Whatever happened with...

[Spurs Biggest Fan]

that whole Jeff Van Gundy fiasco??? Remember -- when he said that an "official" had called him about watching Yao set illegal screens or something... and Stern said either give up the name or say it was all made up.

Since Jeff is obviously still coaching, I'm assuming he said it was all a lie... but I don't remember what actually happened with that ... anyone have a link or know what actually happened?

(yes it's still Sept and topics are scarce)

[ZStomp]

He got fine $100,000 for that fiasco. That's what happened. The most ever...

[Summers]

He finally admitted that when he first told a reporter an "official" had told him that, everyone assumed he meant a referee, and he let them assume that and didn't correct anyone. But he never would tell the commissioner who had told him that and that's why he got fined, and van Gundy says he stands by his statement/accusation.

[romsey31]

He finally admitted that when he first told a reporter an "official" had told him that, everyone assumed he meant a referee, and he let them assume that and didn't correct anyone. But he never would tell the commissioner who had told him that and that's why he got fined, and van Gundy says he stands by his statement/accusation.

I think it was true and (Pis)Stern was afraid his dirty laundry would get out.

[ducks]

he got a slap on the wrist

[Summers]

NBA referees want Van Gundy fired
Staff and wire reports
After Houston coach Jeff Van Gundy backed off comments that a referee told him Rockets center Yao Ming was targeted by officials in the playoffs, then apologized publicly for the comments, the NBA said Monday the matter was closed.
Jeff Van Gundy says he was referring to an official, not referees, in his comments about Yao Ming.
By Tim Sharp, AP

However, the National Basketball Referees Association, which represents NBA officials, wants Van Gundy fired. "Van Gundy flat out lied to the public," the NBRA said in a statement. "And in the process, he called into question the reputations of all NBA game officials and the integrity of the game itself. ... The matter will truly be closed only when Van Gundy is fired."

Commissioner David Stern said: "The Affair Van Gundy is closed. Praise the Lord."

"(Van Gundy) has confirmed directly to an NBA representative that, during the Houston/Dallas playoff series, he did not have any communication with a referee (working or non-working)," NBA deputy commissioner Russ Granik said in a statement. "In fact, his only conversations with league employees during the series were with league personnel in the normal course.

"In light of these cir stances, we now consider the matter to be closed."

Van Gundy also issued a statement, saying: "I stand by my original comments (May 1) and was quoted accurately. When I referred to an NBA official, people inferred that I was talking about a working NBA referee, instead of an official with the league."

"I was purposely vague because I had given my word that I would keep his name out of it," he added.

The league fined Van Gundy $100,000 — the largest assessed against a coach — after saying that an official who was not working the playoffs told him that Yao was being targeted following complaints by Mark Cuban, the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, Houston's first-round opponent.

Van Gundy subsequently apologized publicly for the comments.

Van Gundy started the saga by telling three reporters at the team hotel in Dallas that a referee not working the playoffs called him after the Rockets went up 2-0 and warned that Yao was mentioned in an online evaluation from supervisor of officials Ronnie Nunn.

Van Gundy also told the reporters that referees "were looking at Yao harder because of Mark's complaints" to the league office, referring to Cuban.

Stern said an investigation into Van Gundy's remarks would continue once the Rockets were out of the playoffs. Houston was eliminated by the Mavericks in Game 7 of their first-round series on Saturday night.

Stern threatened more punishment — perhaps even banishment — if Van Gundy did not cooperate and reveal the name of the referee who was the coach's source.

"I did not want the issue to continue, so rather than clarifying my original comments, I chose to let the matter die since I was wrong to bring the official into it to start with," Van Gundy said. "I have been honest during this process, loyal to those involved and have apologized for my comments. I look forward to putting this behind me."

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/baske...tm?POE=SPOISVA

[wildbill2u]

League wants this buried deep, deep, deep.