that Mr. Van Exel was a professional athlete, accepted a $12,000 check in settlement of the account.
The check was received Aug. 23, 20 days after Mr. Van Exel signed his Nuggets contract guaranteeing $50.5 million over five years.
The bank contends Mr. Van Exel's representative was obliged to inform it of Mr. Van Exel's position.
However, Mr. Boatman said that at the time of the settlement, Mr. Van Exel was still unsigned and had no way of knowing he would sign with any professional basketball team.
sourceThree other former Bearcats - Nick Van Exel, Damon Flint and Ruben Patterson - have also been accused of violence. Flint's case was dismissed, Patterson was not indicted by a grand jury, and Van Exel never faced charges, but his ex-girlfriend told Sports Illustrated that he grabbed her by the throat and threw her down when he was at Trinity Valley (Texas) Community College.
