Posted on 06/04/2002 7:37:53 AM PDT by mrustow
Article argues that NBA Commissioner David Stern wanted so much for the Los Angeles Lakers to extend their two-consecutive NBA championships to a "threepeat," that he fixed the Western Conference Finals against the Sacramento Kings.
Did you explain to your kid how both Kobe and Shaq picked up two quick fouls in Game 5, and how Shaq fouled out that game even thought the refs were so biased against the Kings? Did you show your kid the replay at the end of that game where Bobby Jackson bumped Kobe so hard he dislodged the ball on the last shot?
Did you show him the replay of all the arm taps on the Lakers jump shots? How about the one where Vlade plays defense with a fist full of Shaq's jersey? How about Bibby's arm around Kobe's back on the inbounds play. Did you show him those too?
Ever see Jordan called for a Travel or Charge? Ha, he traveled EVERYTIME he drove from a pivoted position. EVERYTIME. Check the tapes. The only time I ever saw him or Pipen get called for a Charge was against Rodman. Why, GOOD DRAMA. A Made for TV matchup. Back in the early Eighties when the league was dead, there was a communication of some kind that went out to the Officials from the Commisioners office, saying along the lines of let the Superstars play. Hence, the special treatment. It created the superstars of Bird, Magic, Jordan et el. I remember reading about it in SI I beleive.
This tends to lead to the same teams winning championships -- which creates the impression that this is desired by the Commish, the networks and advertisers looking for common themes, one-name superstars and storylines to sell to the public.
I guess Aldridge has amnesia about everything that happened before 1997.
Not a Kings fan, Not a Lakers fan, but Robert Horry and Rick Fox are no slouches at flopping either.
The Kings were the better team, PERIOD.
But those TV ratings will no doubt be much better this way.
What a joke
And for the record, Kobe hit TWO Kings in the face with an elbow in this series. Once is an accident, TWO is a pattern.
Oh I know, it was showing his "determination to win".
Right?
It is interesting to note that when Kobe elbowed Christie in the face that Christie was ALSO called for fouling Kobe.
Those pesky faces, always fouling Kobes elbows like that.
Cheers
knews hound
This is nothing but a bunch of whinning from the Kings of whinners. Vlade needs to take some more floperoo lessons before next season.
Until then the Kings fans need put their bells back on their cows & keep quiet.
As for superstar exceptions, the biggest one at the moment appears to me to be the Vince Carter palming exception. From Carter's TV ads, there is an iconic image of him; it is the image of a man palming the basketball.
Red Auerbach used to have a saying- "The best team always wins". Until the Lakers finally beat Boston in '85, then he cried about the officiating!
The Kings were the better team, PERIOD.
And Gore won.
But this seems to be the norm. Bad call, and then fines for anyone who questions them. Violet Palmer would never screw up a call.
NBC or whoever broadcasts the finals sure must be happy.
P.S. Your name is well-chosen.
The 1983 76'ers was one of the best teams ever and very under appreciated IMHO.
The point of the article is that the Kings were JOBBED in game 6.
You dont see it.
That is a reflection on you, not on the Kings or me.
It really all boils down to advertising dollars. The network will make more money from selling airtime during the NBA Finals to a larger market audience (i.e., LA, Chicago or NY). I mean lets face it, Indianna against Golden State wouldn't exactly light up the Nielson boxes.
Every ref makes mistakes....and usually follows up with a make up call.....but this series was a joke.
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